How to safely dress your baby for sleep
Let’s talk about SLEEP! From newborn to toddler, parents are often deliberating about what to dress a baby in at night. We asked our friends at Tommee Tippee all about creating a safe and comfortable sleep environment for your baby and specifically how to dress your baby for different temperatures. The guidance here is all supported by information taken from The Lullaby Trust, a charity set up to promote safer sleep for babies.
What should a baby wear to sleep
When it comes to dressing your baby for sleep, be it at night or for a day nap, you have a number of layers to choose from. Typically these are a nappy, vest, sleepsuit (aka babygrow or onesie) and a sleeping bag or blanket. Vests and sleepsuits can be short-sleeved, long-sleeved or sleeveless, just to add a bit more choice into the mix!
Choosing a sleeping bag for your baby
Sleeping bags for babies are a good way to keep them cosy and a well-fitting sleeping bag is something The Lullaby Trust recommends. A baby sleeping bag is a good option as they prevent little ones' heads from accidentally being covered and the availability of different TOGs means you can choose the right one for the season.
So, what is a TOG? Put simply, it determines the thickness of the sleeping bag: the higher the rating, the warmer it is. TOG ratings range from 0.2, which is light and appropriate for warmer temperatures, up to 3.5, which is thicker and best for much colder temperatures.
The 2.5 TOG baby sleeping bag is perfect for keeping your baby snug in the colder seasons.
The 1.5 TOG baby sleeping bag is suitable for the British climate most of the year with layers.
The lightweight 0.5 TOG baby sleeping bag has no padding so it is ideal for when the weather warms up or if you head on holiday!
It’s very important you get a sleeping bag that’s the right size for your little one; if it’s too big, there's a chance their head could slip down. Sleeping bags often have a lower weight limit, usually around 8-9lbs (4kgs) so depending on your baby’s size they can be used from birth.
Sleeping bags also provide a familiar sleeping environment for your little one. An evening routine can be established as they’ll (hopefully) associate winding down and sleeping with being placed into the sleeping bag, even if it’s for storytime on the sofa or bedroom floor.
For babies who have a strong startle reflex, you can get sleeping bags that also enable you to tuck their arms in, so they work like a swaddle.
If you live in a temperate climate such as the UK, you only need to buy one sleeping bag for the whole year as you can adjust the clothing worn underneath for the transitional months - saving you money.
The importance of temperature for baby sleep
Babies can’t regulate their temperature well, so it’s important to dress them appropriately for the temperature of the room they’re in. Obviously this will change from summer to winter, but it will also depend on your home and how well insulated it is! So, it’s a good idea to get a room thermometer, like the Tommee Tippee GroEgg.
This guide explains how you should dress your baby for sleep in different temperatures.
If you live in a temperate climate such as the UK, you might only need to buy one sleeping bag for the whole year as you can adjust the clothing worn underneath for the transitional months - saving you money.
For 10% off any Tommee Tippee products, us the code PBC10 at checkout on the Tommee Tippee website.
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