What Is The Best TOG Rating For Winter?

As winter's chill sets in, so too does the quest for warmth! Here at Purebaby, we love using baby sleeping bags to keep our little ones warm and cosy during those cold winter nights.

Baby sleeping bags or sleep sacks are wearable blankets designed to keep your little one comfortably warm without overheating. A sleeping bag removes the need for a blanket or other bedding, which can be kicked off as your little one tosses and turns, leaving them uncovered and cold.

As you begin your search for the perfect sleeping bag, you'll quickly encounter the term "TOG rating". Most sleeping bags have a TOG rating to help you decide which one is right for the temperature of your baby's room. But what is a TOG rating, and how do you use it to find the right sleeping bag? Read on to learn more.

What is a TOG rating?

TOG stands for thermal overall grade, and is a unit of measurement for the insulation and warmth of garments and bedding. A TOG is determined based on a globally recognised testing method and indicates how well the material traps and retains heat and insulates against the cold. You might see TOG values on jackets and doonas, as well as kids sleeping bags and sleepwear.

What does TOG mean?

Put simply, the higher the TOG rating, the warmer the item is. Lighter items will have a lower TOG rating (like 0.5 or 1.0) and heavier ones will have a higher rating (for example 2.5 or 3.5).

How do TOG ratings work?

In Australia, baby sleeping bags generally come in TOG ratings between 0.2 and 3.5. Different TOG values suit different room temperatures.

As a rough guide, these are:

• 0.2 TOG or 0.5 TOG:

  room temperature between 24°C and 27°C

• 1.0 TOG or 1.5 TOG:

  room temperature between 20°C and 24°C

• 2.0 TOG or 2.5 TOG:

  room temperature between 16°C and 20°C

• 3.0 or 3.5 TOG:

  room temperature below 16°C

Are TOG ratings for baby different than for older children and adults?

A baby's sleeping bag closely surrounds them on all sides, creating a warm pocket of air around them. For this reason you'll need to select a lower TOG rating for your baby's sleeping bag than you would for your older child's (or your own) doona and bedding.

Does the material affect the TOG?

A TOG rating indicates how effectively a material can trap warm air close to the body, and takes into account the type of fabric and its thickness, as well as the construction of the garment. Different materials have different levels of thermal conductivity and insulation, which impact their TOG ratings.

Natural fibres, like organic cotton and wool for example, have different TOG ratings based on their thickness, density and how they trap air. At Purebaby, our baby sleeping bags are made from 100% certified organic cotton, and comply to the ANZ/NZS 1249:2014 sleepwear standards.

TOG ratings and room temperatures

Use a sleeping bag's TOG rating to choose the right one for your little one's bedroom and the season.

• 0.2 TOG or 0.5 TOG:

  Warm rooms (24°C to 27°C)

• 1.0 TOG or 1.5 TOG:

  Mild or moderate rooms (20°C to 24°C)

• 2.0 TOG or 2.5 TOG:

  Cool rooms (16°C to 20°C)

• 3.0 or 3.5 TOG:

  Cold rooms (below 16°C)

Which TOG should I use for my baby?

At Purebaby, we use TOG ratings to help you choose a safe and comfortable sleeping bag for your baby, allowing you to create the ideal sleeping temperature.

To find the right TOG for your little one you should first figure out the temperature of their room. You can use a thermometer or the thermostat on the room's heating system if there is one. Some baby monitors also have a thermometer built in which can be helpful for figuring out how warm or cool your baby's room is.

Once you know what the temperature of the room is, you can use this number to select the right TOG sleeping bag using the below guide:

• Below 16°C:

  3.0 or 3.5 TOG

• 16°C to 20°C:

  2.0 TOG or 2.5 TOG

• 20°C to 24°C:

  1.0 TOG or 1.5 TOG

• 24°C to 27°C:

  0.2 TOG or 0.5 TOG

Recommended TOG rating by season

If you're not entirely sure what the temperature is in your baby's room, you can use the seasons as a guide. This is helpful if the temperature in your house fluctuates as the seasons change.

• Spring:

  1.0 TOG or 1.5 TOG

• Summer:

  0.2 - 0.5 TOG

• Autumn:

  2.0 TOG or 2.5 TOG

• Winter:

  3.0 or 3.5 TOG

Of course, if you live in a warm climate that doesn't get overly cold in winter, you most likely won't ever need a 3.0 TOG sleeping bag! Instead you might find it easier to adjust for the odd cool night by adding layer underneath your little one's sleeping bag.

How to get your baby ready for sleep in winter

What should a baby wear to bed in winter?

Choosing what to dress your baby in for bed in winter ultimately depends on the temperature in their room, but as a general rule of them you should opt for long-sleeve organic cotton onesies or pyjamas under a warm (higher TOG) sleeping bag.

Babies sleeping in quite cold rooms might need an extra layer under their onesie, such as a singlet or bodysuit.

Remember: never let your baby go to bed in a hat or a beanie. Babies cool themselves down by releasing heat from the heads and faces, so they may overheat if their heads are covered during sleep. Headwear in bed can also be a suffocation hazard.

Should I increase TOG rating by dressing my baby in layers?

While you shouldn't ever layer sleeping bags, we do recommend dressing your little one in an additional layer underneath their sleeping bag to ensure they're comfortably warm at bedtime. Select close-fitting clothing like singlets, bodysuits and onesies made from breathable, natural fibres like organic cotton.

How do I monitor if my baby is too hot or cold?

You can check your baby's temperature by placing your hand on their back or tummy - they should feel warm, but not hot.

While your baby is asleep, you can check for signs to see if they're too hot or cold.

Signs they're too cold may include:

• Shivering

• Fussiness

• Cold hands

• Curled up with their arms and legs underneath them (for older babies who are able to roll)

Signs they're too hot may include:

• Being warm to the touch

• Sweating

• Rapid breathing

• Lethargy

Remember your baby should be comfortably warm in bed - not hot, sweaty or cold.

Shop our collection of beautiful, warm and cosy baby sleeping bags in a range of TOG Ratings from 0.5 to 3. You can also visit our Journal to find out more about how to choose the right sleeping bag for your baby.