Learn all about what TOG Rating is when it comes to baby’s clothing and how TOG Rating can help you feel confident in dressing your baby for sleep!
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TOG rating is a simple system that can help you decode how to dress your baby for sleep.
A few simple letters and numbers on the tags of your baby’s swaddles and sleep sacks can be a powerful tool.
Let me tell you about TOG ratings and how they can make a big difference in helping your baby sleep better!
What Does TOG Stand For?
TOG is short for “Thermal Overall Grade” and it is a unit of heat measurement.
On a scale of <1 to 3.5, a TOG rating measures the insulation—or the amount of warmth—a fabric provides.
The higher the TOG rating, the warmer the fabric.
A TOG rating changes based not only on the thickness of a fabric, but the type of material it’s made from.
You can find TOG ratings listed on the packaging or tags of many baby textiles, including sleep sacks and swaddles.
Your hands can’t always tell how warm a fabric will be just by touching it, which is why a TOG rating comes in handy.
Sometimes a baby garment will feel thicker to the touch, but it will have a lower TOG rating. That’s because it’s made from a more breathable, cooler material.
TOG ratings were introduced to baby clothing, swaddles, and sleep sacks to improve sleep safety for babies.
Because overheating can lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), TOG ratings help parents pick the safest fabrics to keep their babies at a comfortable and safe sleeping temperature.
What TOG Should Baby Sleep In?
Whether you’re looking to dress your baby for sleep in the winter or the summer, you can use the TOG rating as a guide.
TOG ratings will help you decide how to keep your baby warm at night, without them overheating.
Most commonly, you’ll see TOG ratings from 0.2 all the way up to 3.5:
- 0.5 TOG—Best for 74–78°F
- 1.0 TOG—Best for 69–73°F
- 2.0 TOG—Best for 64–68°F
- 2.5 TOG—Best for 61–63°F
Best Swaddles and Sleep Sacks By TOG Rating
Aden and Anais
One of the best swaddle blankets is Aiden + Anais, which offers three different TOG ratings. They range from 1.0 to 2.5 TOG, giving you options for warm summer naps and chilly winter nights.
They also make it easy to choose which sleep sack or swaddle is right for you with their TOG rating chart.
Love to Dream
If your baby still needs a snug-fit swaddle but you’re looking for something cool for dressing baby for sleep in the summer, there are plenty of options.
The Love to Dream swaddles come in a TOG rating range between 0.2 (Swaddle Up Lite) and 1.0 (Swaddle Up).
Kyte Baby
Kyte Baby has the softest sleep sacks and they range in TOG Ratings from 0.5 to 2.5.
They also have helpful TOG information on their site. For example, they share how their popular 1.0 TOG sleep sack is ideal for temperatures of 69 to 73°F.
Woolino
Woolino’s 4-Season sleep sack comes at a hefty price tag, but can be used through all four seasons due to its Merino wool fabric, which regulates body temperature.
If you don’t want to think about the TOG Rating, the Woolino sleep sack takes the guesswork out of it completely and can be used as your baby grows.
What TOG Rating Do I Need?
The first thing to consider is the temperature in the room where your baby sleeps. What is the ambient temperature?
You may find it helpful to keep a thermometer near their crib for the most accurate reading.
The warmer the room, the lower TOG rating you’ll want to use.
For example: if your baby’s room is 75°F, you should choose a sleep sack with a TOG between 0.2-0.5 and dress your baby in a short sleeve onesie underneath (or maybe even just their diaper).
Likewise, if the room where your baby sleeps is colder than 64°F, you’ll want to bundle them in a 2.5–3.5 TOG winter sleep sack paired with a long sleeve onesie or even footie pajamas.
This visual guide from SlumberSac is very helpful for considering how to pair a sleep sack’s TOG rating with clothing underneath it:
Please note that these are guidelines and not hard-and-fast rules.
The table above is a good place to start.
However, the next thing to consider is what you know about your baby.
Do they get cold often or overheat easily? Do they frequently sweat when they sleep?
Some babies run naturally warmer or colder. The TOG rating that works best for your friend’s baby might not be the same for yours.
Understanding your baby’s typical sleeping temperature will help you pick the right TOG rating and clothing combination for them.
To keep your baby a safe temperature while they sleep, you should also know the signs of when your baby is too hot or cold.
Signs Your Baby is Too Hot
Signs that your baby is too hot include:
- Sweating
- Red cheeks
- Increased breathing and heart rate
Signs Your Baby is Too Cold
If your baby’s neck, chest, or tummy are cold to the touch, then they are probably too cold.
Remember that it is always safer for your baby to be cooler rather than hotter when they sleep. You may want to start with lower TOG ratings first before building up to higher ratings.
I hope this has demystified TOG ratings for you and helps you make informed purchases based on your baby’s needs.
My goal is to help tired parents get sleep, so the whole family can thrive!
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