What should baby wear to sleep at 24–26°C (75–79°F)?

What to dress your baby in to sleep at 24–26°C

24–26°C is a warm summer bedroom, often in loft rooms, flats and homes during a warm spell. It is well above the NHS ideal of about 16–20°C for sleep, and overheating can increase the risk of SIDS.

Dress your baby lightly: a nappy and a short-sleeved cotton vest under a 0.5 TOG sleeping bag. If they are sweaty or their tummy is hot to the touch, take the sleeping bag off and let them sleep in the vest. On the hottest nights, the NHS says a vest alone, or even just a nappy, is enough.

At 25°C, a short-sleeved cotton vest under a light 0.5 TOG sleeping bag is the usual starting point.

• Nappy
• Short-sleeved cotton vest
• 0.5 TOG sleeping bag, or the vest alone if your baby feels hot
• No hat and no extra blankets

Safe sleep at 24–26°C

Shut the blinds or curtains in the daytime so the bedroom does not heat up, and open windows once the air outside is cooler, usually late in the evening. A fan can move air around the room, but the NHS advises not to aim it directly at your baby. Keep bedclothes to a minimum.

• Put your baby on their back for every sleep, with their feet at the foot of the cot.
• Use a firm, flat mattress, with no pillows, bumpers, pods, nests or soft toys.
• No loose blankets or duvets. A well-fitting baby sleeping bag is the simplest option.
• No hat or head covering indoors, and nothing that could cover their face.
• Never use a weighted sleeping bag, weighted swaddle or weighted blanket.
• For at least the first 6 months, keep the cot in your room, for naps as well as nights.

Which TOG sleeping bag for 24–26°C?

Sleeping bag charts usually list 0.5 TOG for 24–26°C, and some go down to 0.2 TOG. If you use a sheet instead, the NHS advises making sure it is secure enough that it cannot cover your baby's face. Never add a blanket on top of a sleeping bag.

These TOG ratings are TinyLayers starting points, not NHS or AAP rules. Your sleeping bag maker's chart and your baby's own temperature come first.

How to check your baby is not too hot or cold at night

Feel the back of your baby's neck, their chest or their tummy. Warm and dry means they are dressed right. Sweaty or hot means take off a layer of clothing or bedding. Cool hands and feet on their own are normal, so do not add layers just because fingers or toes feel cold.

Check the back of the neck or tummy before you go to bed and whenever your baby wakes. Damp hair, a sweaty neck or a hot tummy means take a layer off. Warm, dry skin means they are fine, even if their hands and feet feel cool.

Feeds and newborns on warm nights

Breastfed babies may want to feed more often in hot weather, and fully breastfed babies do not need water before they start solid foods. Formula-fed babies can have a little cooled boiled water as well as their usual milk (NHS).

Young babies struggle to keep their body temperature steady (NHS), so on warm nights check a newborn more often, and keep their layers to a vest and a light bag or less.

This is general dressing guidance, not medical advice. If you are worried your baby is unwell, call NHS 111 or your GP. In an emergency, call 999 or your local emergency number.