As you prepare to put your infant down for a nap or the night, do you ever think, “What should a newborn wear to sleep?” or “How can I be sure that my baby is comfortable and safe during the night?” Few topics in childcare are more stressful than those related to sleep. When your baby doesn’t sleep well, neither do you.
These are questions most parents have thought about at one time or another. This topic may have been covered in your newborn classes at your birth center or hospital pre-delivery. You know what makes you comfortable sleeping, but does this differ for your baby?
We’ll identify some things to consider when clothing your child for a safe and comfortable sleep environment.
How to Dress a Newborn for Bed
Many factors must be considered when dressing your infant for sleep, whether for a short nap or throughout the night.
Wrapping your infant in extra layers of clothing during winter is tempting, as you always want them to be snug. However, your baby can overheat when wrapped too warmly, and overheating has been shown to increase the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Research has shown cooler temperatures are better for a baby to sleep in.
Consider what your infant has worn and whether it has been comfortable during the day while awake. An extra layer may be necessary to keep your baby comfortable sleeping when they are not actively moving around.
If your baby was born preterm, you may need to keep them a little warmer as they can’t yet regulate their temperatures efficiently.
The Best Temperature for Your Baby to Sleep
The recommended room temperature for sleeping is between 68℉ and 72℉ (20℃22℃). However, people may be accustomed to higher or lower temperatures depending on where they live. Your baby may still be comfortable outside this recommended range if it is used to it and dressed appropriately.
Your baby’s body temp should stay between 98.6 and 100.3 ℉—any reading above 100.4℉ is considered a fever. Consider that when you take their temperature under their arm or their tongue, these areas usually have a reading of about one degree less than their actual temperature. Your baby’s chest is the best place to determine their body temp.
Different options exist for dressing your baby when sleeping to achieve this comfortable and safe temperature. According to a study published in March 2019 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, sleep sacks are safe and effective in decreasing the risk of SIDS compared to traditional bedding for children.
Momcozy has Soft Bamboo Baby Pajamas to help track your child’s temperatures as they wear them for sleep.
These skin-friendly, ultra-soft, and breathable sleepers have a unique BB-TEMP label. When your baby’s body temperature rises, the rainbow label on the front changes color, allowing parents to adjust clothing layers and room temperatures.
Momcozy pajamas are made of bamboo fiber. They have a two-way zipper for easier diaper changes, hand wraps to warm your baby’s cold hands and prevent scratching, and a compartment to prevent the zipper pull from irritating the skin. They are available in sizes from newborn to 24 months.
What Should Your Baby Wear to Bed?
Parents should not put their newborns to sleep with other things in the bed: no loose blankets, crib bumpers, or other soft objects, such as stuffed animals. These may increase the chance of suffocation, SIDS, or other dangerous sleep situations. Additionally, you should keep unnecessary objects like toys from the baby’s crib to keep them from choking.
Instead, layer your baby’s clothing to keep them at a comfortable temperature. Think of what you are going to wear to bed. If you wear flannel pajamas and slip under a warm comforter during the winter chill, put a warm sleeper on your child and add a sleep sack. If you are trying to stay cool during a summer heatwave and wear only a sleep shirt with a sheet to cover you, dress your newborn in just their diaper or a onesie with a light swaddle to keep your baby cool.
When deciding what to clothe your baby in for sleep, consider the Thermal Overall Grade or “TOG.” This rating is used more in the United Kingdom to explain the level of warmth in sleep sacks for babies, quilts, and duvets for adults. The higher the TOG, the warmer it is.
Swaddles are ideal for newborns as they’ve become accustomed to sleeping in your warm belly for the nine months of gestation. The sensation brought on by swaddling is a safe and secure one for your baby.
How Do You Know That Your Baby Is Comfortable?
Your baby cannot tell you whether it is comfortable or not. However, its reactions to its environment can be a signal that something needs to be changed for it to sleep well. If your baby starts crying, this can be the first sign. Knowing your baby’s cues is crucial to understanding their comfort levels, and when your baby shows signs that something is wrong, a new parent may need some guidance.
Figuring out how to make them more comfortable in different temperatures requires trial and error. You need to decide how many layers to dress the baby in and set a safe room temperature for the baby to sleep in. We’ve discussed the recommended room temperature for the baby to sleep in, but is this the ideal temperature for where you live?
Signs that your baby is too hot:
- Sweating
- High temperature (greater than 100.4℉)
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Rapid breathing
- Flushing of the baby’s face
- Heat rash
- Lethargy (difficult to awaken)
Signs that your baby is too cold:
- Shivering
- Awakens frequently
- Skin tone is pale or blotchy
- Seems unsettled
- Fussy
- Body temp is cold
We know that cold babies don’t sleep well, and overheating a baby isn’t safe. A newborn baby needs a safe sleep environment, and the baby’s temperature is essential for promoting healthy sleep habits.
How Many Layers Should a Newborn Wear to Sleep?
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that parents dress babies in one additional layer (no more) than adults would wear in the same room. This avoids overheating; for many parents, it is an easy and secure way to know whether their baby is too hot or cold.
Dressing your baby for sleep using this simple guidance can decrease the risk of SIDS, help regulate the baby’s temperature, and ensure safe infant sleep for your little one.
Should Your Baby Wear Hats to Sleep?
