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😴 Sleep · Birth to 2 years

🌙 Dressing baby for sleep: the TOG guide

Reduce sleep-related risks with a firm, flat, clear infant sleep space, back sleeping and avoidance of overheating.

Choosing sleepwear

  • Well-fitting, non-weighted infant sleepwear appropriate to the room and baby.
  • If using a sleep sack, follow that product’s sizing and temperature guidance; TOG alone does not determine the required layers.
  • Keep the head uncovered indoors and check for sweating or a hot chest/back.

Rules of thumb

  1. 1. Every sleep

    Place baby on their back on a firm, flat, approved infant sleep surface, with no pillows, wedges, bumpers, loose soft items or weighted sleep products. Share a room, not a sleep surface, at least for the first six months.

  2. 2. Dress for comfort

    Keep head and face uncovered. Use well-fitting sleepwear; a non-weighted well-fitting sleep sack is optional. Follow its manufacturer’s temperature guidance rather than treating a TOG table as medical law. Check the chest/back for overheating; no single 18–19°C range guarantees safety.

  3. 3. Stay safe

    Never sleep with baby on a sofa or armchair or while holding them. Never shake baby. If overwhelmed, place them safely in their crib/crib and ask for support. Emergency: 911.

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When in doubt, contact your doctor or midwife. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.