TOG guide for baby sleep: which sleeping bag for your room
5 min read
Quick answer
Use the TOG guide for baby sleep by matching the sleeping bag to the room temperature, not the season. In the NHS range of 16–20°C (61–68°F), our starting point is a 2.5 TOG bag up to 19°C and a 1.0 TOG bag from 20°C. Check the maker's chart, then feel your baby's chest or neck.
- TOG measures warmth: the higher the number, the warmer the bag
- NHS: keep your baby's room at about 16–20°C
- Change the layers under the bag before you change the bag
- No hats, duvets, pillows or loose blankets in the cot
- Sweaty or hot chest means remove a layer
What does TOG mean on a baby sleeping bag?
TOG is a warmth rating for the fabric of a sleeping bag: the higher the number, the warmer the bag. Our guide to what TOG is explains every rating and how to read a TOG chart.
Which TOG for which room temperature?
Measure the room near the cot with a room thermometer. The NHS recommends keeping it at about 16–20°C. Then use these TinyLayers starting points. They are not NHS or AAP rules, and brands rate their bags differently, so always check the sleeping bag maker's own guidance too.
- Below 16°C: warm the room if you can. If not, 2.5 to 3.5 TOG (the maker's winter rating) over a long-sleeve vest and a long-sleeve sleepsuit
- 16–17°C: 2.5 TOG over a vest and a long-sleeve sleepsuit
- 18–19°C: 2.5 TOG over a long-sleeve sleepsuit
- 20–21°C: 1.0 TOG over a cotton sleepsuit or long-sleeve vest
- 22–23°C: 1.0 TOG over a short-sleeve vest
- 24–26°C: 0.5 TOG over a short-sleeve vest, or the vest alone if your baby feels hot
- 27°C and above: a short-sleeve vest alone, or under a 0.2 TOG bag
What should my baby wear under a sleeping bag?
Think of the bag as the outer layer and the clothes underneath as the dial you turn. If the room is a degree or two off, swap a short-sleeve bodysuit for a long-sleeve one (or the other way round) before buying a new bag.
If your baby seems cold, the NHS says add a layer of clothing, not extra blankets. In hot weather the NHS says keep nightwear to a minimum, and your baby can sleep in just a nappy. Babies do not need a hat to sleep indoors. The NHS advises taking hats and any extra layers off straight away once you are back inside.
Signs the TOG is too warm or too cool
Overheating can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it is worth checking. The NHS says feel your baby's chest or the back of their neck. Cool hands and feet are normal and are not a sign to add more.
- Too warm: sweating, a hot chest or flushed skin. Remove a layer or drop a TOG.
- About right: chest and neck feel warm and dry.
- Too cool: chest or back of neck feels cool to your warm hand. Add one thin layer under the bag.
Safe sleep rules that apply at every TOG
The right TOG only helps if the rest of the cot is safe. These points come from NHS and AAP safe sleep advice.
- Lay your baby on their back for every sleep
- Use a firm, flat mattress with nothing else in the cot
- No pillows, duvets, cot bumpers, loose blankets or soft toys
- Do not use weighted sleeping bags, sleepers or swaddles (AAP)
- Keep the cot away from radiators, heaters, fires and direct sunlight
- Never use a hot water bottle or electric blanket for your baby
Sources
We check this guide against these sources. It is general information, not medical advice: speak to your health visitor, GP or paediatrician about your own baby.
Questions parents ask
What TOG should my baby wear at 18°C?
At 18°C, the TinyLayers starting point is a 2.5 TOG sleeping bag over a long-sleeve sleepsuit. If your baby's chest feels sweaty after 10 to 15 minutes, swap the sleepsuit for a lighter vest. If it feels cool, add a vest underneath. Check your brand's own chart, as TOG ratings can vary between makers.
Is a higher TOG safer in winter?
No. A warmer bag is not a safer bag. The NHS and AAP both say overheating can increase the risk of SIDS, so aim for warm and dry rather than as warm as possible. If you are torn between two options, choose the lighter one and check your baby's chest or the back of their neck.
Can I use a blanket instead of a sleeping bag?
The NHS says lightweight blankets or sheets are fine if your baby sleeps in the feet-to-foot position, with their feet at the bottom of the cot. Never use duvets or pillows. The AAP says nothing but a fitted sheet should be in the cot, and suggests a wearable blanket or layers of clothing instead.
What TOG for a newborn?
Newborns use the same room-based TOG guide as older babies. What matters is the bag's size: choose one made for your baby's weight or age, as the manufacturer advises. If your baby was born early or has a health condition, ask your health visitor or neonatal team which sleeping bag they recommend.
My baby's room is above 24°C. What should I do?
Use a 0.5 TOG bag or lighter, or just a vest or nappy. The NHS suggests closing blinds or curtains during the day and using a fan in the room, but not aimed at your baby. Check your baby's chest regularly and remove a layer if they feel hot or sweaty.