- What clothes to dress your baby and toddler in
- Our baby sleep outfit recommendations
- The ideal sleeping temperature for your child
- Crib fabric recommendations
- Safe sleeping tips
What Clothes Should a Baby Sleep In?
When dressing your newborn for bed, follow this rule of thumb: dress the infant in one additional layer than what you’d be comfortable wearing at night in that room. Consider a onesie, sleep sack, or lightweight swaddle in warmer months. In colder months, opt for a long-sleeved onesie or a heavier sleepsack or swaddle. The TOG (thermal overall grade) indicates approximately how many blankets a sleeping sack or bag is equivalent to. Bags with ratings of .5-2 or below are for spring/summer use. Bags with ratings of 2-2.5 are for autumn/winter. For those mamas that do better with a chart, here is a wonderful example of a Sleep Temperature Guide:
Temp guide via slumbersafe.com
Baby Sleep Clothes: The Tot’s Recommendations
We recommend going for comfortable, pesticide and flame retardant-free sleepwear for your infant. Here are the best baby pajamas: If your baby kicks off their blanket, a sleepsack or sleep bag is the solution for you. The Halo Sleepsack Wearable Blanket is made from 100% organic cotton that is soft to the touch, hypoallergenic and provides a cozy and comfortable sleeping alternative to blankets in the crib. The sleep sack has an inverted zipper that allows quick and easy access for diaper changes, meaning significantly less fuss from babies. Halo also makes a Sleepsack Swaddle that's used in hospital nurseries nationwide. The 3-way adjustable swaddle adjusts to your baby’s sleep style and keeps them safe and snuggly.Halo Sleepsack Wearable Blanket
The Halo® SleepSack® wearable blanket is a warm cuddly blanket they can’t kick off; ensuring baby sleeps soundly throughout the night. Made of 100% certified organically-grown cotton, the fabric is free of chemical dyes, softeners and finishes.
Halo Sleepsack Wearable Blanket
$32.95
TOG 1.5
Halo Sleepsack Swaddle
The HALO SleepSack Swaddle replaces loose blankets in the crib that can cover your baby’s face and interfere with breathing. In addition to helping your baby sleep safer, it helps him sleep better, too. Discontinue swaddling when the baby shows signs of rolling over or breaking out of the swaddle wrap.
Halo Sleepsack Swaddle
$34.95
TOG 1.5
HART + LAND Bamboo Sleep Bag + Kyte Baby Sleep Bag
These adorable sleep bags from HART + LAND and Kyte BABY are made from sustainable bamboo rayon fabric that is soft to the touch and provides a cozy and comfortable sleeping alternative to blankets in the crib.
HART + LAND Baby Bamboo Sleep Bag - Organic Dots
$36
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors and prints
TOG 0.7 – 1.0
Kyte BABY Bamboo Rayon Spring/Summer weight Sleep Bag
$49.99
Available in more colors
TOG 1.0
Malabar Baby Quilted Wearable Blanket
Made from pesticide-free Indian cotton and designed with a right shoulder snap and silent zipper for easy diaper changes, this quilted wearable blanket from Malabar Baby is perfect for cooler nights.
Malabar Baby Quilted Indian Cotton Sleep Bag
Ranging from $50 to $66
Available in more prints
TOG 2.2
Hart + Land Bodysuit PJs
For mamas with an infant still in a swaddle, a great combination would be a Hart + Land Pima Cotton Bodysuit PJ paired with an Organic Cotton Swaddle for winter and the Hart + Land Short sleeve Bodysuit paired with an Organic Cotton Swaddle for summer. Exclusive to The Tot, the super-soft HART + LAND SLEEP footed bodysuit will keep little ones cozy all night. With long sleeves and convenient snaps along the front, they’re perfect for morning cuddles with the family.
HART + LAND Baby/ Toddler Pima Cotton Footed Bodysuit PJ - BUGS
$40
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more prints & sizes
HART + LAND Baby/Toddler Pima Cotton Footed Bodysuit PJ - Watermelons
$40
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more prints & sizes
HART + LAND Baby/Toddler Pima Cotton Footed Bodysuit PJ - Airplanes
$40
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more prints & sizes
HART + LAND Baby/Toddler Organic Cotton Short Sleeve Bodysuit
$20
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors
HART + LAND Baby/Toddler Organic Cotton Short Sleeve Bodysuit - Galaxy Stars
$20
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors
Organic Cotton Swaddles
Organic cotton swaddles are a must-have item for any parent. Incredibly versatile, they can be used for swaddling, nursing, tummy time, shading, and snuggling. When made from 100% organic cotton, they get even softer with each wash. Scroll down to see some of our favorite picks.
