TOG value and heat, what should I take into account?

Are you worried about your baby being too cold? Or does your baby sleep poorly because it is too hot? And what exactly is TOG? We would be happy to explain it all to you.

A baby dressed into a beige-colored Bag 4 Seasons is lying in his crib

Heat build-up

Heat build-up is a risk that should be avoided in babies and young children. With heat build-up, there is no balance between body and ambient temperature. The temperature of your baby's body rises because it cannot lose excess heat to the environment. In addition to the risk of heat build-up, an elevated temperature also causes your child to sleep restlessly.

Heat is therefore an important point of attention when it comes to safe and good sleep. Parents often tend to dress their child warmer than necessary in bed. The TOG (Thermal Overall Grade) value helps to gain a better insight. In addition, it is of course always important to continue to observe and feel your child well.

What is TOG and how does it work?

The TOG rating exists to promote safe sleeping. This gives you as a parent a guideline. TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade and is an indication of the thermal resistance of textiles. A higher TOG value means that the material has a high warmth and insulation value. The higher the TOG value of, for example, a sleeping bag, the less heat loss. Fabrics with a low TOG value are less warm and insulating. On all Puckababy products the TOG rating is stated on the labels.

How do you use TOG ratings specifically? Measure the temperature of the baby's room and determine the corresponding TOG rating. Colder winter nights might call for a higher tog baby sleeping bag, while warm summer temperatures call for sleeping bags with low tog rating. Add up the TOG ratings of the bed linen, the tog sleeping bag and your child's clothing and see whether this is in line with the TOG advice that suits the temperature of the room. If it deviates, put on your child one more or less layer, take a thinner or thicker sleeping bag, put your child in pajamas with long sleeves or let him or her sleep in just the romper.

Please note: It is important to realize that TOG is a guideline, not a law. It helps you dress your child correctly, but your common sense always remains the most important.

Two young children sit in a cozy, wicker chair in a softly lit room. The older child lovingly holds the baby, both wearing soft, comfortable Puckababy sleeping bags.

Why is TOG important?

TOG value gives you something to hold on to. It helps you estimate how well a garment insulates, because you often cannot determine this by feel alone. TOG rating also helps your child sleep safely and comfortably. It ensures that your baby does not become hypothermic or overheated and is therefore certainly important for very young babies.

What TOG should my baby wear?

So much for the theory, but how does tog rating work in practice? It is important that you first determine the maximum TOG ratings linked with the room temperatures using the table below.

Room temperature & recommended TOG values

  • < 16 degrees   :   3.0 TOG 

  • 16 – 18 degrees   :    2.5 TOG 

  • 18 - 22 degrees    :    1.5 TOG 

  • 22 – 24 degrees   :    1.0 TOG

  • > 24 degrees    :    0.5 TOG

Example: you determine that the bedroom temperature is 23 degrees. This means: a maximum TOG value of 1.0. Then you sum the TOG values ​​of all pieces of textile that your baby is wearing. Baby sleeping bags, bodysuits, pyjamas… Add those values ​​up. The sum is meant to be 1. Do you arrive at a higher number? Then leave out a layer of clothing or choose another item with a lower TOG value for a good night's sleep.

Important: TOG is only a guideline. It is good practice to keep a close eye on your baby's body temperature and adjust clothing if necessary. Also know that every piece of clothing your child wears counts towards the total TOG. If it is very hot in summer (warmer than 27 degrees), only a diaper will suffice when you baby sleeps.

How do I know if my baby is dressed too warmly?

Always check!
Your baby may be a little feverish, he may be dressed a little more heavily than during the previous nap, and the room temperature may be quite different during the day and night year round or in different seasons. It is therefore very important to always observe and monitor your child carefully.

Useful tip: by feeling the back of your child's neck or torso, you can tell whether your baby is too hot or too cold. If it feels pleasant and dry, your baby is warm enough. If your baby's skin feels damp, clammy or cold (for example during winter months), adjust the (sleeping) clothes or bedding. Do you have the feeling that your baby is too hot? Then you can immediately take off some clothes or reduce the tog value by removing layers of bedding. Check regularly, for example when you go to sleep and every time your baby wakes up.

Does your child have cold feet or are your baby's hands cold? That doesn't necessarily mean that you have to dress your baby warmer. The feet and hands often feel a bit colder because the blood circulation in young babies is not yet optimal.

