How to dress your baby at night when it’s warm in the evening but the room gets cooler by morning
Sometimes, when you put your baby to bed in the evening, the room still feels pleasantly warm, almost summery. By morning, though, things can feel very different. In autumn, the air can cool noticeably by the early hours, while in winter the fire in a solid-fuel boiler may burn out overnight, leaving the room several degrees cooler. You might then wonder: how should you dress your baby so they are not too warm at bedtime, but do not get cold towards morning either?
A newborn, an older baby or even a toddler may wake several times during the night. You might need to feed them, change their nappy or perhaps change their clothes. Should you add another layer at that point? Is it better to leave them in the same clothes and add a blanket? Or should you move them into a warmer sleeping bag? And what if the room is 24 °C in the evening but drops to just 19–20 °C by morning?
How to dress your baby if the room gets cooler by morning
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check the temperature in the evening and the expected temperature by morning
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think in terms of light layers that are easy to combine
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choose the sleeping bag TOG rating according to the expected overnight temperature
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after feeding or changing their nappy, check your baby’s chest or the back of their neck and use this as a guide
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during a night feed, you can add an extra layer if you know the room is likely to cool down soon
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you can also have a warmer sleeping bag ready to change them into
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choose breathable clothing that helps your baby stay comfortably warm
The aim is not to keep the room at exactly the same temperature all night, but to help ensure that your baby does not become too warm or too cold.
Both room temperature and body temperature can change during the night
It is completely normal for the temperature in your home to change throughout the night. In autumn and spring, particularly before the heating is regularly switched on, the room may still feel pleasantly warm in the evening but noticeably cooler by the early hours. In winter, homes heated with a solid-fuel boiler may gradually cool towards morning. If your heating runs on a timer, you may also have it set to a lower temperature overnight.
Our body temperature also changes during the night as part of our circadian rhythm, the body’s internal biological clock. Body temperature gradually falls overnight and reaches its lowest point in the early morning hours. It then begins to rise again, helping the body prepare to wake up. This is another factor worth bearing in mind when deciding how to dress your baby, particularly towards morning.
Dress your baby for the whole night, not just the evening temperature
If the room is 22–23 °C in the evening but you know it will cool to 19 °C by the early morning, choosing your baby’s clothing solely for 22–23 °C may not be the best approach. At the same time, dressing your baby in very thick layers at bedtime simply because it will be cooler later is not ideal either. They could become too warm during the first part of the night.
A practical option is to use a sleeping bag with an appropriate TOG rating together with a light layer underneath, then adjust the layers during the night if needed. Breathable fabrics that help maintain a comfortable feel can also be useful when the temperature changes overnight.
Bamboo baby clothing and sleeping bags can help your baby stay comfortable
One important consideration when dressing a baby is that their ability to regulate body temperature is not yet as developed as an adult’s. This is particularly true for newborn and premature babies. A breathable bamboo viscose fabric can therefore be a comfortable choice when the room temperature changes during the night.
Many parents choose bamboo viscose for its softness, breathability and moisture-wicking properties. If your baby gets a little sweaty, the fabric can help move moisture away while remaining soft and comfortable against their skin.
What if it’s 24 °C in the evening but only 19 °C by morning?
With a difference of 5 °C, planning ahead becomes particularly important. If you dress your baby very lightly because the room is 24 °C at bedtime but the temperature falls to 19 °C by the early morning, they may begin to feel cooler during the second half of the night.
Two of the simplest options are:
1. Reduce the temperature fluctuation
If possible, this is the simplest solution. A more consistent room temperature may be more comfortable for both your baby and you.
2. Use 2 sleeping bags with different TOG ratings
During a night feed, it may be easier to change your baby into a warmer sleeping bag than to add another layer of clothing.
What do mums say about LiaaBébé bamboo baby clothing?
Feedback from parents who use LiaaBébé products often mentions how comfortable bamboo fabric feels. Parents particularly appreciate that the clothing is lightweight and stretchy, and can feel comfortable even on warmer evenings. They also find the garments comfortable when the temperature changes throughout the night.
The lightweight bamboo fabric also sits softly against your baby’s body, so you do not always need to rely on thick layers when dressing them. This can be particularly practical on an autumn or spring night when the evening is still pleasantly warm but the air becomes noticeably cooler towards morning.
Frequently asked questions about changing temperatures at night
Should I add another layer after a night feed?
It depends on whether you know the room will cool down by morning and how soon after the feed the temperature is likely to drop. If it is expected to cool fairly soon, you could put your baby into a warmer sleeping bag or add another light layer of clothing.
How can I tell if my baby is cold?
Check your baby’s chest or the back of their neck first. Cold hands and feet alone are not a reliable indication. If their torso feels comfortably warm and dry, their clothing is generally appropriate. If their torso feels cool or their skin appears mottled, they may be cold.
Is LiaaBébé bamboo clothing a good choice when the temperature changes overnight?
Yes. Bamboo viscose is soft and breathable with good moisture-wicking properties, which is why many parents find it comfortable during periods when the room temperature changes overnight. Its breathability can help your baby feel comfortably warm without relying on heavy layers.
Changes in temperature during the night do not necessarily have to be a problem. It is helpful to learn to recognise your baby’s individual cues when they are too warm or too cold. Your baby’s room might still be pleasantly warm at bedtime but cool enough by morning for them to need an extra layer. Your baby may also naturally run warmer and feel comfortable in fewer layers than another child at the same room temperature.
The most practical approach is usually to anticipate changes in temperature, choose breathable clothing, adjust the sleeping bag to suit the conditions and, if necessary, fine-tune the heating. Over time, you will get to know which combination keeps your baby comfortable throughout the night, even when the evening is still warm but the cooler autumn or spring air makes itself felt by morning.
Written by Mónika Veres
