What should a 6-month-old wear?
4 min read
Quick answer
A 6-month-old should still wear one more layer than you, matched to the temperature. What changes is the sun: from 6 months, the NHS says you can use SPF 30+ sunscreen on uncovered skin, alongside shade and a sun hat. For sleep, keep using a sleeping bag matched to the room, with no hat or loose blankets.
- Same layering rule, adjusted for temperature
- From 6 months: SPF 30+ sunscreen, plus shade
- Sips of water with meals on hot days
- No bulky coats under car seat straps
What changes at 6 months
Temperature rules stay the same, but a few things change around 6 months. Your baby can now have sunscreen: the NHS advises SPF 30 or higher with UVA and UVB protection, reapplied every 2 hours and after sweating. And from around 6 months you can offer sips of water from a cup with meals, with extra between meals in hot weather (NHS).
Many babies are also rolling, sitting and moving more on the floor, so they can get warmer during play. Check the back of the neck after active play rather than adding layers to be safe.
What should a 6-month-old wear outside?
Use the outdoor temperature, not the season. As a guide:
- 10–14°C (50–57°F): vest, sleepsuit, warm cardigan, pramsuit, hat and mittens
- 15–18°C (59–64°F): vest, sleepsuit and a cardigan or light jacket
- 19–21°C (66–70°F): vest and light sleepsuit, thin cardigan to hand
- 22–23°C (72–73°F): short-sleeved vest and light trousers or a romper, sun hat
- 24–26°C (75–79°F): single layer of lightweight cotton, wide-brimmed hat, shade
- 27–30°C (81–86°F): one thin cotton vest or romper, wide-brimmed hat, full shade
What should a 6-month-old wear to sleep?
For sleep, keep the room at about 16–20°C and your baby on their back in a clear cot. The NHS advises keeping their cot in your room for at least the first 6 months. As a guide:
- under 16°C (under 61°F): a vest plus a long-sleeved sleepsuit under a warm (2.5 to 3.5 TOG) sleeping bag
- 16–19°C (61–66°F): a long-sleeved cotton sleepsuit under a 2.5 TOG sleeping bag
- 20–23°C (68–73°F): a cotton sleepsuit (or long-sleeved vest) under a 1.0 TOG sleeping bag
- 24–26°C (75–79°F): a short-sleeved cotton vest under a 0.5 TOG sleeping bag
- 27°C+ (81°F+): a short-sleeved cotton vest, alone or under a 0.2 TOG sleeping bag
How to check your 6-month-old is not too hot or cold
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 after floor play, a long feed or a nap in the pram. Sweaty means a layer off. Cool hands alone are normal, even in older babies.
Car seats and winter coats at 6 months
As babies move to bigger car seats and wear thicker coats, the AAP advice stays the same: no bulky coats or snowsuits under the harness. Dress your baby in thin layers, check the straps are snug with the pinch test, then put a coat or blanket over the top.
Keep an infant carrier seat indoors when you are not using it, so it is not cold when you put your baby in (AAP).
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.
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
Can sunscreen replace shade at 6 months?
No. From 6 months the NHS says you can use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on uncovered skin, but shade still comes first: keep older babies out of the sun wherever you can, especially from 11am to 3pm. Use shade, a wide-brimmed hat and light clothing first, and sunscreen on the skin that is left.
What should a 6-month-old wear at 20°C?
At around 20°C outside, a cotton vest and a light sleepsuit, or a top and light trousers, is usually right, with a thin cardigan in the bag for shade or a breeze. In the sun, add a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen on uncovered skin.
Does a 6-month-old need water in hot weather?
From around 6 months, the NHS suggests giving small sips of water in a cup at mealtimes, with a little more between meals in hot weather. Breast milk or formula is still their main drink, so offer feeds more often on hot days too.
Can my 6-month-old sleep with a blanket now?
Not a loose one. The AAP says soft objects and loose bedding increase the risk of suffocation and entrapment, and the NHS advises a clear cot. Keep using a well-fitting sleeping bag matched to the room temperature, with your baby on their back and no hat.