Baby sleeping bag: What should be worn underneath?

A Sleeping Bag is not only an essential part of the baby starter kit, but also one of the best choices to ensure your baby sleeps well and safely at night, because:

    • the temperature in the sleeping bag can be optimally regulated,
    • When combined with appropriate Clothing Line, children neither sweat nor freeze in it.

However, many parents often don’t know what to dress their child in inside the baby sleeping bag: Should it be pajamas, or is a long-sleeve bodysuit or even just a diaper enough? Or is it better to use several layers in a layering style? We’ll show you how to dress your little one for sleep and what to watch out for so they can spend the night warm and cozy in their sleeping bag.

Restful Sleep: Dressing Children Properly at Night

Basically: The higher the room temperature, the cooler your little one can be dressed at night. The most important factors when it comes to choosing the right Clothing Line in the Sleeping Bag are therefore

    • the room temperature in the bedroom and
    • the so-called TOG value, which indicates the thermal resistance of a sleeping bag.

As the ideal sleeping temperature for babies, experts recommend a temperature of 16–18 degrees Celsius in the sleeping environment.

How can you tell if the baby is cold while sleeping?

You have ensured the right room temperature and chosen a Sleeping Bag with the appropriate TOG rating for the current season, but how can you tell if your child is warm enough or possibly overdressed while sleeping?

Important to know: Cold hands and feet are not reliable indicators.

Temperature sensitivity and the optimal sleeping temperature vary from child to child and can differ greatly. Therefore, you should always feel your baby's body temperature at the neck to be absolutely sure:

  • If the neck is cold, your little one is probably too cool.
  • If the neck feels comfortably warm but not hot, the infant’s body temperature seems to be properly regulated.
  • If the neck is sweaty, your child is likely too warm.

What should your child wear in the Sleeping Bag?

If you have noticed that your baby is either cold or sweating, you can easily regulate their body temperature by adjusting the sleeping clothing in the Sleeping Bag to their needs.

Our temperature chart shows you how to dress your baby appropriately at night: On the left, you will find the room temperature, and on the right in the columns, the respective TOG value of the Sleeping Bag. In the matrix, you can easily see which clothing in the Sleeping Bag is appropriate:

An example:

  • Your baby wears a sleeping bag with a TOG rating of 1.0 TOG in summer and the room temperature is 22–24° Celsius – then a short-sleeved body suit under the sleeping bag is recommended.
  • If the room temperature changes to about 20–22° Celsius, a long-sleeved body suit would be better for your little one.
  • Depending on the room temperature and TOG value, often long- or short-sleeved bodysuits and sometimes just a diaper are enough.

  • If you feel that your baby is still too cold despite the Clothing Line, be sure to avoid using an additional blanket over the Sleeping Bag to prevent the risk of overheating. Instead, choose a warmer Sleeping Bag.

  • For the same reason, you should also avoid a hat, because if your newborn gets too hot, the excess heat is released through the head. Socks also do not belong to the appropriate sleepwear in the Sleeping Bag, as there is also a risk of overheating here.

  • If you have further questions about baby sleeping bags, you can find more tips in our sleeping bag guide.

  • In the Sterntaler® online shop, you will also find suitable non-toxic baby clothing made from skin-friendly cotton, so you can create the optimal sleeping environment for your little one.

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