As a new parent, working out how to dress your baby for bed can be a struggle. Will they be too hot? Will they be too cold? And in our ever unpredictable UK weather, a warm night can turn cold. Here we’re going to look at the newborn sleepwear options available to help the newest member of your family sleep better - Because if baby sleeps better, you all sleep better!
Basic Bedding & Clothing
Whether it’s a moses basket, crib or cot, you will need a well-fitted sheet for the mattress and a waterproof cover to go underneath. This will keep your mattress in the best condition for your baby to sleep on.
Wherever your baby sleeps, it is advised that you always place your baby to sleep on his or her back.
While baby sleeps, the bed should be free of soft toys and loose blankets. Even the littlest babies can wriggle around more than you think and having these items in the bed can increase the risk of their face becoming covered.
For more information on safe sleep, visit https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/
Room Temperature
Knowing the temperature of your baby’s bedroom is key. The Lullaby Trust recommend baby’s room to be between 16-20°C as part of their safe sleep advice.
Once you know the temperature of baby’s sleeping quarters, you are able to make a call on how heavy baby’s sleepwear needs to be.
Each piece of sleepwear will have a TOG rating, which gives you an idea of how warm it will be for baby. When opting for sleeping bags, you may find it best to have a heavier sleeping bag (higher TOG rating, eg. 1.0 TOG) for general use and a lighter one (lower TOG rating, eg. 0.5 TOG) for warmer weather. You can adjust what baby is wearing underneath their sleeping bag to suit your room temperature.
Below is a handy guide when using Ergobaby sleepwear:
Swaddler
In the fourth trimester, baby is getting used to life outside the womb and part of that development is coming to terms with all the extra space they have around them. Reaching out to find nothing but air can be unsettling for them, which is why many babies like to be swaddled from birth to 12 weeks.
While some parents like to use large muslin squares to swaddle their baby, others prefer purpose made swaddling products, which have specific features to help make swaddling a newborn easier. The Ergobaby Original Swaddler is made of 100% cotton and has escape proof arm pockets and a leg pouch, so there’s no need to unswaddle baby for a late night nappy change. It is also acknowledged as ‘hip-healthy’ by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, so you can sleep easy knowing your baby is ergonomically positioned for sleep.
Sleeping Bag
Infant sleeping bags are perfect for after your baby reaches the 12 week milestone or if your baby doesn’t like to be swaddled, as they can be used from birth providing you choose the right size.
Using a sleeping bag means there’s no need for additional bedding and baby can’t kick off the covers overnight and be woken due to the cold. There are many infant sleeping bags on the market, but you’ll find some have features that you wouldn’t want to be without.
The Ergobaby Sleeping Bag has adjustable shoulder straps to help customise the fit for your little one as they grow, as well as a 2-zip for easy night time nappy changes. The Ergobaby On the Move Sleeping Bag can even be changed from night to day with its optional foot openings allowing your toddler to bounce straight from naptime to playtime.
 |
 |
Daytime Naps
You might find that your baby begins to associate their swaddle or sleeping bag with the time to rest, so if daytime naps are becoming difficult, try to dim the lights, place them in their bed in their nighttime sleepwear.
Everyday life doesn’t always allow for you to be home to set the scene for naptime, so you may have to find other ways to soothe your little one on the go. The movement, warmth and soothing sound of your heartbeat that baby experiences in a baby carrier is a recipe for success for many families. You’ll see us refer to “Ergobaby Sleepy Dust”!
A Little Extra Help
As you will have heard many times before, all babies are different. Some babies will naturally sleep longer/more often than others. Sometimes it’s hard, but try not to compare your baby with others.
If you find yourself struggling with lack of sleep, you might find resources published online by the NHS, Action for Children or Emma’s Diary invaluable.
For additional help, you can speak to your local team of health visitors or even a baby sleep specialist, like The Baby Guru, who often have many years of experience and are able to provide you with more methods to help improve your baby’s sleep (as well as your own!).
