How to safely dress your baby for sleep
Let’s talk about SLEEP! We asked our friends at MORI all about safer sleep for babies, specifically how to dress them for the season.
Creating a safe environment for your baby to sleep can be a daunting task; there are so many options for sleepwear and so much advice on what’s right for them.
The Lullaby Trust, a charity that promotes safer sleep for babies, has listed a sleeping bag as essential in their product guide. 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.
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.
When to start using sleeping bags
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.
The perfect temperature all year round
The variety of TOGs available for sleeping bags make them safe for sleeping all year round, but what is a TOG? Put simply, it determines the thickness of the sleeping bag: the higher the rating, the warmer it is.
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!
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.
Layering for sleep
Babies can’t regulate their temperature well, so dressing them appropriately underneath a sleeping bag is important so they stay at a safe & comfortable temperature whilst they sleep. Below is our guide on what layers & TOGs should be worn when:
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