Sleeping bag for baby - confused

[Mon2468]

This is so random but I've confused myself. I have 2.5 tog sleep bag that I want to start using on my baby, it states using a cotton body suit if the temperature is 17-20 degrees, does this mean outside temperature or room temperature? And also do people put just a vest on and no sleep suit/baby grow? I don't want to over heat my baby, he is 4 weeks old but hates being swaddled. Thanks for any info

It means the room. The grobags we used to use came with a little card that also showed what clothes to put the baby in depending on the temperature (eg a 3.5 tog bag with a sleep suit and vest if it was 14 degrees in the bedroom, up to a nappy only in a 0.5 tog bag at 30 degrees or whatever).

It's the room temp. Our house is quiet hot and my baby was summer born. I spent the first two weeks obsessing over the room temp then ditched the grow egg thermometer and just felt the baby's chest and took it from there. My baby gets very unsettled when I follow the guidelines of the card as he's too cold. His room sits at around 21/22 he has a vest sleep suit and 1.5tog.

Yes it means the room temp. Although I’ve found that my baby runs a bit colder than average so for example our bedroom is between 20 and 22 degrees at night and the grobag guide advised 1.0 tog but my baby was freezing when I went to feed him in the night so I’ve stuck to 2.5 togs with a long sleeved bodysuit since then! So by all means use the guide but also trust your instincts.

Thanks all. My thermometer says our room is 22/23 degrees but to me it feels cool, I always put a short sleeve vest then a long sleeve baby grow on him for bed time, not sure if his normal night wear plus 2.5 tog will be too warm. I guess I could try him in it just now and when he wakes in a few hour for his feed I will check his chest and neck to make sure he's not too hot, he normally wakes 2-3 hourly.
Im a FTM so will probably keep checking him every half hour or so 🙈

The lullaby trust have an infographic on what to dress baby in at night.

Hi OP, it’s room temp.

Here is a helpful guide

www.babycentre.co.uk/a25024140/what-should-my-baby-wear-at-night-infographic

I'd say a vest, long sleeved sleep suit and 2.5 tog is quite a bit for this time of year. I'd either use a lighter bag or remove the vest. Babies can't control their temperature and will wake up if they're cold to let you know. The current layers are what my DD wore in Nov-Jan.

I'm due my second next week and I'll be dressing him in a long sleeved sleep suit and the gro swaddle but with free arms.

This is only my opinion!

That room temp is too hot. The ideal temp is 16 to 20c

currently got my little one in long sleeve vest, baby grow (with feet) and a 1.5 tog... room is 16 degrees.

I would say a room at 22° would be pretty hot in a 2.5 tog and vest and baby grow..

Thank you all. Think I'll get a lighter tog

Our room temperature is about 20/21 and baby is in a long sleeved bodysuit and 2.5 tog sleeping bag. When temp got above 21 I'd put her in a 1.5 tog (mainly earlier in the year when we had the heating on more). As others have said, better a bit cold than too hot!

@Mon2468 what size sleepbag are you using? My little boy is 3 weeks and we were given a 0-6m ond but it looks massive. Can you get a smaller one?

@mrscotton they have a minimum weight which is usually from 7 or 8lb, Tommee Tippee do smaller ones for newborns.

[quote Sundayrain]@mrscotton they have a minimum weight which is usually from 7 or 8lb, Tommee Tippee do smaller ones for newborns.[/quote]
My little one was weighed about 10 days ago and he was already 8lb 5oz (he was 8lb 1oz at birth 3 weeks ago) so i would think most should be ok. Thank you for your reply.

As PP have said it’s room temp. Is there any particular reason why your room is so hot at night? I know new builds can be hard to keep cool but I’d be trying to get the room cooler before fewer layers if possible.

Room temperature. But TBH I found my babies were always too cold and would wake up constantly and be upset if I dressed them to the guidelines. Feel the back of your baby's neck or their chest, and see if it's cool (too cold), warm/hot but dry (perfect) or sweaty (too hot). Then adjust layers as necessary.

Don't worry, you will get the hang of what suits him and babies are born/sleep in other countries where it is much hotter than 20C at night, they do not all expire immediately from heat exhaustion.

Tbh I think the thermometer isn't right, we keep radiator off in our room and it's always cool when we are going to bed. We do have the boiler in our room though not sure if that would make it warmer however don't sleep with the heating on. I will get another thermometer and see if it says the same.

@mrscotton it's a 0-6 month I have as well, he was 8,11 at birth and now 11lbs

Our room temp is 17.5°-19.5° and our 6 month old baby is in a short sleeve vest, cotton sleepsuit and a 2.5 tog sleeping bag.

I always check the room temp about an hour before he goes to bed and I'll open the window for a bit to cool it down if it's too warm. His nursery is in our box room so the small space heats up fast when the heating is on.