What To Dress Your Baby In For Sleep During Winter
Too hot, too cold or just right?!
It can be a bit of a headache working out what to dress your baby in for sleep when the weather gets colder. And, if like me, you live in the UK right now, we can be fooled into thinking it’s getting colder and then all of a sudden be hit with warm weather again like in September of this year!
There is a lot of information out there that can be overwhelming. In this blog post, I'll provide you with essential advice on dressing your baby for winter, including different tog ratings for sleepwear to make sure your child is ‘just right’ for safe sleep.
Maintaining a Safe Environment
Safe sleep ultimately is about creating a safe environment. This is especially important for overnight as you will also (hopefully!) be sleeping, so your little one won’t be supervised like they are in the daytime.
One of my biggest tips for safe sleep is using a reliable room thermometer. You will hear me and other professionals talk about the correct room temperature for sleeping being 16-20 degrees. It is hard to work this one out without a handy little device telling you. There are simple devices like this one, or you can choose one of many night-light options like this one. I particularly like this Tommee Tippee one as it changes colour depending on the room's temperature, so you can quickly tell if the temperature is suitable or not.
A little note on co-sleeping here. Personally, I am always cautious with co-sleeping, particularly with newborn babies. This alertness increases when talking about co-sleeping in winter. When it is colder at night, sometimes a thicker winter duvet is used. This alone increases the risk of SIDS due to the risk of overheating and no breathability in the material. Also, because it can feel colder, parents are more likely to want to have the duvet up to their shoulders. This is quite risky when sleeping with a small baby who can easily slip underneath a duvet. Please be careful when co-sleeping and follow the guidance.
Link here for co-sleeping support from the Lullaby trust.
If you feel that the only way you and baby can get sleep overnight is through co-sleeping, but you want to step away from this, do reach out to me. I can work with you to create a routine and guide you through simple techniques to make your baby feel safe and happy in their own sleep space.
Other tips for maintaining safety in the room environment are as follows:
Never place your baby’s cot directly next to or against a radiator. This is due to the risk of overheating being so close to the heat source.
Avoid using portable heaters in a room where your baby is left to sleep unsupervised. Again, a risk of overheating.
Less layers are safer. Try to adjust the room temperature, rather than the number of layers your baby has on. Placing your baby in a sleepsuit and then 3 blankets on top can be dangerous. Instead, heat the room up adequately.
Never use a woolly hat on a newborn whilst inside. Wearing a hat can quickly overheat your baby as the head is used for temperature regulation. Keep them for use outside only.
Don’t use duvets or pillows in a cot for babies under the age of 1.
Sleepwear options for babies
There are a few different options to choose from to provide comfort and warmth for your baby overnight. The age of your baby depicts which sleepwear is best and safe.
Swaddles
I’m sure you have seen and most likely tried using a swaddle with your newborn. If not, head to my other blog post here for more information on swaddling. You can swaddle with a simple large muslin or there are many swaddle products out there depending on your preference. I recommend swaddling as sleepwear ONLY for newborn babies from 0-3 months, or until baby can roll over. Swaddling is not safe for sleep when baby can roll, due to the risk of suffocation.
Other clothing + swaddling:
This depends on the temperature of the room. As explained above, a reliable room thermometer is going to be your best friend for winter and deciding how to dress your baby. Typically for the colder months, a vest and babygrow will be sufficient underneath your swaddling product. If your baby is settled and sleeping between feeds, there is no reason to suggest he is cold. If he was cold, he would wake up. You can also try putting socks on as well as the babygrow to add extra warmth. If you feel the room is too cold (again, check the thermometer) you might have to think about central heating rather than extra clothing.
Sleeping bags
The perfect sleep association is a sleeping bag. Getting your baby or toddler into a sleeping bag before bed is a great indicator that sleep is coming. They are very popular for parents as they provide warmth and comfort all night long. I always recommend parents to use them during naps too, again to provide that association to sleep. Most sleeping bags can be used for newborns, but do check the labelling. Also, you want to ensure that your baby’s head does not fit through the hole so there is no chance of them sliding down into the sleeping bag at night.
