🛡️ Child safety · Birth to 2 years
🌙 Dressing baby for sleep: The TOG guide
During the first few months, babies can't regulate their body temperature properly. Too bundled up, they risk overheating—a major risk factor for SIDS. Not warm enough, and they'll wake up every hour on the hour. The secret weapon: match their outfit to the TOG rating of their sleep sack (baby sleeping bag). TOG measures thermal insulation: the higher the number, the warmer it keeps them.
Nighttime dressing guide by room temperature
- 16–17°C / 61–63°F (very chilly): TOG 3 + long-sleeve bodysuit + fleece/velour sleepsuit + wool cardigan.
- 18–19°C / 64–66°F (ideal): TOG 2.5 + long-sleeve bodysuit + fleece/velour sleepsuit.
- 20–21°C / 68–70°F (mild): TOG 2 + short-sleeve bodysuit + cotton or velour sleepsuit.
- 22–23°C / 71–73°F (warm): TOG 1 + short-sleeve bodysuit + lightweight cotton sleepsuit.
- 24–25°C / 75–77°F (very warm): TOG 0.5 + short-sleeve bodysuit only.
- 26°C / 79°F and above (heatwave): Nappy/diaper only, no sleep sack.
Rules of thumb
1. Ignore cold hands and feet
A baby's extremities are almost always chilly because their circulatory system is still developing. Never judge how cold they are by their toes.
2. The nape of the neck test
Slip two fingers onto the back of their neck or between their shoulder blades. Clammy or hot? Strip off a layer. Cold? Add a layer or go up a TOG level.
3. Dad hack
No duvets, no pillows, no blankets, and no cot bumpers before age 2. A bare cot and a well-fitted sleep sack matched to the room temp are all your little one needs.
Classic mistakes
- ❌ Cranking up the heating A room kept at 18–19°C (64–66°F) is ideal. Cranking the thermostat "just so they don't catch a cold" dramatically increases the risk of dangerous overheating.
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This guide doesn't replace medical advice. When in doubt, call your doctor or your local emergency number.