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Time to read 13 min
You should discontinue swaddling as soon as your baby shows signs of rolling over (typically around 8 to 12 weeks). They need their arms free to safely elevate their head, making a wearable blanket the safest next step.
TOG (Thermal Overall Grade) measures how much heat a fabric retains. A lower rating (like 0.5) uses lightweight fabric for warmer rooms, while a higher rating (like 2.5) uses thicker fabric to keep babies warm in cooler nurseries.
Gently touch the back of your baby’s neck or their upper chest. The skin should feel warm and dry. If it feels sweaty or damp, your baby is too hot and you should remove a layer of clothing.
Use breathable base layers matched to the room temperature. For example, a 72°F nursery pairs perfectly with a 1.0 TOG sack and lightweight cotton pajamas. If the room is cooler, footed pajamas underneath a higher TOG sack are a better option.
If you are a new parent running on fumes, or someone standing in the baby aisle trying to pick a useful gift, you already know the real goal. You want the baby to sleep. Ideally, for no longer than one short stretch before the next wake-up. There are sleepwear products that offer good sleep for your baby.
There, you see in the aisle of the baby section, a sleep sack for babies. Simple. The tag shows a TOG ratings of 0.5, 1.0, or 2.5. Then, you start wondering. hOw did picking out PJs become this complicated?
We will guide you to make the whole TOG topic less intimidating. You will know what those numbers really mean and why room temperature should be considered for safety. You will have a clearer sense of what works for your baby to have a good sleep.
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A Thermal Overall Grade (TOG) rating indicates how warm a baby sleep sack is. This method will guide parents in selecting sleepwear based on the nursery room temperature. Since TOG rating matches the sleeping sack with room conditions, it keeps babies comfortable throughout the night.
The TOG rating also provides a comparable measure of sleep sacks. Low TOG numbers (0.5) indicate thin, lightweight fabrics that allow heat to dissipate easily. while TOG numbers (2.5 or 3.5) signify thick fabrics that retain more heat. Regardless of the TOG number, the goal remains the same: keeping the infant at a comfortable temperature during sleep. Not too hot and not too cold.
The TOG rating is developed through controlled fabric testing, which evaluates the amount of heat passes through the fabric when there is a temperature difference between the body and the surrounding air. Fabrics that retain more heat receive a high TOG rating, while fabrics that dissipate heat more readily receive a low TOG rating.Since fabric weight and texture can be deceptive, the TOG rating provides a consistent and scientifically valid way to select the correct sleep sack for the room temperature.
Why are TOG ratings so important? Let’s look at how infants regulate their body temperature, because it is quite different from how an adult controls his or her body temperature.
When a baby is born, its thermoregulatory (temperature control) systems have developed but not yet fully mature. An adult will shiver if he or she feels cold and thus generate heat by muscular contractions. The opposite occurs for an adult who has become too hot; he or she sweats, and through the cooling action of evaporation, cools down. Newborns and infants less than six months old cannot generate internal heat through shivering as efficiently as older children or adults, and the sweat glands of these young children are not fully developed, thereby limiting their ability to cool themselves.
Babies also have a greater ratio of body surface to body weight than adults. As a result, babies lose body heat much faster, sometimes up to four times faster than adults. Consequently, babies rely heavily upon the environment around them and upon the clothing they wear to maintain their body temperature.
This is why sleepwear is more important than people may realize. Both American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other safe sleep organizations recommend maintaining a moderate room temperature for babies. When infants overheat while sleeping, there is a greater risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) if an infant’s core body temperature rises too high while sleeping due to overdressing.
If you're a new parent or shopping for a baby shower gift, you’ve probably experienced this. A relative of yours suggests adding a cozy hand-knitted blanket for the baby’s crib to make it more comfortable. But when it comes to safe sleep, loose blankets in a crib are no longer recommended.
For years, pediatricians and safe sleep advocates have warned us about the dangers of placing anything loose into a baby’s crib. This includes blankets, thick quilts, plush pillows, and crib bumpers; all of these items create suffocation and strangulation hazards. A sleeping baby usually may kick a blanket high enough to cover their face during the night. Because babies haven’t developed the muscle control necessary to move fabric away from their face, their airway can become blocked.
