If you’re concerned about what to dress your baby in for sleep, it’s best to stick to breathable materials and natural fibres. It’s also helpful to choose pieces made for layering so you can easily add extra if the temperature cools, or remove any if it gets warmer. A few recommended items are:

• Sleepsuits
• Baby sleeping bags
• Swaddles
• Pyjamas
• Vests
• Lightweight blankets

It’s not recommended to use duvets, heavy blankets or loose sheets. Instead a sleeping bag should be used on top of a single fitted sheet.

Babies should ideally be dressed in light layers and soft, breathable fabrics at night – organic cotton is great for helping with temperature regulation. Some top tips for what to dress a baby in at night, to help keep them safe and cosy, are:

• Look for soft natural fabrics, such as cotton or bamboo. Not only are they gentle on their delicate skin, but they are also breathable so can help to regulate temperature.
• Choose a baby sleeping bag with the appropriate tog for the season. If in doubt, it’s better to go for a lower tog and add layers, if needed.
• Opt for a baby sleepsuit which fits them perfectly, to make sure they feel cosy and comfortable without the risk of layers going over their head at night. Ideally, bedtime clothing should not be too loose, but allow some movement.
• Check the sleepwear you buy or use for anything that could be a safety risk. One thing to look out for is any threads, buttons or poppers that might have come loose.

Selecting the appropriate nightwear for your baby’s age and the season will not only help to support restful sleep, but it will also prioritise the safety of your little one at night when they may be at risk of becoming too hot or too cold.

There are a few factors that go into deciding what to dress your baby in for sleep.

Ideally, your baby’s room should be between 16°C and 20°C for safe sleeping. Another thing to consider is making sure your baby isn’t too close to a radiator or an open window.

It’s important to remember that babies can't regulate their body temperature like adults can, so they can be more susceptible to changes in the weather. By ensuring their room is the right temperature and dressing them in breathable, comfortable clothing that isn’t too heavy, you can help support them to get to sleep. In terms of fabric, something like soft cotton is ideal for a baby's delicate skin.

To promote safe sleeping, babies should lie on their back, on a firm, flat sleeping surface with no loose covers around them that they could pull over their head. It’s also best to remove any cot bumpers or soft toys at night.

The beauty of layers is that they make it easier to adapt to changes in temperature. By simply adding layers of clothing in colder conditions and removing them on warm nights, you can help your baby feel comfortable as they sleep.

It’s best to check your baby regularly to make sure they’re not too hot or cold. It can be common for babies’ hands and feet to feel cool to the touch, so it’s always best to assess their core temperature by feeling the back of their neck or chest. If they feel too warm or clammy, remove some layers.

If you’re wondering: what should my baby wear to bed in summer, and which layers should I add for winter? Explore how best to dress your baby for sleep during the warmest and coldest seasons.

Choosing what a baby should wear to bed in summer, will depend on both the outside temperature and the temperature conditions of the room. On very hot, humid nights, it can be difficult to keep your baby’s room at the recommended temperature, so keep layers to a minimum and opt for very light, breathable clothing. On very sticky nights, just a vest and nappy rather than a sleepsuit will do. It may also help to give your baby a cooler bath before bed. Using blackout curtains and keeping windows closed during the daytime will help to keep the room as cool as possible during the night and if you do use a fan to cool the room, make sure it’s placed at a safe distance from the cot and is pointing away from your baby.

Whilst it may be tempting to turn the heating up on cold nights, it’s recommended to safely add layers instead to keep your baby warm and avoid overheating. What to dress a baby in at night during the winter will vary depending on the temperature. Cold nights may mean layering a vest, long-sleeve sleepsuit and baby sleeping bag. In warmer homes, you may not need multiple layers, so it’s best to assess your baby’s temperature as regularly as possible and adjust as you go.

Baby sleep cycles are shorter than adults’, so it’s common for them to wake during the night. While sometimes babies will wake if they are feeling cold, it’s best to do your own checks in colder weather to make sure they’re not too chilly and it’s important to add additional layers if your baby feels cold. Signs that your baby is too cold may be:

• Frequent waking and fussing
• Restlessness
• Feeling cold to the touch on the back of their neck
• Pale, blotchy, or bluish skin
• Unusually cold hands and feet
• Shivering or appearing unusually lethargic

A baby who is too hot at night may or may not wake from the discomfort, so it’s vital to check on them to make sure and remove any layers if they’re too warm. Look out for:

• Flushed skin
• Sweating
• Restlessness
• Faster breathing
• Feeling hot to the touch

What to dress a baby in for sleep during hot weather is all about minimal layers and lightweight clothing to help them keep cool at night. If you’re worried about your baby’s health, or they’re continuing to feel too warm or cold even after you’ve adjusted their clothing, contact a medical expert.

Safe, sound sleep is an essential part of their routines as they grow, develop and thrive during those hours. It can feel tricky to find the ideal solution to what a baby should wear to bed, as there isn’t just one option that fits for all seasons. What to dress a baby in at night will vary with the weather and how warm the room is, which is why layers are a good solution. Trust your intuition as a parent, as even spring nights can be unexpectedly chilly. By checking on your baby regularly, you can help keep them at a consistent temperature. Above all, safety and comfort are key to restful sleep – for both baby and you – and opting for lightweight, soft, breathable materials can help your baby comfortable. Our organic-cotton sleepwear for babies is designed for sweet dreams and restful sleep all year round.

For more baby sleep advice read our feature on The Thread.

The ‘5-10-15 rule’ is a baby sleep training method. After they’ve been fed, changed and cuddled, and when you can rule out illness or another problem, the method advises checking on them after they’ve cried for 5 minutes at night. This is then followed by 10 then 15 minutes to encourage self-soothing.

Some babies will wake up and cry if they’re too cold at night, but not always. It’s best to check on them if the weather is particularly chilly, and if your baby’s chest or the back of their neck feels cold when you check them, it’s best to add another layer.

It’s not usually necessary for babies to wear mittens at night, if you use the correct layers to keep their core temperature comfortable. Things like gloves and hats could cause overheating.

Duvets are not recommended for babies. Loose bedding can present a safety risk, as well as the chance of overheating, so duvets should only be introduced for children who are over one year old. These should be a lower tog.

If you notice your baby has managed to roll onto their side or front when you check on them, gently reposition them into the recommended safe position, which is on their back. Their feet should also be at the bottom of the bed to prevent them from wriggling down under the blankets.