There are so many on the market to choose from, most high street supermarkets now sell them in the clothing section. There are ones with separate trouser-like legs and ones with arms too if your room is particularly cold. If looking for a sleeping bag for your toddler, I would advise looking for one that has a zip down the side, rather than the front. Toddlers can get crafty and unzip themselves during the night, but having the zip on the side makes this a bit more of a challenge.
Other Clothing + Sleeping Bags:
Very similar to clothing underneath a swaddle, generally for the colder months, a vest and long-sleeve baby grow will be sufficient. You can get thicker baby grows but just be careful with overheating your baby, as some of these can get quite warm. It is a personal choice; some babies are warmer and sweatier than others. There might be more of a chill in your baby’s room at night, so you may choose to get a sleeping bag with sleeves for the coldest months.
What tog to choose?!
Tog ratings indicate the thermal resistance of clothing or bedding. The higher the tog rating, the warmer the sleepwear or blanket. When choosing sleepwear for your baby, consider the room temperature and dress them accordingly.
Here's a rough guide to tog ratings:
1.0 TOG: Suitable for room temperatures 20-24°C (summer months).
2.5 TOG: Suitable for room temperatures 16-20°C (all year round).
3.5 TOG: Ideal for colder rooms below 16°C (winter months, cold house!).
This is often down to your circumstances as each house is different. You might live in a house or flat that doesn’t need the heating on for long as the heat can’t escape as easily as say, my house - it can be freezing if that heating isn’t on!
However, here in the UK, you can use a 2.5 Tog for most of the year. It makes it a lot cheaper if you can choose a sleeping bag that will last the whole year. By adjusting the clothing underneath the sleeping bag, your baby will be at the right temperature for sleep. During those summer heatwaves, a 1.0 Tog is ideal as it hasn’t got any filling, but provides that association and comfort at bedtime.
(Affiliate Links) Here are some great options for sleeping bags:
The Sweet Dreamers Sleep Bag from the makers of Ewan the Sheep! This 2.5 Tog sleeping bag comes in two sizes, 0-3 months (suitable from 3kg) and 3-12 months. The newborn size has an arm in swaddle option too.
The Purflo 2.5 Tog Sleeping Bag is suitable for 3-9 months and is a great option as it has detachable sleeves. So even if sleeping at 14 degrees, having the higher tog sleeves will keep your baby nice and warm.
The Purflo Swaddle to Sleep Bag is suitable for newborns (>3kg) - 4 months. At 2.5 togs it is suitable for any season, just alter the layers beneath to suit the weather. It’s great that it is both a swaddle AND sleeping bag in one.
Just Remember…
You know your baby the best. Some babies just don’t like being in a swaddle or even a sleeping bag at all. That is totally fine. Whatever works for your baby to help them feel cosy and comfortable for a restful night’s sleep.
Always try for fewer, but warm layers. Hence why I believe sleeping bags are a great product for sleep. They’re not only safe for use (if the correct size), but they act as a great sleep association so your baby knows it is bedtime.
If your baby is fighting sleep despite being dressed in comfortable clothing and following a bedtime routine, I’m here to help. I look at the whole picture - daytime sleep and routine, settling methods, foods and feeds. I work with you to slowly change certain parts of the routine that might not be working. Slowly but surely, we’ll begin to see your little one sleeping happily and thriving throughout the day.
If you feel you need some help or want to ask me any questions, don’t hesitate to send me a message on Instagram or email me. Details are below. No question is a silly question, I’m here to help.
To get in touch:
You can send me an email at katie@athenasleep.co.uk
Or send me a message on Instagram or Facebook. Click below to go to my Instagram page, where you’ll find lots of useful FREE sleep advice.
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“Sharing sleep wisdom, leading you to a better night’s sleep”
Katie x
Founder of Athena Sleep Co.
Paediatric Nurse.
