This guide breaks down everything you need to know about TOG ratings, from what the number means to which one is right for your baby’s room temperature, what to dress them in underneath, and how to tell if they’re comfortable through the night. Everything you need for peace of mind for you and better sleep for them.
TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade. It's a unit of measurement that tells you how warm a fabric will keep your baby. This makes dressing your baby simpler and safer as both overheating and loose layers like blankets, can pose a risk to infant sleep.
We like to think of it like a warmth scale:
So the higher the TOG number (3.5 TOG), the warmer and typically thicker, the garment. These are ideal for colder temperatures as they keep more warmth in. The lower the number (0.2 TOG), the lighter and thinner the fabric, making it better suited for hotter temperatures as it allows for more airflow.
You'll see TOG ratings on quality and tested sleep bags, swaddles, and sleep suits. Underneath those, you dress your baby in breathable layers , as recommended on a dressing guide.
Getting the right TOG isn't just about comfort. It plays a part in safer sleep too.
Babies can't regulate their own body temperature the way adults can, especially in the first 12 months. If they're dressed too warmly, they're at higher risk of overheating, which is a known risk factor for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). On the flip side, if they're too cold, they might wake frequently and struggle to settle.
Using the right TOG for your baby's room temperature helps keep them in that comfortable middle zone: warm enough to sleep soundly, but not so warm that it becomes a safety concern.
This is also why loose blankets aren't recommended for babies under 12 months. A TOG-rated sleep bag or swaddle should stay in place and give you more predictable, even warmth and therefore removes the risk of covers being kicked off or pulled over baby's face.
Read more: Safer Sleep Guidelines for babies
Great question, we'd love to tell you! The good news is you don't need a TOG for every single temperature notch on the thermometer, as each TOG covers a range of degrees. This means there is some flexibility in how you use your breathable layers underneath to achieve the optimum comfort for your baby.
To start:
A thermometer in the nursery is the easiest way to get an accurate reading. Room temperatures can change overnight, so it's worth checking at bedtime and again in the early morning over a couple of nights to get a gauge of the average temperature drop and prepare to dress accordingly.
As a general guide:
For room temperatures between 24°C and 27°C - you'll need a 0.2 TOG baby sleeping bag
For room temperatures between 20°C to 24°C - you'll need a 1.0 TOG baby sleeping bag
For room temperatures between 18°C to 22°C - you'll need a 1.5 TOG baby sleeping bag
For room temperatures between 16°C to 20°C - you'll need a 2.5 TOG baby sleeping bag
For room temperatures below 16°C - you'll need a 3.5 TOG baby sleeping bag
If you need help deciding which TOG is right for you, our Customer Care team are really good at this topic.
Important: Every child feels hot and cold differently. Ambient temperatures fluctuate, the child's general health and wellbeing will impact body temperature and different clothing and sleepwear layer combinations will differ in their thermal effectiveness. As these factors make it challenging to give absolute and definitive advice to parents and carers, the clothing guide should be used only as a general guide. The parent or carer is best suited to determine the right sleepwear and clothing combinations for the child.
The TOG rating covers the sleep bag or swaddle itself, but what baby wears underneath matters too. There is some flexibility to layer up and down within the temperature range, to get the most value from your TOG-rated sleepwear.
Choosing a lightweight, breathable layer that is soft and has slight stretch will allow for comfort, movement and sit flat against the skin under their TOG rated sleepwear.
These are general guidelines. Every baby is different so always check if they are too hot or cold and adjust a layer accordingly.
Try out our new interactive TOG dressing guide and PS - save this link or screen shot your selected TOG for easy dressing at nap and nighttime routine.
Select a TOG rating to see what your baby should wear at each room temperature.
Short-sleeve pyjamas
Short-sleeve pyjamas
Romper and short-sleeve bodysuit
Romper
Short-sleeve pyjamas
Romper and short-sleeve bodysuit
Romper and sleeveless bodysuit
Short-sleeve, long-leg pyjamas
Romper and long-sleeve bodysuit
Romper and sleeveless bodysuit
Short-sleeve, long-leg pyjamas
Romper and sleeveless bodysuit
Romper
Every child is different. The number of clothing layers may vary according to health, physiology and room temperature. This guide is general advice only.
Australia's climate varies a lot depending on where you live, but here's a general guide to help you plan ahead:
In most parts of Australia, nursery temperatures that are not temperature controlled with air conditioning will often sit above 24°C in summer, making a 0.2 TOG the safest bet. On especially hot nights, baby might just need a singlet or even just a nappy underneath. If you use air conditioning and keep the room around 22-24°C, a 1.0 TOG with a short-sleeve bodysuit works well.