You should not wear a head covering or hat on your baby to keep them warm while sleeping.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against wearing hats or other head coverings indoors except in the first hours of life or in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Many parents thought wearing a hat on the baby’s head during sleep decreased the risk of hypothermia. However, head coverings prevent the baby’s head from releasing heat, which can cause overheating. If the hat slips, the baby’s face can also become covered, causing suffocation.
Should Your Baby Wear Socks to Sleep?
Whether you should wear socks when you put your baby down for sleep depends on the temperature of the room and your baby's temperature.
The benefits of wearing socks on your infant include:
- Body temperature regulation
- Increasing baby’s blood circulation
- Helping the baby fall asleep faster
If your baby gets too warm or starts to sweat, remove their socks to help cool them.
What to Consider When Choosing Infant Sleepwear
There are many things to consider when choosing sleepwear for your infant:
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Temperature Regulation:
- Keep the room at an ideal temperature, preferably between 68℉ and 72℉ (20℃ - 22℃).
- Lightweight cotton fabrics can be layered according to the environment.
-
Safety:
- Flame-resistant sleepwear.
- Avoid choking hazards on clothing: loose strings, ribbons, or other embellishments, for safety reasons.
-
Comfort:
- Wear breathable and soft fabrics to deter skin irritation.
- Avoid heavy fabrics that may cause them to overheat.
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Other things to consider:
- Baby’s size and age
- Ease in changing diapers
- Washing sleeping items
- Using swaddles for consistent temperature and comfort.
The Best Type of Sleepwear for Babies
The number of options for baby sleepwear is sometimes overwhelming, enough so that parents may have trouble weeding through the marketing hype to know the safest items. The key to the best sleepwear items is comfort, safety, and security.
Don’t feel that you need to have oodles of sleepwear for your baby. A few quality pieces (four to six pieces) may be all you need. If you have not found the best diaper for your baby and have been dealing with leaky ones, having a few extra sleepwear items on hand may be a good idea.
Look for convenience for you and safety for the baby. Gown-type clothing gives you an easy opening for diaper changes, and the baby has room to move their legs more freely.
One-piece pajamas with zippers are also a good choice for ease of changing diapers and comfort for your baby. Many of them have feet attached, so your baby’s feet stay warm, allowing for more uninterrupted sleep. With the BB-TEMP labeling, Momcozy’s Soft Bamboo Baby Pajamas are a great choice!
Light layers of clothing are optimal for babies' comfortable and safe sleeping experiences. Several thin layers make it simple to adapt your infant’s clothing to different temperatures. If your infant has cold hands, coverings like mittens are appropriate to warm them and prevent scratching.
Swaddles are perfect for newborns to sleep in. The burrito-style wrap makes babies feel as if they are still warm and cozy in their mother’s belly! Parents may want to put a onesie or warmer base clothing under the swaddle, depending on the season and temperature.
Swaddling soothes newborns and prevents them from startling themselves awake. It also helps keep the infant on its back, which is the recommended sleeping position. Swaddling can significantly improve your baby's sleep quality, keeping them calm and allowing them to sleep longer.
There are no time restrictions for swaddling a baby, so you may leave it on for as long as they are comfortable. About the time infants reach two to four months, and your baby starts rolling over, you’ll want to stop swaddling them. The swaddles restrict the baby’s hands and feet and may increase the risk of suffocation if they roll to their bellies and can’t roll back.
Momcozy Softness Swaddle Blankets are a must-have for baby! The ultra-soft muslin fabric is skin-friendly, durable, and breathable.
These lightweight blankets come in packs of two or four. Their two-layer design makes them extra comfortable. At 47” x 47”, they can conveniently be used when your child is older and needs a thin blanket.
Other Tips for Helping Your Baby Sleep Well
Newborns should have comfortable and safe sleep. Dressing your baby for these factors is only one part of the solution. Most babies are happy when they feel warm and cozy.
Keeping them safe is so important as they cannot care for themselves. Here are some other tips for your baby’s safe sleep:
Place your baby in its own crib. Co-sleeping with your baby in the same bed is never a good idea. You may inadvertently roll on them, and blankets (even lightweight blankets) can cause them to become overheated. They also have a greater risk of suffocation when not sleeping on a firm surface.
Pillows, stuffed animals, other toys, and lightweight blankets may not be placed in a child's crib until they are at least one year old.
Layers of clothing will keep newborns comfortable and warm. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a sleep sack or wearable blanket, baby pajamas, or a swaddle for them. These items create a safe environment and reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is just one of these. A case-control study found that “sleeping bags or sacks are as safe if not safer than other bedding when examining SIDS as an outcome.” They come in vest-like options that sit on your baby’s shoulders, freeing the baby’s arms.
Momcozy’s Muslin-Fitted Sleep Sheets and Smart Baby Sound Machine can improve your baby’s sleep experience.
These sheets have 360° mattress wrapping, which prevents them from slipping and makes them easier to fit and remove. They are available in neutral colors and medium and large sizes to fit pack-and-play devices and crib mattresses.
This sound machine has so much more! An app on your cell phone controls it. It has light, music, and 34 soothing sounds to help your baby sleep restfully.
Wrapping It Up for Comfortable Sleep!
You may have to take time to find the perfect sleepwear for your newborn. Dressing them for sleep means finding the most comfortable and safest clothing so that they can have the best quality sleep. The temperatures of the room and the baby are always crucial to keep your baby from overheating or getting too cold. Following these tips, you can find the perfect sleep environment with a little trial and error.
