When the seasons and temperatures change (especially in Chicago!) we must remember that we need to safely dress our babies and toddlers for bedtime with their pajamas, swaddles and sleep sack choices. Keep reading below for our bedtime tips and our favorite safe swaddles and sleep sacks for different temperatures (including how to choose the right Tog for your environment).

For babies 0-12 months of age:

It is important to know that it is UNSAFE for babies under 12 months of age to use blankets in their cribs or bassinets to stay warm during sleep. The best way to keep your baby warm and comfortable is to dress them in layers and pick the right sleep sack or swaddle blanket based on the temperature in your baby’s room.

What is a Tog rating?

Tog stands for Thermal Overall Grade and is a unit of measure of thermal insulation used in the textile industry. A Tog rating describes the blanket/sleep sack’s thermal effectiveness (how well it keeps you warm!).

For warmer temperatures, a lower Tog rating is needed, as opposed to a higher Tog rating, for colder temperatures. Babies do not regulate their own temperatures very well so having a correct Tog rating is important!

.5 Tog – ideal for summer and hot weather >75 degrees Fahrenheit. About the same thickness as a swaddle blanket

1.0 Tog – used during warmer weather months and room temperatures between 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit

2.5 Tog – perfect for wintertime and colder climates, ideal for temperatures between 60-68 degrees Fahrenheit

The Tog level should be chosen based on the temperature of your baby’s room, NOT the temperature outside. If you are unsure of which Tog level to choose, 1.0 Tog is generally considered the “universal” Tog as it can be used almost all throughout the year – just add extra layers of clothing to keep your baby warm if it’s colder or remove layers of clothing if it’s warmer.

What should my baby wear underneath the swaddle or sleep sack?

Now that we have discussed what type of sleep sacks are ideal for different temperatures, what your baby should be wearing underneath their sleep sack or swaddle blanket is equally as important!

Cool (60-68 degrees F)

• 0-4 months (baby not rolling over yet so swaddle blanket is safe): long sleeve footed pajamas or sleep gown + optional short sleeve onesie + standard swaddle blanket
• 4-12+ months (baby can roll over, no longer safe to use swaddle): long sleeve footed pajamas or sleep gown + optional short sleeve onesie + 2.5 Tog sleep sack

Warm (68-75 degrees F)

• 0-4 months (baby not rolling over yet so swaddle blanket is safe): long or short sleeve footless pajamas + standard swaddle blanket
• 4-12+ months (baby rolling over, no longer safe to use swaddle): long or short sleeve footless pajamas + 1.0 Tog sleep sack

Hot (>75 degrees F)

• 0-4 months (baby not rolling over yet so swaddle blanket is safe): short sleeve onesie or only diaper + standard swaddle blanket
• 4-12+ months (baby rolling over, no longer safe to use swaddle): short sleeve onesie or only diaper + 0.5 Tog sleep sack

Remember that once your baby can roll over it is time to move them from a standard swaddle blanket into a sleep sack.

Babies under the age of 12 months cannot use standard blankets because they are considered a sleep hazard. A sleep sack should be used once your baby starts rolling over (no more swaddle!) and they are safe to use until your child no longer fits in it.

PRO TIP: Sleep sacks can be helpful to keep your toddler from climbing out of their crib until they are ready to transition to a toddler bed!

Once your child is ready to move into a toddler or regular size bed this is a great time to transition them from their sleep sack to using a regular blanket! I like this blanket from Target, this weighted blanket fro Dreamland Baby, or this star muslin blanket from Amazon as options for your toddler.

**Your toddler can start using a blanket at 12 months according to the AAP and a toddler pillow at 24 months (the CPSC states 18 months for a toddler pillow). This is my favorite toddler pillow! Checkout my instagram post about toddler pillows here!

Sleep sacks come in all different sizes so be sure to find one that fits your baby safely. The arm holes of the sleep sack should be snug enough that your baby cannot pull their arms inside of the sleep sack. Also, the neck hole should not be big enough for your baby’s head to slip down into the sleep sack. Any zippers on the sleep sack should be covered to avoid them from scratching your baby’s skin.

PRO TIP: Dress your baby similar to how you dress! If you are most comfortable in pajamas with long sleeves, pants, and socks most likely your baby would be comfortable sleeping in something similar!

And just a quick reminder on the ABC’s of safe sleep for your baby!

They should sleep ALONE. on their BACK, in their CRIB (or bassinet) with no toys or loose blankets.

How do I choose the best sleep sack and pajamas for my baby/toddler?

There are SO many different types of swaddles and sleep sacks on the market, it can be overwhelming. I have tried multiple options with each of my girls so I have narrowed down a list of my favorite sleep sacks, swaddles and pajamas for your baby!

