Here's where you'll find all the info on what your baby should wear to bed, how to use a baby sleep bag and safer sleep guidelines.

The sleep hub is presented in partnership with our friends The Lullaby Trust. Folk & Thread are proud to be an official supporting partner of The Lullaby Trust, the UK’s leading safer sleep charity. Together we are dedicated to promoting safer sleep for all babies.

How to dress your baby for bed

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This guide tells you at a glance what your baby should wear to bed with their Folk & Thread baby sleep bag.

Check the room temperature and choose an appropriate tog, then dress them according to the guide. It takes all the worry out of wondering if baby is over or underdressed, and will take you right through the seasons. Easy!

This guide has been developed by baby sleep product experts drawing on technical testing, understanding of baby sleep science and safe sleep guidelines.

What is a tog?

Tog is a measure of the thermal resistance of a piece of bedding. Our baby sleep bags go through rigourous testing by scientists in an independent lab to measure how much heat they retain. The resulting measurement is the tog (or Thermal Overall Grade if you want to get technical!)

Folk & Thread offers three different togs to keep baby cosy or cool all year round. The 'Tog' of a baby sleep bag, just like adult bedding, tells us how warm or cool it is.

For room temperatures up to 20C, we have a 2.5 tog - a cosy padded bag. A great most-of-the-year solution!

For room temperatures of between 18-24C - our 1 tog is perfect. This lightweight blanket-style bag can be used as the room temperature starts to warm up.

For very warm room temperatures of 24C and above, our super light, woven cool cotton 0.5tog provides a light covering. Its enclosed seams and zippers have been designed to be worn with just a nappy for those really hot nights.

Safer Sleep Guidelines from The Lullaby Trust

  • Always place your baby on their back for sleep

    Many more babies have died suddenly when placed to
    sleep on their front or side, rather than on their back. Since the Back to Sleep campaign in 1991 the rate of SIDS has dropped by 80%.

  • Keep your baby smoke free before and after birth

    Babies who are exposed to tobacco smoke before or after birth have a much greater chance of SIDS than babies who are kept smoke-free.

  • Breastfeeding

    SIDS risk is halved in babies who are breastfed for at least two months.Breast milk and breastfeeding provides all the nutrition your baby needs for the first six months and protects them against infections and diseases.

  • Bedsharing more safely

    Whether you choose to bedshare, or it is unplanned, there are some key risks you should avoid.
    It is dangerous to share a bed with your baby if:
    • you or anyone in the bed has recently drunk any alcohol
    • you or anyone in the bed smokes
    • you or anyone in the bed has taken any drugs that make you feel sleepy
    • your baby was born prematurely (before 37 weeks
    of pregnancy) or weighed under 2.5kg or 5½ lbs when
    they were born

  • Give your baby a clear, flat, separate, sleep space in the same room as you

    Soft or raised surfaces, pillows or quilts can increase the chance of SIDS by making it difficult for babies to breathe or cool down. The chance of SIDS is lower when babies sleep in a room with an adult than when they sleep alone.

  • Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair

    Sofas and armchairs are dangerous places to fall asleep with your baby – move somewhere safer if you might fall asleep.

    The risk of SIDS is 50 times higher for babies when they sleep on a sofa or armchair with an adult. They are also at risk of accidental death as they can easily slip into a position where they are trapped and can’t breathe.

The Lullaby Trust

Folk & Thread are proud to be an official supporting partner of The Lullaby Trust, the UK’s leading safer sleep charity. Together we are dedicated to promoting safer sleep for all babies and are so pleased we are able to do so through our collaboration on The Better Sleep Project Click here for more safer sleep advice and information from The Lullaby Trust.

Every time you make a purchase from Folk & Thread it funds the Better Sleep Project. We are giving 1200 baby sleep bags, sheets and muslins to The Lullaby Trust, who will distribute them to families in need.

Find out more

Have you ever wondered...

What if my room temperature changes through the night?

It's always best to dress a baby cooler rather than warmer. That's because overheating increases the risk of SIDS, whereas a chilly baby will wake you up and let you know!

So if your room is warm at bedtime but gets cooler throughout the night and it's on the cusp of two baby sleep bag togs pick the lighter tog and consider adding an extra layer of clothing underneath.

Never use additional blankets with a baby sleep bag.

Why are my babies hands cold?

It is totally normal for babies hands to feel cold to touch while they sleep - it doesn't mean they are under dressed or uncomfortable.

A better indicator of their core temperature is feeling their chest or back.

What if it's too hot for a baby sleep bag?

If it's too hot then don't use one. Put your baby down to sleep in just their nappy, add a light cotton T-shirt or vest if they need something.

What if it's too cold for a baby sleep bag?

When the temperature drops we add all sorts of lovely thick blankets to our grown up beds, but using extra blankets in a baby's bed can increase the risk of suffocation or SIDS. If using a baby sleep bag, no extra bedding is needed.

Instead, choose a baby sleep bag with a higher tog and dress baby in additional layers following the what to wear guide.

Why are baby sleep bag togs lower than my duvet?

A baby sleep bag is a complete pocket that is snugly wrapped around your baby, over their chest and shoulders. This creates a cosy pocket of air that warms up around them and moves with them.

Babies can't push the duvet off, move to the cool spot or stick a leg out to cool down like us adults, so a 2.5 tog baby sleep bag is carefully designed to keep them comfy, cosy and at a safe temperature throughout most of the year.

Choose the right baby sleep bag for your room temperature...