Helping your baby regulate their body temperature at night is a great way to improve their sleep. And, when baby sleeps well, so do you. But, regulating your little one’s body temperature isn’t just a matter of comfort, it’s also an important safety consideration. As you prepare for your little one’s arrival, it’s important to have suitable clothing options for different temperatures. How do you know which items work best for different seasons? The TOG rating, which you may have come across while shopping for your little one, is a helpful tool to help you select the right weight for your baby. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about TOG and how to ensure your newborn’s body temperature stays within a safe range during sleep. As always, note that we are not experts and recommend you consult your pediatrician or health care provider should you have any questions or concerns.

Table of Contents 

1. What is a TOG Rating?
2. Why is the TOG rating important?
3. TOG Rating Chart
4. What is a normal body temperature for a newborn?
5. What temperature should I keep my baby’s room?
6. How do I know if my baby is too warm?
7. How do I know if my baby is too cold?

What is a TOG Rating? 

A TOG rating is a number that tells you how warm your baby’s clothing is. It stands for Thermal Overall Grade which is a unit of measurement for a fabric’s level of insulation. The higher the TOG rating the warmer the garment will be for your little one. 

1.7 TOG Sleep Bag - Luna Dusk

Why is the TOG rating important?

You might be wondering why the TOG rating system is so important. Why can’t you simply assess the weight of a fabric visually as you do for yourself? The reason for this is that babies can’t regulate their body temperatures as effectively as an older child or an adult. Your little one’s body surface is about three times greater than an adult’s compared to their weight. This means that they can lose heat very quickly. This is especially true if your little one was born prematurely or at low birth weight. However, even full-term newborns are unable to maintain their body temperature if the environment around them is too cold. In fact, they lose body heat about four times faster than adults. What’s more, they are unable to shiver like we do to increase their body temperature when it drops below the normal range. When a baby’s temperature drops below a normal range, it can impact their breathing and their body’s use of oxygen. 

Unfortunately, it’s not just low body temperature that you need to be concerned about. Your baby can also overheat if they are in an environment that is too warm or if they’re overly bundled up. As you can see, maintaining a comfortable and safe body temperature for your little one can be a delicate balancing act. Hence, the importance of the TOG rating!

TOG Rating Chart 

How do you know which TOG rating to select when you’re purchasing a sleep bag or other sleepwear for your little one? Below is a helpful TOG rating chart to help you decide which Pehr sleep bag is right for your little one. We recommend the 1.7 TOG sleep bag for room temperatures of 69 - 74 °F  or 21 - 24 °C. For slightly warmer rooms around 75 - 81 °F or 24 - 27 °C we recommend the 1.0 TOG sleep bag.

What is a normal body temperature for a newborn?

It’s important to note that the above TOG rating recommendations are only guidelines. Just like adults, some babies will run warm while others might be more prone to feeling cold. As you get to know your newborn, you’ll have a better sense of what works for them. The best way to determine your baby’s temperature is, of course, to take their temperature using a thermometer. A normal body temperature for a baby is 97.7° F or 36.5°C. 

There are three ways to take a baby’s temperature: 

• Rectal temperature
• Armpit temperature
• Forehead temperature 

Make sure you are using the correct thermometer and following the manufacturer guidelines as an oral thermometer, for example, is designed differently than a rectal thermometer. 

1.7 TOG Sleep Bag - Hatchling Fawn

What temperature should I keep my baby’s room?

The optimal temperature for a baby’s room is around 68°F to 72°F or 20°C to 22.2°C. This temperature is ideal because it not only helps your little one maintain a healthy body temperature but also allows them to sleep peacefully while still waking up to auditory signals. This helps decrease the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

In order to ensure the temperature in your baby’s room stays within a safe range, it’s a good idea to have a thermometer handy. Some baby monitors also have room thermometers which can be very helpful. Wearable baby monitors that measure your little one’s vitals have even started to become available. However, there is no substitute for the watchful eye of Mom or Dad so no matter what tools you have at your disposal, make sure that you are regularly checking in on your little one for signs that their body temperature is within the normal range. 

How do I know if my baby is too warm?

While you can always take your baby’s temperature to determine if they are too warm or too cold, there are also a few easy-to-spot warning signs that you can look out for. 

Here are some key indicators that your baby is overheating: 

• They feel warm to the touch 
• Their skin is red or flushed 
• They are nauseous or vomiting 
• They have an elevated heart rate 
• They are acting tired or sluggish
• They appear to be confused, disoriented, or dizzy 
• They are sweating or they have damp hair 

If you are worried that your baby is overheating there are a few things you can do to help reduce their body temperature:

• Remove your baby’s clothing 
• Take them to a cooler location if possible 
• Offer your baby fluids (breastmilk, formula or a glass of water if they are old enough) 
• Give your baby a sponge bath with lukewarm water

How do I know if my baby is too cold? 

Just like overheating, babies show signs of distress that are easy to spot. A baby who is too cold will also give you some warning signs that their body temperature is not quite right. 

Here are some key indicators that your baby’s body temperature is dropping below a normal range: 

• They become sluggish or unresponsive
• Their cry is weaker than usual 
• Their skin is pale and cold to the touch 
• They are having trouble breathing
• They are not feeding 

If you suspect that your baby is too cold there are a few things you can do right away to try and warm them up:

• Add layers of clothing
• Use your own body heat by holding your baby close to you. You can also drape a blanket over them but never leave them unsupervised with the blanket. 
• You may also want to swaddle your little one 

If you’ve tried to warm your baby up using these techniques but their body temperature is not rising, call your paediatrician right away.