Favorite swaddles:

Ollie swaddle – our absolute favorite swaddle for your newborn!

Happiest Baby swaddle – this is very similar to the Ollie (but half the price) and Kate really likes it and recommends for he2r sleep clients too!

Woombie convertible swaddle – another great newborn option that converts to fit babies 0-9 months (and then can be used as a toddler blanket).

Dreamland Baby weighted swaddle – This weighted sleep sack is temperature regulated and has micro-pellets that makes your baby feel secure, similar to the womb. I used this for Sage as a transition sleep sack when she started rolling over and I moved her out of her swaddle.  PLEASE NOTE: The AAP has recently updated their sleep recommendations which includes discouraging the use of weight sleep sacks/swaddles. Read more here. Dreamland baby has issued a statement in regards to the AAP’s newest recommendations regarding weight sleep sacks/swaddles. They stand by the safety of their product- you can read more of their safety statement here and here.

Favorite sleep sacks:

Kyte Baby sleep sack – I wish I could cozy up inside of one of these, they are made with bamboo fabric and are seriously SO soft! They have all different Tog levels and so many cute pajamas to choose from as well! They even have ones for toddlers with little legs so they can walk in them!

Woolino sleep sack – these are a splurge but they are made out of breathable merino wool that keeps your child warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm. They can be used for all 4 seasons so they can be used all year long!

The same sleep bag can be used from 2 months – 2 years old! They also have ones for toddlers with little legs so they can walk in them! Use code BUMBLEBABY10 for discount.

Aden + Anais sleeping bag – a light weight 1.0 Tog rating sleep sack made of 100% Muslin. The perfect universal swaddle to keep your baby warm during cooler temperatures but at the same time keep them cool during warmer temps!

Moon and Back sleep sack – I used these for Margot this entire year, they are wonderful quality at a great price point!

Dreamland Baby weighted sleep sack – this weighted sleep sack is temperature regulated and has micro-pellets that makes your baby feel secure, similar to the womb. Deema used this with Maya. PLEASE NOTE: The AAP has recently updated their sleep recommendations which includes discouraging the use of weight sleep sacks/swaddles. Read more here. Dreamland baby has issued a statement in regards to the AAP’s newest recommendations regarding weight sleep sacks/swaddles. They stand by the safety of their product- you can read more of their safety statement here and here.

Favorite pajamas:

Burt’s Bee’s footed pajamas – perfect to keep those toes warm during cooler temps!

Little Sleepies pajamas – these bamboo pajamas are very soft (they feel like butter) and come in so many cute patterns and prints! They come in a zipper option for babies and a 2 piece option for toddlers which is great if you love to have your kids matching like I do!

Hanna Andersson organic cotton pajamas – we own an embarrassing amount of these pajamas! They are a perfect weight for warmer and cooler temperatures, come in a short sleeve/shorts option and are available in both baby and toddler sizes. Putting my girls in matching pajamas is my favorite!

Short sleeve onesie – great for layering under pajamas on colder nights!

Lou Lou and Company gowns – my absolute favorite gowns for newborns! They are so soft, perfect for newborn photos and also middle of the night diaper changes! Margot wore these for basically the first 3 months of her life!

Moon and Back gowns – Another one of my favorite gowns at a lower price point. They come in a pack of 2 and are a little thicker so they are great for cooler temps.

Additional winter tips

Besides safely dressing your baby for winter temperatures there are other things you can do to make sure your baby’s room is comfortable for them to sleep in!

1. Try using thermal curtains and shrink wrapping your baby’s windows to block out the cold winter air.
2. Using a cool mist humidifier is also a great way to make sure your baby’s room doesn’t get too dried out (and cause dry, itchy skin!) from having your furnace running during colder months. This one is a bumble baby favorite!
3. Make sure to avoid the use of space heaters and extra blankets in your baby’s room and crib – these pose a major risk to your baby’s safety. Space heaters have the ability to cause fires and can potentially burn your baby if touched by accident. Extra blankets can lead to suffocation. Remember your safe sleep ABC’s (listed above).

Have more questions? Schedule a text or video chat consult with Kate, Lauren or Natalie (NICU RNs) and they can help answer any questions that you have!

Other helpful blog posts:

• Safe Sleep and SIDS prevention
• 5 Successful Sleep Tips from Kate
• Kate’s favorite sleep products 0-6 months
• How the Slumberpod can benefit your baby’s sleep
• Why we love the Newton Mattress for baby and toddlers
• Room sharing tips for babies and toddlers
• When to transition to a toddler bed
• How to know your baby is ready to drop to one nap per day

**This post is educational and not meant to take the place of your provider. Bumblebaby makes a small commission on some of the items listed above