Loose bedding also creates no consistency in maintaining the baby’s nighttime temperatures. Your baby may go to bed wearing a blanket that looks perfectly warm and snug, but by midnight they may kick it off and wake up chilled.
This is one of the reasons why baby sleep sacks became popular. A sleep sack is known as a wearable blanket. It is worn over your baby’s everyday pajamas and has fitted arm holes and a secured neckline that prevent the fabric from covering your baby’s mouth and nose. It provides the same cozy feel as a blanket without the added risks associated with loose bedding in the crib.
A sleep sack maintains the same temperature throughout the entire night because it stays securely fastened to the baby’s body. Since the baby cannot take off the sleep sack, the parents do not have to get to worry if their baby becomes too cold.
To apply the TOG rating system in practice, record the ambient temperature where the child will sleep. Parents should use an indoor digital nursery thermometer to measure the temperature in the child’s bedroom rather than relying on the central hallway thermostat, because there can be a significant difference between the bedroom temperature and the rest of the home.
Refer to the chart and match the nursery room temperature to the recommended TOG rating. The chart also shows the equivalent TOG ratings for different weather.
You already know how to match the nursery room temperature with the correct TOG rating; you are just one step away from choosing the right clothing for your baby to wear underneath the sleep sack.
Using the chart above, you will be more guided in choosing the best sleep sack and base layers for your baby. This simple combination helps keep your baby comfortable and prevents them from feeling hot or cold while sleeping.
The biggest error in choosing appropriate baby sleepwear is considering the outdoor environment, not the indoor one.
To see this play out practically, we can look to different climates of the United States as an example.
Families from the hottest parts of the country, such as Arizona, or in warm/humid climates like Florida, often experience outdoor temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter. Most homes in these locations use central air conditioning 24 hours a day and maintain an average nursery temperature of approximately 68 degrees.
Therefore, many of these parents use a 1.0 TOG sleep sack for most of the year; however, depending on how cool the room feels in the evening, a 2.5 TOG sleep sack may also be necessary.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, an older home in the Northeast or Midwest has central heat set to around 72°F, but the nursery has been poorly insulated and has drafty windows; temperature can drop to 64°F by 3:00 am. Therefore, a 2.5 TOG sleep sack is an important practical solution.
If you purchase a sleep sack for a person who lives far away, consider how the indoor temperature is maintained. If you do not know what the indoor conditions will be, then a versatile 1.0 TOG or a package of multiple TOG ratings should prepare parents for both extremely hot summer temperature with AC on full blast and cold winter winds that they did not plan for.
Babies' sleepwear evolves along with the babies themselves. Many new parents use swaddling for the first few weeks of their baby’s life. Swaddling wraps an infant securely in a blanket to control the “startle reflex,” the sudden arm movement that may rouse a sleeping infant.
When you begin to see the initial signs that your infant begins to roll over (around eight to twelve weeks), it is time to discontinue swaddling because they are unable to move their arms freely to elevate their head off the bed.
The first few times may cause some babies to take a little time getting accustomed to having their arms free; however, almost all babies link the use of a sleep sack to bedtime.
Using your newly acquired knowledge of TOG ratings for developing a sleep routine is the way to create an effective sleep routine. Although it may seem like there is a wide array of sleep sack brands available, finding a brand that is committed to both thermal science and parental convenience will make selecting a product easy. Babydeedee has developed a series of sleep sacks referred to as the Sleep Nest. These sacks were created using standard TOG ratings, and offer some very practical, unique features, as well as the construction details of the garment.
Babydeedee Sleep Sacks, known as the Sleep Nest sleep sack, offers unique features to help parents while providing the appropriate TOG ratings for their infants. In addition to being evaluated on thermal rating, the design details of the garment are also an option.
The first of the unique features of the Babydeedee Sleep Nest is its patented shoulder snap closure. The typical way of putting a sleepy infant into a sleep sack is by placing them on their back, pulling the zipper closed over their arms, which often causes the infant to be fully awake and upset due to the arm holes being too small for their arms. The Sleep Nest removes this mechanical problem by attaching two sturdy snaps to the shoulders.