The ideal temperature

In general, the TOG values for a baby sleeping bag range from 1 to a maximum of 3.5 TOG. As a rough guide, you can maintain 2 TOG for warm and safe baby sleep comfort. This corresponds to a normal body temperature between 36.5 to 37.5 °C and a consistent temperature of 18 to 20 °C. At Puckababy, we take it a step further. Temperatures fluctuate and personal preference plays a role as well, but safety must always be ensured. On our website, you can find the correct TOG values of our products for each design. This way, you easily know which design is most suitable for which temperature. Choose the right bedding throughout the entire year. Easy, convenient, comfortable, and safe.

What clothes can my child wear in the (swaddle) sleeping bag?

The TOG overviews can help you know what your child should wear at what temperature. They provide guidance on how to best dress your child at each room temperature and for each variant of the (swaddle) sleeping bag.

Tip: Tencel sleepsuits are the safest underwear for any sleeping bag at any temperature. Tencel regulates heat and absorbs moisture. This fabric adapts to the warmth of your little one and fits around your child like a second skin. Silky soft and never too hot or too cold.

Room temperature
Clothing advice
-16°C
TOG 3.0
Cotton bodysuit
+
Cotton pyjamas
+
swaddling / sleeping bag
1
teddy sleeping bag icon
16 - 18 °C
TOG 2.5
Cotton bodysuit
+
swaddling / sleeping bag
2
teddy sleeping bag icon
18 - 22 °C
TOG 1.5
Cotton bodysuit
+
Cotton pyjamas
+
swaddling / sleeping bag
3
cotton sleeping bag icon
22 - 24 °C
TOG 1.0
Cotton bodysuit
+
swaddling / sleeping bag
4
Tencel sleeping bag icon
cotton sleeping bag icon
> 24 °C
TOG 0.5
swaddling / sleeping bag
5
Tencel sleeping bag icon
cotton sleeping bag icon
Cotton bodysuit

Cotton bodysuit

Cotton pyjamas

Cotton pyjamas

swaddling / sleeping bag

Swaddling / sleeping bag

cotton sleeping bag icon

Cotton

Tencel sleeping bag icon

Tencel

Teddy sleeping bag icon

Teddy

Additional information when using Bag 4 Seasons or Bag Newborn

  1. Bag 4 SeasonsUse all layers of the sleeping bag
  2. Bag 4 Seasons
    • Option 1: Use the teddy innerbag and combine
    • Option 2: Use all layers without additional clothing
  3. Bag 4 Seasons Use the cotton outer bag with sleeves attached
  4. Bag 4 Seasons Use the cotton outer bag with sleeves attached
  5. Bag 4 Seasons Use the cotton outer bag and remove the sleeves
    Bag Newborn Use the sleeping bag without sleeves

Choosing the Right Tog Sleeping Bag for Your Baby

Are you unsure about the right sleeping bag? Or do you want to know how best to dress your child in the sleeping bag? We have worked it out for you!

Do you need personal advice about safety and the ideal tog sleeping bag?

With pleasure! Our sleep experts are ready to help you. Contact us

Swaddle bag Piep (0 - 3 months)

Piep in Gummy bears design
Gummy Bears
49.95
Piep in design tiny village
Tiny Village
49.95
Piep in Bunnies design
Bunnies
49.95

Swaddle bag Mini (3 - 6 months)

Mini in Tiny Village design
Tiny Village
59.95
Mini in gummy bears design
Gummy Bears
59.95
Mini in Swan design
Swans
59.95
Mini in balloons design
Balloons
59.95

Bag Newborn sleeping bag (0 to 6 months)

Bag Newborn in Tiny Village print
Tiny Village
74.95
Bag Newborn in Gummy Bears
Gummy Bears
74.95
Bag Newborn in Swans
Swans
74.95
Bag Newborn in Balloons
Balloons
74.95

Bag 4 Seasons sleeping bag (6 months to 2,5 years)

Bag 4 Seasons in Tiny Village print
Tiny Village
134.95
Bag 4 Seasons in Hazel Stripes print
Hazel Stripes
134.95
Bag 4 Seasons in Gummy Bears print
Gummy Bears
134.95
Bag 4 Seasons in Swans print
Swans
134.95

Bag Kidz sleeping bag (2,5 years and older)

Kidz olive
Olive
69.95

This might also interest you

loading referral id...