For newborn nights, use zero loose blankets; dress your baby in fitted layers or a sleep sack that matches the room temperature.
New parents hear a lot about layers, togs, and “just one more blanket.” Clear answer: a newborn should not sleep with loose bedding. A well-fitting sleep sack or a light swaddle meets the need for warmth without covering the face. The aim is steady warmth, not bulk.
Why loose blankets aren’t recommended
Loose fabric can ride up over the nose and mouth. That creates a risk of suffocation and sleep-related death. Pediatric groups advise an empty sleep space: a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet, and nothing else. Weighted products also stay out of the cot. Safer warming comes from clothing and wearable blankets.
Room temperature and layering guide
Match layers to the room, not the calendar. Use the chart below as a simple starting point; adjust by checking your baby’s chest, which should feel comfortably warm and dry.
| Room temp | Typical clothing layers | Wearable blanket TOG |
|---|---|---|
| 24–27°C (75–81°F) | Short-sleeve bodysuit or light onesie | 0.5 |
| 20–24°C (68–73°F) | Short-sleeve bodysuit + cotton sleepsuit | 1.0 |
| 16–20°C (61–68°F) | Long-sleeve bodysuit + sleepsuit | 2.5 |
| <16°C (<61°F) | Layer as above and add a light cardigan at bedtime; warm the room where possible | 2.5 with extra clothing |
Blankets for newborn at night: how many layers make sense?
The short, safe answer is none. A sleep sack with the right tog replaces loose blankets at night. If your family prefers a blanket, use one thin cellular blanket, firmly tucked under the mattress on three sides, with the top edge at armpit level and your baby’s feet at the foot of the cot. Stop at a single light blanket; stacking blankets adds bulk and heat without control.
This approach keeps fabric away from the face while limiting slippage. Cellular knit helps with airflow if wriggling happens. Check the tuck each time you lift your baby for a feed, then re-tuck on return to the cot.
Swaddling basics and when to stop
Swaddling can steady startle reflexes during the first weeks. Use a thin, breathable cloth or a purpose-made swaddle that holds the arms snug while leaving room for hip movement. A swaddled baby always sleeps on the back. As soon as rolling attempts begin—often around three to four months, sometimes earlier—stop swaddling and switch to a sleep sack that allows free arm movement.
Swaddling is a sleep-time tool only. Unwrap for feeds and awake time. Skip weighted swaddles and any add-ons placed on the chest. Those products add pressure and heat without adding safety.
Safe ways to keep a newborn warm
Dress from base layer outward
Start with a cotton bodysuit, add a sleepsuit, then the sleep sack. Cotton breathes and handles sweat. Fleece traps heat fast; reserve it for cool rooms and short periods out of bed.
Pick the right tog
Tog is like insulation. Higher numbers trap more heat. Choose the lowest tog that keeps the chest warm and dry. If you notice sweat at the neck or damp hair, drop the tog or remove a clothing layer.
Set the room well
Most babies sleep comfortably at 16–20°C. A simple room thermometer helps. No hats indoors during sleep, since the head releases heat. Keep the cot clear of pillows, bumpers, soft toys, nests, positioners, pods, and wedges. Airflow around the face matters more than extra covers.
Set up the cot correctly
Use a flat, firm sleep surface with a tight fitted sheet. Place your baby on the back for every sleep. If you use a blanket instead of a sleep sack, follow the “feet to foot” setup: lay your baby with feet near the cot’s foot end so any movement pushes down, not up toward the head. Tuck a single light cellular blanket under the mattress so it cannot ride up.
Room-share, not bed-share, for the early months. Keep cords, blind pulls, and wall hangings away from the cot. Position fans so air moves through the room without blowing directly on your baby.
How to check warmth without guessing
Hands and feet can feel cool; that’s normal. Check the chest or back of the neck. Warm and dry is the target. Damp hair, sweat on the neck, flushed skin, or fast breathing point to overheating. A cool chest, mottled skin, or fussiness with cool touch suggests the opposite.
When in doubt, change the layer, not the blanket. Clothing gives you finer control than covers. Two small changes beat one big swing.
Signs and tweaks when things feel off
Use the table as a quick reference during night feeds or diaper changes.
| Signs during sleep | Likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| Sweaty neck or back; flushed face; hot chest | Too warm | Lower tog, remove a clothing layer, or cool the room |
| Cold chest; pale or mottled skin; unsettled with cool touch | Too cool | Add a light clothing layer or move to a higher tog |
| Blanket near face or loose in cot | Unsafe setup | Replace with a sleep sack or re-tuck a single cellular blanket below armpit level |
| Rolling attempts in a swaddle | Swaddle no longer safe | Stop swaddling and move to an arms-out sleep sack |
Travel and naps
Car seats and strollers are for transport, not routine sleep. If your baby nods off there, move to a flat, firm sleep surface when you arrive. Avoid covering the stroller with thick fabric; airflow matters. A light clip-on shade that breathes is a better pick outdoors.
During family visits, bring your sleep sack along. A familiar feel helps with quick resettles in a new room.
Seasonal notes
Warm nights
Choose the lightest tog that keeps the chest warm. Many newborns sleep well in a short-sleeve bodysuit and a 0.5 tog sack when rooms run hot. If the room holds heat, use a fan to move air, not to blow directly on your baby. A cool bath before bed can take the edge off a sticky evening.
Cool nights
Layer clothing, then use a 2.5 tog sleep sack. Pre-warm the room rather than piling on blankets. Skip hot water bottles and electric blankets. If hands look pink and comfortable, and the chest feels warm, you’re on track even if fingers feel a bit cool.
Your quick nightly checklist
- Back to sleep on a flat, firm mattress with a fitted sheet.
- No loose bedding, pillows, bumpers, nests, positioners, or soft toys.
- Sleep sack or one tightly tucked cellular blanket below armpit level.
- Room around 16–20°C when you can manage it.
- Check chest for warmth and dryness; adjust layers, not blankets.
- Stop swaddling at the first signs of rolling.
Trusted guidance at a glance
See pediatric advice on safe sleep and the use of wearable blankets on the AAP family site. For room temperatures and tog examples, the UK’s Start for Life page lists common sleep bag togs by temperature and shows how to tuck a light blanket safely.