After the parent lays the open Sleep Nest flat in the crib, they can then place the sleeping baby on it, close the shoulders with the snaps, and then close the zipper around the entire perimeter without having to put the baby’s arms through the tight armholes. This makes the process of transferring a baby from one location to another completely undisturbing to the baby.
For all your moderate, year-long temperature needs, the original Sleep Nest provides a quilted, breathable cocoon which meets the standard 1.0 TOG requirement. As for the colder months, the products get a lot more specific. The Sleep Nest Fleece is made out of good quality Polar Fleece giving you great warmth for a 2.5 TOG rating while still being lightweight and quick drying.
For the extreme cold weather family’s, or the one who has a strict rule of keeping their house at 68 degrees in the winter, the Sleep Nest Teddy will provide the most extreme protection against your nursery draft during the winter months with its faux fur on the outside, breathable cotton on the inside.
Familiarizing yourself with the essentials of the TOG Rating System will help you create a comfortable and safe sleep for your baby. Keeping your baby’s body at a stable core temperature is one of the best methods to minimize the chance of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and assist in helping your baby achieve deep, long periods of sleep.
The TOG ratings give you a level of confidence when choosing the right clothing for your baby as it relates to sleeping. A 0.5 TOG rating works well on hot days during summer. A 1.0 TOG rating is good for use throughout the entire year. A 2.5 TOG rating is the perfect choice to keep your baby protected from the harsh winter conditions.
Breathable cotton base layer clothing under your baby’s sleep sack is also vital to maintain and control your baby’s body temperature. Avoid using any loose blankets in the crib. This is still one of the safest sleep options for babies. Making a quality properly rated wearable blanket purchase will help ensure your baby’s safety and will enhance your ability to get a good night sleep with your baby.
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One simple way is to gently touch the back of your baby’s neck or the upper chest area. The skin should feel warm and dry. If it feels sweaty, damp or hot, your baby may be too warm, and you may want to remove a layer of clothing. Better not to check the hands or feet, since those areas are often cooler than the rest of the body.
You should be able to, but establishing consistency is key to your infant developing good sleeping habits. When you put your baby into a sleep sack, it will give them a signal from their brain that it is time to go to sleep, regardless of if it is night time or day time and the temperature of your house.
The answer depends solely on how well your home's climate control regulates its temperature; for example, if you regulate your home at 70°F, throughout the entire year by using central heat/air conditioning, choose the 1.0 TOG sleep sack. If, however, the indoor temperatures vary as much as the outdoor temperatures do throughout the seasons, then choose a 0.5 TOG sleep sack for summer and a 2.5 TOG for winter to ensure that your baby remains safe and comfortable.
In that case, it’s usually best to dress your baby for the coolest temperature you expect overnight. A slightly warmer sleep sack like a 2.5 TOG, paired with lightweight breathable layers can help your baby feel comfortable through the night.
Generally no. Wearing two sleep sacks on a baby at the same time may lead to overheating and can also restrict movements. A better option is to use a sleep sack with a higher TOG rating instead.
There isn’t a strict age limit. Many families continue using sleep sacks until their child is two or three years old. Some toddlers simply find them comfortable and familiar at bedtime.
Yes, using normal heat guidelines for sleeping sacks, a 2.5 TOG sleep sack is best suited for room temperatures ranging from 61-68°F. A 1.0 TOG sleep sack with lightweight cotton PJs would be better suited for a 72°F nursery.
While no one product can guarantee a perfect sleep, sleep sacks significantly reduce the number of environmental factors which contribute to a baby’s waking at night. The completely stabilized body temperature of the sleep sack, and the strong psychological cue provided by the sleep sack for deeper sleep.
Yes, Babydeedee Sleep Nests were designed to be machine washable.
If your infant has a fever his/her body temperature will increase which increases the likelihood that he/she may be overheated by a sleep sack. Many parents choose to remove the sleep sack and dress the baby in minimal clothing, such as a diaper.
Over time, harsh washing or high heat can weaken the fibers in fabric. Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
It’s better to choose the correct size. If the sleep sack is too large, a baby’s head could slip inside, which may create a safety risk.
In most cases, socks are not necessarily needed. If the room feels cooler, dressing your baby in footed PJs is often a better option.
TOG describes how warm a fabric will keep the wearer, while GSM simply refers to the weight of the material.
