26/12/2025
❄ Dressing your newborn in winter ❄
🔆 During the day:
- Give your baby one more layer than yourself
- Remove hats and extra clothing as soon as you're indoors or get into a warm car, bus or train, even if it means waking your baby.
🌙 At night:
- A room temperature of 16 to 20C is comfortable and safe for sleeping babies
- A sleepsuit and either a sleeping bag or a sheet and/ or blanket should be fine (check sleeping bags for winter tog thickness)
- If you use a sleeping bag and you think your baby is cold, dress your baby in an extra layer of clothing - but not extra blankets
- If you're using sheets and/ or blankets, use lightweight cellular blankets. Avoid thick, fleecy or padded blankets
❓How will I know if my baby is too hot?
- If your baby is sweating or their tummy feels hot to the touch, take off some of their clothing or bedding.
- Don't worry if your baby's hands or feet feel cool. This is normal.
Babies should:
- Never sleep with a hot water bottle, electric blanket
- Never sleep next to a radiator, heater or fire
- Never sleep in direct sunshine
The Lullaby Trust says the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is higher in babies who get too hot.
Find out more about safer sleep in winter on the Lullaby Trust's website:
👉 www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/travel-and-weather/safer-sleep-winter/
👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sHhA2gukPM
