by Kate M • tlc@mokee.eu
Any new parent will fret over how hot or too cold their newborn is. Even before baby arrives, parents are inundated with information at antenatal classes which explain how newborns cannot regulate their body temperature. It’s a constant worry during those first few months and I can remember checking the variety of thermometers in my son’s room and still wondering if he was too hot!
As the days get shorter and winter fast approaches, here at MOKEE we thought we would try and explain the universal TOG rating and how and why this is important for all parents to understand.
What is the TOG rating?
The tog is a measure of thermal resistance of a unit area, also known as thermal insulance. It is commonly used in the textile, baby textiles either, industry and is a European warmth rating and has nothing to do with weight; the higher the tog rating, the warmer the product.
HOW MANY TOGS SHOULD I USE?What TOG should a sleeping bag be?
When your baby is heavy enough to use a baby sleeping bag then be aware of their tog ratings. Sleeping bags are usually given a tog rating according to the warmth they provide. Commercial sleeping bags have the following tog ratings:
What should a baby wear using a sleeping bag?
If the room is warm (26 degrees), then the baby should be in a 0.5 tog sleeping bag and wear a short-sleeved bodysuit.
If the room is warm (24 degrees), then baby should be in a 1.0 tog sleeping bag and wear a short-sleeved bodysuit.
If the room is warm (22 degrees), then baby should be in a 1.0 tog sleeping bag and wear a long-sleeved bodysuit.
If the room is slightly cooler (20 degrees), then baby should be in a 2.5 tog sleeping bag and wear a long-sleeved bodysuit.
If the room is slightly cooler (18 degrees), then baby should be in a 2.5 tog and wear a long-sleeved body suit and pyjama top.
If the room is slightly cooler (16 degrees), then baby should be in a 2.5 tog and wear a long-sleeved body suit and sleepsuit/pyjama set.
How will I know if my baby is too how or too cold?
When looking at this subject I found the NHS to offer great advice as seen here:
“Your baby may wake during the night which may be a sign that they are not at a comfortable temperature. If the back of their neck (or their tummy) feels nicely warm then they are fine, if their skin feels damp they may be too hot. Do not worry if their arms, hands or feet feel cool as this is quite normal and helps them to maintain a regular temperature. It is not recommended to put a hat or hood on your baby when they are in bed as this can cause them to overheat. It is better for your baby to be cool rather than hot, and if they are too cold they’ll soon let you know!”