How to dress baby for bed Australia

We're now at the point in the year where the majority of our weather is made up of beautiful, sunny days. However even though the days are nice and warm, overnight temperatures (especially between 4-6am) can drop, so how do you dress your little one so they’re comfortable all night long? Love To Dream™ have a selection of garments that have been designed specifically for these seasons, and we hope that we’re able to help you choose the best sleepwear for your bub.

The most important thing to remember about dressing your little one, regardless of the season, is to go by the temperature in their room, not the temperature outside. We all know that the temp outside doesn’t necessarily dictate what the climate is going to be like inside (as anybody who has worked in an icy cold office in the middle of summer would know!). 

On especially warm days, you’re going to want to dress your little one in a cool, breathable fabric to ensure they don’t overheat. As we all know, a hot child is a fussy child, and a fussy child is one that doesn’t sleep. To avoid having to peel yourself out of bed at night to soothe a sweaty, grumpy bub, try dressing them in one of our 0.2 TOG garments to keep them cool through their sleep time.

Our Summer 0.2 TOG garments are available across our whole range; so whether you have a little one or a not-so-little one, we’ve got something to suit you. They come in a variety of vibrant designs and colours, so you have a wide selection to choose from when dressing your little one. 

Want to know more about the great features of our Swaddle Up™ Lite 0.2 TOG products? Check out our full range of summer sleeping solutions or watch the video below to learn more!

When dressing your newborn, there are a few things to consider, such as which clothes to use, how to dress them and how to ensure the change table is safe.

Getting clothes for your newborn

Babies grow fast so you may prefer to buy just a few items of clothing in each infant size range. In Australia, the common size range for infant clothes is 000 for 0 to 3 months and 00 for 3 to 6 months. Some larger babies may fit 00 clothes when first born. You may like to buy clothes that your newborn will grow into soon, and roll up the sleeves until they fit.

Choose clothes for your newborn that have a low fire danger label and are close-fitting rather than long and flowing, since these can come into contact with flame and catch fire more easily.

Baby change tables

Make sure the surface you change your baby on is safe. A fall from a height of 1.5m or more can seriously injure a baby, so use roll-off protection on a baby change table. This may include raised edges around the change table, approximately 10cm above the surface that your baby is lying on. Alternatively, you could use a child safety harness if available.

Tips for baby change tables

• Ensure the surface has no gaps within your baby's reach that could trap their fingers or other part of their body.
• If your change table is foldable, make sure the locking devices work well and are strong so the table won't collapse.
• Have everything ready before changing so you won't have to leave your baby. If you need to fetch something, take your baby with you.
• Try to keep one hand on your baby at all times to prevent them rolling or wriggling off the change table, particularly as they get older.
• Keep anything that could harm your baby away from their reach.
• If broken, don't try to mend change table latches or locking mechanisms yourself. Take the table back to the manufacturer or discard it.

Dressing your baby for bed

For safe sleeping, don’t let your newborn get too hot or cold because this can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other forms of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). If you swaddle (wrap) your baby, use a muslin or thin cotton wrap, not a blanket, and don’t overdress your baby underneath it. For sleepwear, your baby should need the same number of clothing layers and blankets as you. Your baby’s back or tummy should feel warm and it’s normal for their hands and feet to feel cooler.

Babies regulate their temperature mostly through their head so to prevent them from overheating, don't cover your baby's head. Avoid putting them to bed with a bib or anything else that could cover their face or be a choking hazard.

A safe baby sleeping bag with fitted neck and armholes and no hood may reduce the risk of SUDI because it reduces the danger of bed clothes covering your baby's face. It also keeps their temperature at a more constant level.

If you use blankets for your baby, dress them according to the temperature of the room, since they can kick the blankets off during the night.

Dressing your baby in hot or cold weather

In hot weather dress your baby in loose, light clothing such as a singlet and nappy or loose top. If outside, ensure they wear a sun hat and sunscreen.

In cold weather dress your baby in layers so you can remove some clothing when you are in a warmer place. Babies lose heat faster than adults, particularly as the surface area of their head is relatively larger, so ensure that they wear a hat. To prevent overheating, remove the hat or hoodie as soon as you get indoors or into a warm car, bus or train, even if this wakes your baby up.

Tips for dressing your baby

The video below, from Raising Children Network, gives you some ideas about how to put clothes on your baby. It's important to be gentle, even if your baby is wriggling.

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