What should your baby wear to sleep?

Dressing a baby for sleep can leave almost every mum feeling unsure from time to time. Choosing those tiny little clothes is not always straightforward, because we know babies are sensitive to changes in temperature. We worry about them getting too warm, sweating, or feeling cold.

Quite often, we use our own sense of temperature and our own experience as a guide: if we tend to feel the cold ourselves, we may be more likely to overdress our baby, thinking they will feel chilly in the same way we do. It is a completely natural instinct, but it is worth looking at your baby’s needs from a slightly different angle too.

How different is dressing a little one for sleep compared with dressing an adult? How many layers are ideal in winter? What should your baby wear to sleep in summer when it is very warm? So many questions can come up, and with time, every mum becomes more confident in answering them.

In this article, we share information that will help you choose the right sleepwear for your baby, whether it is day or night, winter or summer, at home or on the go, always taking your baby’s age into account.

What should your baby wear to sleep at night?

When choosing sleepwear, the room temperature should always guide you, rather than the season.

As a general guide:

• dress your baby in one more layer than you would comfortably wear at that temperature

• at 18 to 19 °C, dress in layers: a bodysuit with a sleepsuit and a 2.5 TOG baby sleeping bag can be ideal

• at 20 °C a short-sleeved bodysuit with a sleepsuit and a 1.5 TOG baby sleeping bag, or a baby blanket, can work well. Another option is a long-sleeved bodysuit with a 2.5 TOG baby sleeping bag

• around 22 to 23 °C a bodysuit and baby sleeping bag are usually enough

• around 24 °C a short-sleeved bodysuit with a sleepsuit, or a 0.5 TOG baby sleeping bag, can be suitable

• newborns may often need one extra thin layer, such as a sleepsuit

Choosing well-ventilated, natural fabrics is also important, as they can help balance temperature changes.

How does a baby’s temperature regulation work?

Our bodies are constantly producing and releasing heat: as our metabolism works, heat is created, and the body tries to keep this balanced through sweating and heat radiation. Outside temperature, humidity and activity all influence this balance.

In babies, however, this system is not yet fully developed, and this is even more true for newborns. They are particularly sensitive because their bodies can lose or gain heat more quickly than those of older children.

Newborns and premature babies need extra attention

Newborns cannot yet regulate their body temperature effectively, so they can become cold or overheated more easily. This is why it is important that their environment is stable and comfortably warm, and that their clothing is chosen accordingly.

For premature babies, this is even more important. In the early period, they often need external support to help maintain the right body temperature. Clothing can help a great deal, especially when it keeps them warm without making them sweat.

When we pay attention to the material of baby clothes, we are already doing a lot to support peaceful sleep. Fabrics that hold warmth, breathe well, feel comfortable, stretch gently and are soft can almost feel like a little cuddle around your baby. LiaaBébé bamboo babywear is designed with this kind of comfort in mind.

How do temperature factors change at night?

It is important to know that neither body temperature nor room temperature stays completely constant.

As we fall asleep, our body cools slightly, while towards morning it naturally warms up. We often notice this ourselves when we kick off the covers in the early hours. If the room temperature also fluctuates, your baby may feel cold at one point and sweaty at another.

This is the point worth paying attention to. Alongside layering according to temperature, we also need to consider the fabric of babywear. Instead of synthetic materials, it is better to choose natural, comfortable fabrics.

Every baby’s sensitivity can be different

Every baby is different: some warm up quickly and sweat easily, while others tend to feel the cold more. That is why, alongside general recommendations, it is always worth watching your own baby’s signals. Over time, you will learn to recognise what feels ideal for them, but at the beginning it takes a little more observation.

How can you tell if the temperature is not comfortable?

A baby’s signals are often small, but easy to spot once you know what to look for. If your baby is too warm, they may be more unsettled, find it harder to fall asleep, have a warm and damp neck or back, and mild skin irritation may also appear. If they are cold, their body may feel cooler to the touch, not just their hands and feet, and they may wake more often feeling unsettled.

A baby sleeping bag is one of the most practical helpers

Many of us love a baby blanket, but it can easily slip off, and your baby cannot pull it back up by themselves. This is why parents often choose a baby sleeping bag instead, as it helps keep warmth more even throughout the night.

Written by Mónika Veres

Sources:

The Lullaby Trust — Your baby’s room temperature.

NHS — How to dress a newborn baby.