The shoulder seasons are the trickiest because temperatures can swing from warm days to cool nights (and then back again). Having both a 1.0 TOG and a 1.5 TOG on hand means you can switch depending on the evening. Be sure to check your nursery temperature at bedtime rather than going off the weather forecast. If you have a 2.5 TOG already, this can be worn up to approximately 20 degrees but layer accordingly and check for signs of being too hot.
If you're wondering what TOG you need for winter, for most winter nights, a 2.5 TOG will do the job. If your home gets really cold overnight (below 16°C), step up to a 3.5 TOG. Layer a long-sleeve bodysuit underneath and you're sorted.
The TOG rating itself doesn't change based on your baby's age. Correct TOG testing will ensure the TOG is relevant to the garment, and not the baby's age or sleep development stage. Here are a few tips when dressing your baby with a TOG rated swaddle or sleep bag:
Read more: When to stop swaddling your baby
Nope! A 1.0 TOG swaddle provides the same warmth as a 1.0 TOG sleep bag. The TOG measurement is based on the fabric's insulation, and each product is tested in its specific style, shape and size. So when you're transitioning from swaddle to transition bag to sleep bag, you don't need to change your TOG unless your room temperature has changed. Just match it to the room as usual and follow your dressing guide for layering.
Even with the right TOG, it's good to know the signs that your baby might need an adjustment.
Look for flushed or red cheeks, sweaty or damp hair, a hot or sweaty chest/back or restlessness. If you notice any of these, remove a layer or switch to a lower TOG.
Cool hands and feet are normal in babies and aren't always a reliable indicator. Instead, feel the back of their neck or their chest. If the skin there feels cool to the touch, add a layer or consider stepping up to the next TOG.
Slide your hand down the back of baby's neck or onto their chest. It should feel comfortably warm, not hot or clammy, and not cold. This tells you more than checking their hands or feet, which tend to run cooler naturally.
Read more: Signs your baby is too hot or too cold while sleeping
Remember: You know your baby best. These are guidelines to help but trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, check and adjust.
Published TOG ratings should be considered in conjunction with our specific clothing guides (found online and on pack) and are from test results that we believe reflect the appropriate TOG when used in conjunction with our clothing guides.
Test methods are EN ISO 11092, ASTM 1291 (modified to the same parameters as EN ISO 11092) and ISO 5085-1.
We believe that our TOG ratings, together with our clothing guides, help parents and carers make the best decision on how to dress their child at different room temperatures. We also provide guidance on how the parent or carer can check if the child is too hot or too cold. This is important in empowering the parent or carer to decide what is best for their child. All children are different. The number of clothing layers required may vary according to a child's health, their physiology, the room temperature, the outside temperature and other factors. The care-giver must determine what is suitable. We do not provide medical advice.
No. Layering one sleep bag over another is not recommended. The TOG ratings are designed to provide the right level of warmth on their own. Doubling up can lead to overheating, which is a safety risk. Instead, choose the correct single TOG for your room temperature and adjust what baby wears underneath
It depends on the TOG rating and your room temperature. As a general guide, a bodysuit, romper, onesie or pyjamas are worn under a sleep bag or swaddle. Always check the clothing guide on your product's packaging for specific recommendations.
Nope! Our TOG rated swaddles replace the need for extra blankets or wrapping. It's a one and done sort of situation. Less layers, less stress!
No. For babies under 12 months, loose blankets are not recommended as part of safer sleep guidelines and for older babies, blankets often come with a range of challenges. They can be kicked off and the development might not be there yet to be able to put it back on easily. Cue many night disturbances. A TOG-rated sleep bag or swaddle is like a wearable blanket and replaces the need for blankets entirely. They provide more consistent, predictable warmth and stay put so no middle-of-the-night tuck ins needed
You don't have to, but it makes life a lot easier. A TOG-rated product takes the guesswork out of dressing your baby for sleep. Without one, it can be tricky to know whether your baby is warm enough (or too warm). Plus, sleep bags and swaddles are often recommended over loose blankets as part of safer sleep guidelines as they reduce the need for loose layers in the sleep space.
Check the label inside the garment, which should show the TOG rating. If the label is faded or missing, our Customer Care team are legendary at solving these mysteries. Reach out to them and they'll do their best to help you identify the product and its TOG rating
