😴 Sleep · Birth to 2 years
🌙 Dressing baby for sleep: the TOG guide
TOG measures insulation: a higher rating means a warmer sleep sack. There is no universal outfit chart for every baby and product. In Kenya, conditions vary by location, season and time of day; consider the actual room temperature, including cooler nights, and avoid overheating.
Choose layers thoughtfully
- A room thermometer near the sleep area, away from direct sun or air-conditioning airflow.
- Lightweight, breathable clothing and, if needed, a correctly sized non-weighted sleep sack.
- The manufacturer's temperature and clothing guidance for that specific sleep sack; a sack is optional in warm conditions.
Check, adjust and keep it simple
1. Start with the actual room
Check conditions where baby sleeps, including changes overnight. Do not cool the room aggressively to meet a foreign temperature chart. Use ventilation or air conditioning comfortably, keeping cords inaccessible.
2. Choose a suitable fit
Follow the sack's size guidance so baby cannot slip inside it. Do not use weighted sacks or add blankets over one. In a warm room, light sleepwear without a sack may be enough.
3. Feel the chest or back of the neck
Hands and feet alone are unreliable temperature checks. If baby's chest feels hot or sweaty, remove a layer and reassess. If the chest feels cool, add a light clothing layer rather than loose bedding.
4. Keep the head uncovered
Remove indoor hats and avoid thick fleece or multiple insulating layers in warm conditions. If baby seems unwell or unusually hot, measure their temperature rather than assuming it is clothing.
5. Keep the sleep space safe
For infants, use back sleeping on a flat, firm mattress in their own cot, with a fitted sheet and no pillows, blankets, toys or bumpers. Share your room for at least six months, not your bed; sofas are not safe sleep spaces.
Classic mistakes
- ❌ Treating TOG as a medical prescription A rating describes the product's insulation, not the exact layers every baby needs. Use the manufacturer's guidance alongside room conditions and baby's comfort.
- ❌ Mistaking fever for overheating A baby under three months with a temperature of 38°C or higher needs urgent medical assessment, even if you have removed extra layers.
A local detail, or your own experience with this guide? Write to the team
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When in doubt, contact your doctor or midwife. For a life-threatening emergency, call 999 or 112.