Proper sleep is one of the most important things for a tiny baby. The immune system best develops when babies sleep. It is also essential for your baby’s proper growth, weight gain, and mental development. So making sure your baby gets the best possible sleep conditions is why we wrote this informative article.
In our how to dress a baby for sleep in a 70 degree room, we will give you some guidelines which you can follow to make your loved one feel as comfortable as possible, so stick with us and keep on reading.
Why Is It Important to Dress your Baby Appropriately for Sleep?
Depending on the room’s temperature, you should dress your baby differently and appropriately. If the temperature is above 80 degrees, your baby should only wear a diaper. But if the temperature is very low, let’s say 62-64 degrees, then your baby should wear one layer of the bodysuit, pajamas and socks, and another layer of a tog sleeping bag.
In a 70-degree room, the ideal way to dress your baby would be in a short sleeve onesie, pajamas, and a 1-tog sleeping bag.
For babies to easily fall asleep, their body temperature needs to drop slightly. Overdressing your baby might prevent this, so keep that in mind.
A general rule of thumb that you should follow says that you should always dress your baby for sleep the same way you dress yourself; just add one extra layer.
Another thing to remember is that overdressing your baby may cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat rash, and even a heat stroke. As a result, these conditions may lead to Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Read more: How Long Does A Baby Sleep In A Bassinet
The Significance of Understanding TOG Ratings
The overall thermal grade or TOG, is a measuring unit that tells you how much thermal insulation a fabric provides. The blanket or garment will retain more heat if the number is higher.
For a 70-degree room, use a 1.0 rated TOG sleeping sack. This is the ideal rating for that room temperature.
The higher number of TOGs, say the 3.0 TOG, is ideal for colder seasons like winter. On the other hand, TOGs between 0.1 and 1.0 are ideal for the spring and summer. This all depends on the room temperature, so if it is winter outside and the room temperature is above 70 degrees, don’t overdress your baby with a number 3.0 TOG. Instead, try to adapt to your specific conditions.
Related: How to Get Baby to Nap Longer
How to Dress a Baby for Sleep in a 70 Degree Room: A Few Tips
To dress your baby correctly for sleep, we will provide you with several tips that you should keep in mind.
Use a bodysuit with short sleeves
Don’t mistake putting your baby to sleep in a long sleeve bodysuit if the room temperature is about 70 degrees. Even if you think that this way you might be protecting your baby from the cold and making them feel warm; this may cause overheating.
So always use a short-sleeved bodysuit at a room temperature of about 70 degrees. That is the first layer of clothing that the baby should wear.
Choose comfortable long sleeve pajamas
The second layer of clothes over the short sleeve bodysuit should be a set of long sleeve pajamas, and we emphasize the term long! An even better option would be for the pajamas to have footies and mittens.
Babies tend to take their socks off when sleeping; these pajama bodysuits will provide enough comfort and warmth for the entire night.
If you feel like your baby is uncomfortable or sweating, remove one layer of clothing.
Another essential factor is that the fabric is light and very breathable. Airflow is vital when preventing overheating.
You can choose pajamas with a zipper where the diapers go as a plus. This way, you will conveniently change diapers without fully undressing your baby several times during the night.
The last layer – a sleep sack
As we have already mentioned, you should use a 1.0 TOG sleeping sack if the room temperature where your baby is sleeping is about 70 degrees. The sack must also be lightweight and not disrupt your baby’s sleep.
It is okay if you encounter problems like your baby refusing the sleeping sack and wanting a little more freedom while sleeping in its crib. You can always substitute the sleeping sack with a warm and cozy blanket.
Try to use natural and lightweight fabrics
When it comes to fabrics for babies, we could indeed say that cotton is the number one choice. It offers lots of comfort for your baby, ensuring softness and warmth. It is also the best value for the money option.
Other than cotton, you can also choose silk or fleece.
- Silk is a bit pricey but is ideal for use in every season, and it regulates the baby’s body temperature perfectly.
- Fleece is also a great choice but is mainly used for sleeping sacks rather than a bodysuit. It is very lightweight and regulates body temperature quite well.
Ways to Tell if your Baby Is too Cold or too Warm
Babies act differently when they are asleep than when they are awake. If your baby wants something or has a problem while awake, it will let you know simply by crying. But when asleep, this often doesn’t apply and there are several things you need to look out for.
Firstly you should check if your baby is warm to the touch. You can do this by touching and feeling their back or chest.
Don’t be concerned if your baby has cold fingers or toes because this is normal. Babies cannot regulate body temperature as well as adults. But nonetheless, it may be a cause for your baby’s restless sleeping, so feel free to cover them up using mittens or footies.
On the other hand, you should be careful and aware if your baby is restless or sweating. They may even turn red, which means they may feel too warm. In this case, remove a layer of clothing to make them feel more comfortable.
Another great option, if you have it available, is to use a ceiling fan or a regular fan, especially on summer days. The fans regulate the room temperature and air circulation, which positively affects your baby’s sleep quality.
Read more: How To Wash Baby Clothes
Conclusion
We hope you found our article helpful as we tried to narrow down and explain the most important things you need to be aware of on how to dress a baby for sleep in a 70 degree room.
Remember that these are just general guidelines, so make sure to experiment with different clothes and situations to find what is most comfortable for your baby.
