Summer has arrived, and temperatures and humidity levels may cause havoc on everyone’s sleep. Even though we have been longing for summer weather, the number one question every parent finds themselves asking is ‘how do I dress my baby in summer when they go to sleep?’ We’re giving you some of our most important tips and tricks to help baby sleep on warm nights.
The 5 most frequently asked questions about baby sleep during summer
Preparation is everything
Since the production of the sleep hormone melatonin is closely linked to darkness, it is worthwhile to darken the nursery room or your room when you get your baby ready for bed. This will slowly get them in the mood for bedtime.
What temperature should the nursery room be?
The ideal sleeping temperature for babies is around 18°C. Babies prefer it a little cooler, anything between 16 and 20°C is optimal.
How do I cool the nursery room if the temperature is too high?
It‘s not always possible to maintain a room temperature of 20°C, especially on hot summer days or evenings. Blackout curtains or roller blinds can help you to prevent the room from heating up too much – depending on which direction your bedroom or children’s room is facing. It is best to use a thermometer in the children’s room, keep windows and blinds closed during the day and air the room only when it gets dark and/or the air cools down. A fan can also help in hot summer weather. However, your baby should not lie in the cool air stream. Since humidity plays a role, you can choose models that cool and humidify or dehumidify at the same time.
Which sleeping bag is the right one to use when it’s warm?
As babies should not sleep under duvets or sheets due to the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), the only option in summer is a sleeping bag or swaddle (unless it is so hot that everything is too much). Here you can orientate yourself on the so-called TOG value (Thermal Overall Grade). This is a unit of measurement that shows the thermal resistance of textiles.
Our Baby Sleeping Bags and On the Move Sleeping Bags are available in three different fabric weights or TOG values (light, medium, thick). They can be used from birth to 3 years of age in a variety of sizes. Thanks to their adjustable shoulder straps, the different models grow easily with the child in the first few years. With the right combination of size and material, you are guaranteed to find the right sleeping bag for the respective season or room temperature.
The following table shows you which sleeping bag is best suited for which temperature. It also tells you what your baby should wear under the sleeping bag.
How should you dress your baby to sleep in summer?
Looking at the table above you can use bodysuits, rompers or pyjamas – depending on the temperature. You can adapt your baby’s sleepwear accordingly. It is important that you do not use thick terry cloth or velour fabrics in summer, but preferably air-permeable, light cotton.
Dressing baby for sleep in the summer – It’s easy!
There is no one right answer to the question of what a baby should wear during summer to sleep, but it is relatively simple. The right combination of TOG value of the sleeping bag, the right sleeping clothes and room temperature will help achieve that full nights rest.
