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What should baby wear to sleep? Temperature and TOG guide

Enter the temperature in your baby's room. You will see the TOG and the layers that usually fit, with a check for overheating.

By the Swaddle team · Reviewed October 25, 2026

Room temperature to sleepwear

Sleep bag

2.5

TOG

Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas

The ideal sleep range for babies (61-68 F / 16-20 C).

Sleep bag makers' charts differ a little. If yours has its own chart, follow it. A swaddle counts as a layer.

Baby sleep clothing chart

Room temperatureSleep bagUnder the sleep bag
Below 61 F (16 C)2.5-3.5 TOGLong-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
61-68 F (16-20 C)2.5 TOGLong-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
69-74 F (21-23 C)1.0 TOGLong-sleeve bodysuit, or short-sleeve bodysuit and light pajamas
75-80 F (24-27 C)0.2-0.5 TOGShort-sleeve bodysuit
Above 80 F (27 C)0.2 TOG or noneDiaper and a short-sleeve bodysuit, or a diaper only

Degree by degree

Quick answers for "what should baby wear to sleep at ... degrees":

RoomTOGWhat to wear
60 F (16 C)2.5-3.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
61 F (16 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
62 F (17 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
63 F (17 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
64 F (18 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
65 F (18 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
66 F (19 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
67 F (19 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
68 F (20 C)2.5Long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas
69 F (21 C)1.0Long-sleeve bodysuit, or short-sleeve bodysuit and light pajamas
70 F (21 C)1.0Long-sleeve bodysuit, or short-sleeve bodysuit and light pajamas
71 F (22 C)1.0Long-sleeve bodysuit, or short-sleeve bodysuit and light pajamas
72 F (22 C)1.0Long-sleeve bodysuit, or short-sleeve bodysuit and light pajamas
73 F (23 C)1.0Long-sleeve bodysuit, or short-sleeve bodysuit and light pajamas
74 F (23 C)1.0Long-sleeve bodysuit, or short-sleeve bodysuit and light pajamas
75 F (24 C)0.2-0.5Short-sleeve bodysuit
76 F (24 C)0.2-0.5Short-sleeve bodysuit
77 F (25 C)0.2-0.5Short-sleeve bodysuit
78 F (26 C)0.2-0.5Short-sleeve bodysuit
79 F (26 C)0.2-0.5Short-sleeve bodysuit
80 F (27 C)0.2-0.5Short-sleeve bodysuit

The simple rule

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests dressing your baby in no more than one layer more than an adult would wear to be comfortable in the same room. Overheating is linked to a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so slightly cool is safer than too warm.

How to check your baby's temperature

  • Feel the chest or the back of the neck. Warm and dry is right.
  • Too hot: sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, fast breathing. Remove a layer.
  • Cold hands and feet are normal and not a reason to add layers.

Safe sleep reminders

  • No loose blankets, pillows, bumpers or soft toys in the sleep space. A wearable blanket (sleep bag) replaces them.
  • No hats or head coverings for sleep indoors.
  • No weighted sleep sacks or weighted swaddles.
  • Stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of trying to roll. See when to stop swaddling.
  • If your baby has a fever, do not add layers. Call your pediatrician for advice.

Questions parents ask

What temperature should a baby’s room be?

A room between about 61 and 68 F (16-20 C) is often recommended as comfortable for babies to sleep in, for example by the UK’s Lullaby Trust. What matters most is that your baby is not too hot.

What should a baby wear to sleep at 68 degrees?

At 68 F (20 C), a long-sleeve bodysuit and footed pajamas with a 2.5 TOG sleep bag is a common choice. Check your baby’s chest or the back of the neck: it should feel warm, not hot or sweaty.

What is TOG?

TOG (thermal overall grade) measures how warm a fabric is. The higher the number, the warmer. Baby sleep bags are usually 0.2 to 3.5 TOG.

How do I know if my baby is too hot or too cold at night?

Feel the chest or the back of the neck. Sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks or a hot chest mean they are too warm. Hands and feet often feel cool even when a baby is comfortable, so they are not a good guide.

Can my baby wear a hat to sleep?

Not indoors. Babies release heat through their heads, and safe sleep guidance is to avoid hats and head coverings for sleep (except in the first hours after birth in hospital).

Are weighted sleep sacks safe?

No. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against weighted sleep sacks, weighted swaddles and other weighted objects for infant sleep.

Sources

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics: How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe (healthychildren.org)
  2. Moon RY, et al. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations. Pediatrics 2022
  3. The Lullaby Trust: Room temperature and overheating
  4. NHS: Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

This page is general information from the sources above, written by the Swaddle team and last reviewed October 25, 2026. It is not medical advice and it is not a substitute for your pediatrician. Every baby is different. If something feels wrong, call your doctor. In an emergency, call 911 (US) or your local emergency number. How we write these pages.

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