Choosing the right baby sleeping bag for the temperature and why it’s so important

Ensuring your baby stays asleep for as long as possible is a task most parents struggle with. Trying to the find the best time of day, room temperature, clothing options, room light can be a mind game, and recently the temperature has been particularly unpredictable.

To help their babies stay asleep for longer, many parents are opting for baby sleeping bags as they can help maintain their body temperature and can be more comfortable than blankets.

Baby sleeping bags have also been designed to stop babies kicking off the covers during the night. Many parents have also found them to be helpful in transitioning babies from prams directly into their beds. The bags mean there’s no need to change clothes or fiddle around with bedding, reducing the risk of them waking up.

Considering the benefits of the bags, it’s no surprise they’ve grown in popularity over the years. However, the TOG rating attached to them can be confusing, so let us break it down for you.

TOG stands for ‘Thermal Overall Grade’ and essentially explains the warmth of doonas and sleeping bags. The higher the tog, the warmer the product.

Here is a brief guide:

• 2 Tog: Hot temperatures, for very hot rooms 27°C (81°F) and above
• 5 Tog: Holiday and heatwaves, hot weather and very warm rooms 24-27°C (75-81°F)
• 1.0 Tog: Summer and daytime naps, warmer weather and in rooms 20-24°C (68-75°F)
• 2.5 Tog: All year round, for standard rooms 16-20°C (61-68°F)
• 3.5 Tog: Cold temperatures, for cold rooms 16°C (61°F) and below

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So, which one should you buy?

0.2 and 0.5 TOG bags are used in peak summer or if your child is unwell and has a raised temperature. They are also handy for day-naps year-round when your child is already dressed in clothing.

If you live in a mild climate or your house is well insulated and heated, a 1.0 tog may be the one for you. These bags are ideal during the summer months when the nights are warmer, and during day-naps in spring and autumn. Just ensure you nursery is over 21°C.

Bags with a 2.5 TOG rating are ideal for Autumn, Winter and Spring and can be used right up until the Summer nights become warm. It’s the most versatile TOG rating and you’re guaranteed to get a lot of use out of it as long as your nursery is below 20°C.

3.5 TOG bags are made for colder winter temperatures, when the room is between 12 – 15°C.

To make it as easy as possible, keep a thermometer in the nursery and check the room temperature before dressing.

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Look for reputable brands like Grobags from The Gro Company. Their award-winning bags are made to keep your bub comfortable during their sleep. They are also leaders in sleep safety and have worked closely with the UK’s leading SID’s research charity, The Lullaby Trust.

The bags also come in the most adorable prints and colours which a cute bonus.

ErgoPouch is another reputable company with a large range of swaddles, sleeping bags, sleep suits and pyjamas for newborns up to five-year-olds. The collection comes in a range of adorable designs and TOG ratings.

The award-winning ErgoPouch 3.5 TOG sleep suit bag is a clever choice for winter. It converts from a baby or toddler sleeping bag to a sleep suit with legs using the zippers. In sleep suit mode, it’s also perfect for little wrigglers and movers who like more leg freedom in sleep, and toddlers transitioning from cot to bed.

Getting your baby to sleep consistently can be tough, but with the help of a baby sleep bag hopefully it will be that bit easier!