How To Dress A Baby For Sleep In Summer, Winter & With Flu!

Author Image By Paula McLaren BA (Hons) Early Years Development & Learning •  Updated: 03/22/22 •  Baby » Baby Sleep

Knowing how to dress a baby for sleep is very important to ensure they sleep soundly, safely and are happy to settle.

However, making the decision on what your baby should wear to sleep can be quite daunting and fraught with self-doubt… 

So, let’s take a look at how best to decide what is right for your baby in your particular environment to make sure that they’re just right!

How To Dress A Baby For Sleep

There are lots of options for appropriate baby clothing to wear when they sleep.

Typically, dressing your baby for sleep will include:

But the general rule of thumb when it comes to how to dress a baby for sleep is to…

Put them in one more layer than you would feel comfortable with.

However, what you dress your baby to sleep in will depend on the time of year, how warm or cold your house is and where you live in the world.

Ideally, you should have a selection of sleepwear options to enable you to adapt to changing temperatures!

How To Dress A Baby For Sleep In Summer

When it’s warm, you want to keep things light. This is a vital consideration as an overheated baby may increase the likelihood of SIDS, but being too cool will only result in your baby waking up more as they are uncomfortable.

So… for summer weather, dress your baby in:

OR…

If your baby is not a fan of being swaddled, then sleepsacks or wearable blankets are great alternatives.

How To Dress A Baby For Sleep In Winter

When it comes to winter, you will be looking at adding extra layers:

So, when dressing your baby for sleep in winter try:

Can A Baby Wear Socks To Bed In Winter?

As with all things baby-related, the answer is not clear cut! 

If your baby’s feet feel overly cool to the touch then you could put socks on them to sleep in. However, a footed sleepsuit and or sleeping bag will keep your baby’s feet cosy and warm anyway.

How Do You Know If Your Baby Is Warm Enough?

The best way to tell if your baby is warm enough at night is to feel their skin!

Cool hands and feet are not the best indicators of your baby’s overall temperature so check the following instead:

Keep an eye on your baby’s behaviour too. If they seem uncomfortable, restless or are fighting sleep, do a check of their skin temperature.

How To Dress A Baby For Sleep With A Fever

When your baby is sick, they will need a little bit of extra love and attention to ensure they feel safe whilst under the weather.

Babies will also tend to sleep more when they have a fever, but they will also run a high temperature too.

So what’s the best way to dress a baby for sleep when they have a fever?

Well contrary to what you think, you should not bundle your baby up in extra layers or strip them down to base layers either at the first signs of illness.

Unless your baby is burning up (in which case, you should seek medical advice) you should dress your baby appropriately for the season in loose soft clothes and make sure they are as comfortable as possible.

In order to maintain peace of mind, you can always check baby’s internal temperature using a baby-safe thermometer regularly.

Healthy, happy babies should have a body temperature of around 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit / 36.4 degrees Celcius. But when they’re sick, this can rise by a couple of degrees.

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5 Crucial Factors To Create The Perfect Sleep Environment For Baby

Dressing your baby appropriately for sleep is one of several factors that will help your baby get a good night’s sleep.

To ensure your baby can sleep peacefully and restfully, you also need to take into consideration:

1. Maintain The Perfect Room Temperature

Room temperature is hugely important and should be between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.

I highly recommend investing in a room thermometer such as the GroEgg room thermometer as it will give you peace of mind that your baby’s sleep environment is at the correct temperature and warns you if baby’s room is getting too warm or too cold.

GRO-Egg Room Thermometer

Offering peace of mind at a glance, the wonderful GRO-Egg changes colour with the temperature of a room. A yellow glow means a safer temperature for children to sleep in which also doubles up as a gentle nightlight for your baby!

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2. Utilise A White Noise Machine

A white noise machine is an amazingly useful piece of kit to help your baby sleep well too. It is soothing and reduces the impact of sudden household noises waking your baby.

3. Use Blackout Curtains

Blackout curtains can be controversial as if your baby can only sleep in a blacked-out room then they may struggle to sleep in other locations. So they’re definitely a personal choice. 

However, it is useful to know that, in hot countries, blackout curtains can make a room cooler to sleep in.

If you’re concerned about your baby not being able to sleep in a variety of locations, you can use a nightlight alongside blackout curtains to avoid the issue of them only being able to sleep when it’s pitch black!

Tommee Tippee Sleeptime Portable Baby Travel Blackout Blind

Maintaining a good sleep routine with your baby can be tricky, especially through changing seasons or when you’re away from home! This beautiful blackout blind from Tommee Tippee is made from lightweight premium fabric and completely blocks out daylight, helping to create a dark and sleepy space for baby, no matter where you are!

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4. Invest In A Good Crib

The correct crib, bassinet or Moses basket is vital to your baby’s sleeping comfort. A crib should be well ventilated and have a flat, firm and well-fitting mattress. 

Use a warmer flannel bottom sheet in the winter and a cooler cotton one in the summer.

This crib from DaVinci is one of my favourites that is perfect for babies all the way up to young children!

Best Crib
DaVinci Fiona 4-in-1 Convertible Crib

When looking for a crib I really feel that one that can grow with your baby is best. This lovely crib easily adapts to a toddler bed, then day bed or full size making the transition from crib to bed easier and less stressful for your little one. Couple this with its Greenguild Gold certification and stylish design this is a real value for money crib.

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5. Use Appropriate Blankets, Swaddles And Sleeping Bags

Blankets are not advisable for young babies to sleep with as they are prone to being kicked off and have a risk of covering your baby’s face.  

However, swaddling or sleeping bags such as the ones by Tommee Tippee, which give you the correct options to choose for different temperatures, are a far safer option and most babies love sleeping in them!

Tommee Tippee Sleepee Snuggle Adaptable Baby Swaddle

The Tommee Tippee Sleepee Snuggle is designed to keep babies snug and secure just like when they were in the womb. This innovative wrap combines the comfort of super soft cotton swaddling with the ease of use of a baby sleeping bag, providing the versatility you need to keep baby happy as they grow from newborn to infant to toddler without compromising on safety or style!

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How To Dress A Baby For Sleep Recap

Naturally, knowing how to dress a baby for sleep can be quite daunting and knowing what is best and safe can be a little confusing.

Remember, the general rule of thumb when it comes to how to dress a baby for sleep is to put them in one more layer than you would feel comfortable with.

If you enjoyed this post and know other parents who would enjoy this content about how to dress a baby for sleep, be sure to give it a share! 

And if you have any blog recommendations that you’d like me to write about or questions related to dressing your little one for sleep, be sure to drop me an email at [email protected] and let me know!

Thank you for your continued support and until next time, Happy Parenting!

Author Image Bio
Paula McLaren - The founder of Teething to Tantrums has been in the childcare industry as a Norland Nanny and Childcare Expert since 1982. Her qualifications include a BA (Hons) in Early Years Development & Learning (0-6 Years) plus the highly prestigious Norland Diploma, recognized as the best early years practitioner qualification in the world. During her 40+ years of experience, she has worked as a night nanny (specializing in solving sleep issues), run a very successful daycare center in London, and raised almost 100 children, including her son, to be kind, healthy, and happy individuals with her tried and tested developmental and guidance methods.

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