Sleeping bag and sleep walker on babies

How to Dress your baby for Sleep

SLEEP DRESSING GUIDE

As a parent it can be tricky to know how to dress your little one at night and how many layers they need when the seasons change.

We’ve put together this handy guide for what you might pair with our sleeping bags and sleepwalkers to keep your baby cosy and comfortable all night long. This is based on using the sleeping bag without any blankets.

 

Please Note: This is just a general guide and all babies are different. You should check your baby to ensure they’re not too hot or cold by gently touching the back of their neck - it should feel warm, but not hot or sweaty. While they offer easier access, don’t go by their hands or feet, as these extremities are often cooler.

Body temperature naturally dips in the early hours of the morning. If your baby wakes more than usual in the night, it’s worth checking they haven’t got too cold.

Keep in mind that it’s safer for babies to be cooler rather than too hot when they sleep.

Clothing Choices

Choose pyjamas and other layers made from natural fibres - Merino or Cotton - that breathe. Merino is a natural wonder that can be used year-round – helping with temperature regulation. It has little pockets of air that keep warmth in on cold days, and cool baby down on a hot day.

We recommend the rotation of at least two sleeping bags/sleepwalkers per season for ease of use.

Room temperature

An ideal climate for a baby’s room would be between 16-20°C.

If you have a heater or heat pump you can maintain a consistent temperature by setting the thermostat to 18 degrees and it will flick on and off as the temperature changes throughout the night.

Reading the room

Many baby monitors include a room-temperature display.

You can also monitor room temperature (along with humidity) with a Reer HygroTemp.

Its thermometer function will display the temperature of the room as well as an easy colour indicator to show if it’s too hot, too cold, or sitting within the perfect range.

Tell-tale temperature signs

Even with your best efforts, your baby may get too hot or too cold at night. Be on the lookout for these signs of overheating or cold, and change their clothing or the room temperature to help.

Signs your baby is too hot:

  • Waking frequently
  • Sweaty back or neck
  • Damp hair
  • Shallow or rapid breathing

If you notice any of these signs, work quickly to bring your baby’s temperature down. Take them out of their sleeping bag or remove a layer of clothing, adjust the thermostat if you’re using a heater, or bring a fan into the room to help the air circulate. If your baby seems very hot and uncomfortable, check for fever and use a cool, wet cloth on their forehead and back.

Signs your baby is too cold:

  • Moving around the cot more than usual
  • Rolling onto their stomach during sleep
  • Catnapping during the day
  • Waking at around 5am (when body temperature naturally dips)

If you’re noticing these signs, think about adding a layer of clothing, switching to a heavier sleeping bag or heating the room.