HART + LAND Organic Cotton Swaddle - Stripe
$28
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more colors
Malabar Baby Organic Cotton Swaddle Set of 2 - Sakura
$34
Available in more prints
Hart + Land Organic Cotton Swaddle
$28
Pehr Follow Me Deer Swaddle
$24
Available in more prints
Toddler Pajamas: How to Dress Toddler for Bed (12+ Months)
Once your child is 12 months old, using a sleep sack is still a perfectly good solution to keep their feet warm at night. It’s also the age where you can introduce a blanket into the crib. I’m currently using the Kyte Baby organic bamboo rayon quilt for my oldest child. It’s also big enough for a parent to snuggle under too while reading books at bedtime!
Kyte BABY Bamboo Rayon Baby Blanket
$44.99
Available in more colors
Lila + Hayes Plain Edge Blanket - Nantucket Sails
$46
Available in more prints
Kyte BABY Bamboo Rayon PJ Set
Available in a range of colors, this classic Bamboo Rayon PJ Set will keep your toddler warm and cozy all night. Designed with a long sleeve crew neck style top and cuffed pant, they’re snug fitting so that they don’t need harmful chemicals like flame retardants.
Kyte BABY Baby/Toddler Bamboo Rayon PJ Set
$39.99
Available in more colors
Lila + Hayes Baby/Toddler/Big Kid Charles PJ Set - Nantucket Sails
$46
Available in more prints
HART + LAND Toddler/Big Kid Pima Cotton PJ Set - Ballet Shoes
$50
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more prints & sizes
HART + LAND Toddler/Big Kid Pima Cotton PJ Set - Banana Leaves
$50
EXCLUSIVE
Available in more prints & sizes
Ideal Sleeping Temperature for Babies
The ideal temperature for a baby’s room is between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. As for your little one’s body temperature, the AAP says that a normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.3 degrees Fahrenheit, which most doctors will agree with.Crib & Crib Bedding
In order for your baby or toddler to sleep through the night, you’ll want them to be as comfortable as possible throughout any season. Here are our recommendations for the best cribs and crib bedding. The Classic Crib by Oeuf is sustainably produced in Europe from wood panels on a solid wood base, making it one of the sturdiest and safest cribs available. Made of solid birch and eco-MDF, it’s easy to assemble by one person, has three adjustable mattress positions and a small footprint to help utilize space efficiently. All finishes are non-toxic, water-based and free of VOC health hazards
Oeuf Classic Crib - Birch
$980
For crib bedding, the breathable bamboo sheets from HART + LAND come in multiple colors and are good to go with any nursery design and help keep your baby cool at night. It’s important to keep baby’s health in mind as well, which is why I recommend organic mattresses like Nook’s Pebble Pure mattress. This mattress is not only supportive cozy and hypoallergenic, it’s also safe. Featuring a certified organic coconut core layered with 1” of natural latex foam, the dual-sided design of the Nook Sleep Systems Pebble Pure Mattress ensures a firm, breathable sleep space for infants and toddlers while the superior softness of the eucalyptus wrap provides comfort and convenience.
Nook Sleep Systems Pebble Pure Crib Mattress
Ranging from $419 to $429
Available in more colors
HART + LAND Solid Bamboo Fitted Crib Sheet
$32
EXCLUSIVE
Lighting & Sound
Creating the perfect sleeping environment for your little one includes factoring in light and sound. For lighting, we love choosing from Little Light's range of imaginative lamps to bring peace of mind (and style) to your child as they learn to sleep in their own room.
Little Lights Cloud Lamp
$205
Available in more themes
Little Lights Whale Ship Lamp
$250
Available in more themes
Little Lights Swan Lamp
$230
For sound, we recommend keeping white continuously running, specifically one with low rumbling. The Baby Shusher can help soothe your fussy baby by making a doctor-tested shushing sound that mimics in utero noises and soothes your little one. Small and compact in size, the Baby Shusher is perfect to use in the nursery, in the car, or when visiting friends and family.
Baby Shusher
$34.99
Additional Baby Sleep Tips
In addition to clothing, temperature, and crib bedding here are ways to ensure your baby sleeps safely and comfortably.- The AAP firmly recommends nothing in the crib or bassinet under 12 months of age to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. This includes heavy blankets, hats, beanies, or thick crib bumpers. If you feel as though baby is cold, add an additional layer to his/her outfit.
- Give your baby their own safe sleeping area in the same room as an adult for at least 6-12 months.
- Provide a safe sleeping environment for naps & nighttime.
- Always put your baby down in the sleeping area on their back, not their side or stomach.
- Have your baby sleep with their face and head uncovered.
- Keep baby in a smoke-free environment.
- Keep white noise is continuously running; one with low rumbling is best, such as the Baby Shusher
Continue exploring
- Learn more about safe sleep for your baby, and read our Question & Answer on newborn sleep.