Getting your baby to sleep is one of the big challenges for parents and there are so many factors to consider, none more important than dressing them in the correct bedtime clothing. Get this right, and your little one will have a comfortable night giving you peace of mind that they’re not too hot or cold and also not likely to injure themselves.

In this article we’ll take a look at what you need to consider when getting your baby ready for bedtime and products that will help make the experience that bit easier and safer.

What’s the right temperature for my baby to get to sleep?

When you put baby down to sleep, their temperature, and that of the room, shouldn’t be too hot or too cold. If your baby is too hot, the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) increase. SIDS, also known as ‘cot death’, is the most common cause of death in babies aged one month to one year and typically there is no known reason for this unexpected occurrence. However, maintaining the right temperature for your baby has been identified as a way to reduce the risk of SIDS.

A safe room temperature is between 16-20°C. You can easily monitor the temperature using a nursery thermometer which will give you a visual indication should the room become too hot or too cold.

Clippasafe Nursery Thermometer

Grobag Egg Nursery Thermometer

To find out your baby’s temperature, touch their face, tummy and back to see if it’s cool or warm and adjust their clothing and bedclothes accordingly. Feet and hands are not a good indicator to whether your baby is hot or cold.

What should my baby wear to bed?

When it comes to body temperature, a good way to determine whether your baby has too many or too few bedtime clothes is to realise what you as a parent are wearing at the time. If the ambient temperature feels cool enough for you to be wearing a jumper then your baby will be feeling cooler too and will need an extra layer.

Cotton bed clothing is the ideal fabric for sleepwear allowing air to circulate and absorbing body moisture. Cold feet are often the cause of a waking baby so an all-in-one sleep suit will cover their feet and also stop the garment from riding up exposing their feet when they move about in the night. One piece sleep suits will also provide covering should blankets be kicked off.

Baby sleeping bags

Sleeping bags are the popular choice of parents with newborn babies as they provide blanket cover that can’t be kicked off during the night. Sleeping bags have a tog rating (like duvet covers) and the ideal tog rating is 2.5 for a nursery kept at the recommended temperature of 16-20°C.

When the summer months arrive and temperatures in the nursery increases to between 20-24°C, switch to a sleeping bag with a tog rating of 1.0.

Sleeping bags are the best way to give your tot a wearable blanket that they’ll be kept comfortable and warm in throughout the night. They’re also easy to slip your baby in and out of so there’s no fuss and upset when you’re trying to calm them before bedtime. Many swaddle wraps also come with a detachable bottom for easy access when you need to change a nappy.

Grobag Sleeping Bag Petals 1.0 or 2.5 tog

Grobag Sleeping Bag Bubble 1.0 tog or 2.5 tog

Swaddling / Swaddle Wraps

Swaddling is an age old way of recreating the feeling of being in the womb. Swaddling has also been proved to reduce the chances of colic and prevents your baby’s arms from flailing about - known as the ‘moro reflex’ which startles the child awake during the night and can cause injuries to the face from their finger nails. Swaddling creates gentle pressure around baby’s body soothing them to sleep.

Swaddle wraps should be used from birth to around 3-4 months before you make the transition into a sleeping bag. Swaddle wraps are adjustable as your baby grows and made from cotton for best circulation of air and moisture absorption or fleece for a comfy and cozy night’s sleep.

Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe Bamboo

Kiddopotamus SwaddleMe MicroFleece

Sleep Wraps

A sleep wrap is an innovative product that combines the benefits of swaddling, sleep positioners and sleep safety devices all in one.

A sleep wrap prevents baby from rolling over to their tummy (babies should always sleep on their backs), overheating and keeps their head and face clear. A sleep wrap can help prevention of falls from the cot or stop your baby getting stuck between the cot slats. It can also help prevent or correct misshapen heads and is ideal for easing the symptoms of a cold, reflux or colic.

Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap

Quick Tips For Sleeping Safety

1. Your baby should be at a comfortably warm temperature – not cold, hot or sweaty.

2. A baby can only cool down if the head is uncovered so remove any hoods, hats or bonnets which can quickly cause overheating if left on at bedtime.

3. Hands and feet may feel cold to the touch, but they’re not the best indicator to your baby’s actual temperature. Feel their face, back and tummy instead.

4. Dress your baby in enough bedclothes to keep them warm without the need for blankets as once they can roll over they can kick blankets away. Ideally you should use a sleeping bag (over 3 months) or swaddling (3-4 months and under).