What Should A Baby Wear To Sleep In Summer?

If you’re unsure about how to dress your baby for sleep in hot weather, this article is for you.

While there’s no single right answer, the key is to dress your baby based on the air temperature of their room, not the outside temperature.

But what about newborns? What are the best fabrics? And how can you check your baby’s temperature? Let’s find out.

Most parents are aware of the general rule of thumb when dressing a baby.

The rule is simply to dress them in one more layer than you would wear.

But when deciding what a baby should wear to sleep during hot weather, you should always opt for lightweight fabrics, avoid overdressing and use common sense.

Ideal Room Temperature For A Baby’s Room In Summer

To ensure your baby doesn’t overheat in warm weather, you want to dress them in cool, breathable fabrics. Some of the best materials include:

• • • • • • • • Cotton
              • Linen
              • Bamboo

What Should A Newborn Wear To Sleep in Summer?

How Should I Dress My Infant or Toddler In Hot Weather?

When it comes to slightly older babies, one of the best ways to keep your infant or toddler cool in the summer months is by dressing them in a short-sleeved bodysuit underneath a lightweight sleep sack with a low TOG rating.

TOG Ratings

You may have noticed sleep sacks have a TOG rating, but what exactly does this refer to?

TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade, and is a standard measurement to indicate how warm a garment is.

Most baby sleep sacks have a TOG rating between 0.5 to 3.5.

The key thing to remember is the higher the TOG rating, the warmer the sack.

In hot weather you should therefore opt for a sack with a low rating such as 0.5 or 1.0.

You can find a detailed TOG rating guide in this article.

How To Dress A Baby On Even Warmer Days and Nights

On particularly warm days and nights, it may be best to lose the sleep sack completely.

When the temperature really warms up, a bodysuit on its own, or even just a diaper, might be the best way to keep your little one cool.

Parents should keep in mind that it’s more dangerous for a baby to overheat than be a little too cool.

This is especially important because overheating has been linked to a higher risk of SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

With this in mind, it may be safer to add layers in the night, rather than putting your baby to bed too warm.

Checking on your baby frequently is also advisable (more on this below).

Can I Use Air Conditioning Or A Fan In A Baby’s Room?

During the first few nights of warm weather it’s advisable to check on your little one to ensure they are safe and comfortable.

Fortunately there’s a quick and easy way to check a baby’s temperature, which we’ll cover below.

You can measure a baby’s temperature without a thermometer by feeling the back of their neck or tummy.

If the skin is cool and dry to touch, your baby’s temperature is fine.

If the neck or tummy is hot and sticky, it’s a sign your baby is too warm.