Baby sleeping bag: which TOG to choose for the room temperature?
Oct
You're standing in front of a shelf of baby sleeping bags, and on every label you see a little note: TOG 1, TOG 1.5, TOG 2.5… So which one should you choose? Don't panic! It's actually very simple, as long as you know just one thing: the temperature of baby's room. In this article, I explain what TOG means, and I give you the chart so you'll never get it wrong again.
What exactly is TOG?
TOG (for “Thermal Overall Grade”) is a warmth rating. It shows how well a sleeping bag keeps baby warm. The principle is simple: the higher the TOG, the warmer the sleeping bag. Conversely, the lower it is, the lighter the sleeping bag.
Be careful: what matters is not the temperature outside, but the temperature in the room where baby sleeps. So, before choosing, I recommend putting a small thermometer in their room. In fact, France’s Assurance Maladie (national health insurance) recommends a room between 18 and 20 °C, aired every day.
The table for choosing the right TOG
Here are the guidelines I give all parents:
| Room temperature | Recommended sleeping bag | Underneath |
|---|---|---|
| Between 15 and 21 °C | Winter velour sleeping bag, TOG 2.5 | Bodysuit and sleepsuit |
| Between 20 and 22 °C | Mid-season sleeping bag, TOG 1.5 | Bodysuit and sleepsuit |
| Between 22 and 24 °C | Extra-light summer sleeping bag, TOG 1 | Bodysuit and light sleepsuit |
| Above 24 °C | Summer sleeping bag, TOG 1 | Bodysuit only, no sleepsuit |
| Above 26 °C | No sleeping bag | Bodysuit, or even just a nappy |
In practice, the winter sleeping bag is used from October to March in most homes. The mid-season one takes over in spring and autumn. And the summer sleeping bag is kept for very hot weather. Finally, in a heatwave, still keep the lightweight sleeping bag on if you can: baby then feels snug in a little cocoon, which reassures them.
To find out more about what to put on baby under the sleeping bag, read our guide How to dress your baby for the night?.
For the hospital stay: always a really warm sleeping bag
This is the tip people forget most often! In the first few days, baby can’t yet regulate their temperature properly. As neonatal paediatricians at Amiens University Hospital explain (Archives de pédiatrie journal, 2009), a newborn exchanges much more heat with their surroundings than an adult does, and cannot rely on their own mechanisms for long to stay at the right temperature. So baby needs to be dressed warmly, even in the height of summer. That’s why you should always pack at least one warm sleeping bag in your hospital bag: a winter one in spring and autumn, and at least a mid-season one in summer.
Choosing the right size: just as important as the TOG
The right TOG isn't enough: the sleeping bag must also be the right size. If it is too big, baby could slip down inside. That's why, for the birth, choose a small-size sleeping bag that fits snugly at the neck and arms. Then move on to an adjustable sleeping bag that grows with them.
In fact, while talking with many midwives, I noticed that one subject often bothers them: the size of the sleeping bags parents bring to the maternity ward. Very often, they are too big for a newborn. And baby could then slip down inside, which is a real danger. Like us, they also notice that it is harder and harder to find sleeping bags that are truly suited to newborns in the shops. That's why we created our 55 cm sleeping bag. Admittedly, baby wears it for less time. But it allows them to sleep safely during their first weeks. That's why it's important to plan for one or two newborn sleeping bags for baby's first weeks.
👉 To suit every season, our baby sleeping bags come in three different TOG ratings: winter velour TOG 2.5 sleeping bag, mid-season TOG 1.5 sleeping bag and summer TOG 1 sleeping bag. The 0-3 months sleeping bag measures 55 cm, perfect from birth, and the 3-6 months one grows with your baby. They all open out fully thanks to their zip, which really makes life easier when putting baby to bed. They are made of GOTS-certified organic cotton fabric and are Oeko-Tex certified, in 10 colours.
Size, fabrics, opening: find all the other criteria in our guide How to Choose the Right Baby Sleeping Bag?.
Your questions about sleeping bag TOGs
Which TOG for a room at 19 °C?
A winter velour sleeping bag, TOG 2.5, with a bodysuit and a sleepsuit underneath.
Which TOG for a room at 21 °C?
You're right on the borderline between the two. A mid-season TOG 1.5 sleeping bag works well, with a bodysuit and a sleepsuit.
Do you need a blanket as well as the sleeping bag?
No. The sleeping bag replaces the blanket. And above all, don't leave any soft objects in baby's cot, as the Assurance Maladie reminds us.
How can you tell if baby is too hot?
Feel the back of their neck or their back: if it's damp, baby is too hot. Then remove a layer of clothing or switch to a lower TOG.
Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.
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