Dress Baby for Sleep

8. Dress Baby for Sleep

Dress baby for sleep to avoid overheating, follow safety tips for swaddling, and no hats

DRESS BABY FOR SLEEP FAST FACTS

  • Babies should wear no more than one layer more than what an adult would wear to be comfortable.
  • Wearable blankets are the safest alternative to regular blankets. If you do not have a wearable blanket, a sleeper onesie is a great alternative.
  • Do not use weighted sleep sacks or blankets for babies.
  • Babies should not wear hats while sleeping.
  • If you swaddle your baby, be sure to swaddle your baby safely and stop once they start to roll.

Continue reading below to learn more…

Dress Baby for the Sleeping Environment

Dress Baby Safely for Sleep

Dressing baby safely for sleep includes not using hats, headbands, bibs, teething necklaces, clothing with strings, or hoods, as these items increase the risk of sleep-related death due to suffocation, strangulation, and overheating.

Dressing baby for sleep also includes not using blankets. Blankets are not safe to have in the sleeping environment because they are a suffocation and strangulation hazard. The safest alternative to loose blankets in the sleep environment are wearable blankets (Sleep Sacks, Snoozzzettes, etc.).

Wearable blankets are one-piece bag-like garments that come in cotton or fleece and secure the baby into it by slipping around the arms like a shirt and zipping down towards the feet keep the baby inside. A wearable blanket allows for the baby to move around freely without the risk of the blanket getting loose and covering the baby’s face or wrapping around the baby’s neck.

However, if you do not have access to wearable blankets due to their price or because they are all soiled, the best alternative to wearable blankets are long sleeve sleepers. These sleepers also come in fleece and cotton so parents can pick the best fabric for the temperature.

Dress for the Temperature

Babies should wear no more than one additional layer than an adult would need to be comfortable.

When dressing baby for sleep, it is important to think about the temperature of the environment as well as the weight and breathability of the article of clothing. It is best to use lightweight and breathable clothing such as cotton onesies or footed pajamas.

When layering clothing, be sure to take into consideration TOG ratings. TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade and is a unit of measurement to indicate the warmth or thermal insulation of a fabric, including sleepwear and wearable blankets. To use the TOG ratings, match the rating to the temperature of the room and adjust the clothing under the wearable blanket to ensure your baby isn’t overheating. Additionally, our friends at Safe Infant Sleep shared this handy guide for safely dressing baby for sleep at different temperatures.

Click to enlarge. Shared with permission from Safe Infant Sleep
    • 2 to 0.5 TOG: Lightweight for warm weather or rooms above 75°F (24°C).
    • 0 TOG: Medium weight for moderate temperatures (68–74°F or 20–23°C).
    • 5 TOG: Heavier for cooler temperatures (61–67°F or 16–20°C).
    • 5 TOG: Extra warm for cold environments below 61°F (16°C).
Monitor Baby for Signs of Overheating

Babies cannot regulate their body temperature as easily or efficiently as adults. Caregivers need to be mindful of how they dress their baby for the temperature and monitor for signs of overheating. Overheating increases the risk of death due to SIDS because it can make the baby less arousable, meaning that it is harder for the baby to wake up if they are having difficulty breathing during sleep.

Overheating can be caused by too many layers of clothing, blankets, the use of a hat during sleep, and elevated room temperatures. Signs of overheating include sweating, flushed skin, and/or a baby who feels hot to the touch.

If baby is showing signs of overheating due to extra layers of clothing, try removing layers and opt for lightweight and breathable fabric.

Weighted Sleep Sacks

While weighted items are marketed to aid sleep, they’re not safe for babies. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against using any weighted item during sleep. A baby’s chest cavity is underdeveloped, and added weight can impact their ability to breathe properly.

Hats & Safe Sleep

Avoid putting a hat on your baby while sleeping indoors. Hospitals may use hats initially for temperature regulation, but once home, your baby has adapted to the environment. Using a hat indoors can risk overheating, so let your baby sleep comfortably without one. To avoid a choking hazard, never lay your baby down to sleep wearing hair accessories, such as bows, ties, or barrettes.

Swaddling & Safe Sleep

For the first few weeks, swaddling can offer comfort to newborns. Swaddling is a soothing technique for babies because it mimics the snugness of the womb, helping them sleep better. Swaddling has NOT been shown to reduce the risk of sleep-related deaths.

When a baby is swaddled, the baby should still be placed on their back to sleep. Swaddled babies that are placed on their tummy had a 13x greater risk of death. And swaddled babies placed on their side to sleep had a 3x greater risk of death.

Once your baby shows signs of rolling, stop swaddling to prevent the risk of suffocation.

Safe Swaddling

Swaddling must be done correctly to avoid possible overheating, covering the baby’s face, and abnormal hip development.

It is important to use the proper technique:

    • Do not cover the head. Only swaddle from the shoulders down.
    • Do not over-tighten around the chest and hips to promote air exchange and body development.
    • Do not swaddle blankets too loose; they may become unwrapped and increase the risk of suffocation.
    • Only swaddle using a lightweight blanket; never use a quilt or crocheted blanket.
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