The Ultimate TOG Chart for Newborns

If you’re an expectant or new parent, you may have heard of TOG used when you’ve been shopping for wearable blankets like swaddle sleep bags or sleep bags. In the newborn days, many parents worry about whether their baby is too warm or cold. Being armed with knowledge about TOG will help keep your little bubs warm, comfortable, and safe while they sleep. 

In this blog article, we’ve aimed to create the ultimate TOG guide for newborns. After reading this article, you’ll learn: 

• What is a TOG rating? 
• Why should I care about TOG?
• How do I know I have the right TOG?
• What TOG does my newborn need for the fall, winter, spring, and summer? 

Let’s get started! 

What is a TOG rating? 

A TOG or Thermal Overall Grade rating is a unit of measurement that tells you how thick or warm your baby’s wearable blanket is. Many sleep sacks use TOG ratings like at Nest Designs. Think of it this way - the higher the TOG rating is, the warmer the sleep bag or footed sleep bag is, the better it is for colder weather. If the TOG rating is low, the wearable blanket is lighter and is better for warmer weather like spring or summer. Read more about TOG ratings here. 

Why is TOG so important?  

Newborns and infants can’t regulate their temperature as well as adults can. Knowing the right TOG to buy can keep your baby safe and comfortable while they sleep. While it can be tempting to layer your baby when the weather cools down, this can lead to overheating, a risk factor for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). 

Choosing the right TOG also depends on other factors including: 

Your child’s room temperature: The temperature varies season by season and depends on the temperature you set your heating at and if you are running an air conditioner in the room. To figure out your child’s room temperature, we recommend getting a thermometer and measuring how hot or cold the room is. An ideal room temperature is between 20° to 22°C (68° and 72°F). 

• The clothing they wear during sleep: ​​Any extra layers like PJs or onesies count as an extra layer of insulation. You’ll want to ensure that the layers work with the TOG rating and check on your child to make sure they’re not too cold or overheating. 
• Your child’s overall temperature: Little ones all run at different temperatures just like us adults. You can touch the nape of their neck to check if they’re too hot or cold. Keep in mind that extremities like their hands and feet will not tell you how cold or hot your bubs actually is. 

The materials the wearable blanket is made from:Fabrics are not equal and do not provide the same amount of warmth. Some materials are more breathable than others and some materials provide more insulation than others.

What TOG does my newborn need for fall?

For the fall season, you’ll want to dress your newborn in a mid-light weight to mid-heavy weight like 1.0 TOG or 2.5 TOG sleep bag or footed sleep bag. Wearable blankets with a 1.0 TOG are used in rooms  20° to 24°C (69° and 74°F) while 2.5 TOG is used for rooms 16° to 20°C (61° and 68°F). 

At Nest Designs, we use fabrics like GOTS certified organic cotton and Sorona®️. Both of these materials are eco-friendly and breathable which ensures your bubs’ comfort and safety at night. Sorona®️ is an eco-friendly, fully biodegradable filling we use to insulate our products like our sleep bags, footed sleep bags, blankets, duvets, and duvet covers. It gives our wearable blankets a soft, plushy, cloud-like feeling. 

Some of our wearable blankets have removable sleeves, foldover handcuffs, and foldover foot cuffs to keep your little one extra comfy. With these features, you’ll be able to help keep your newborn at the right temperature. Please note, our swaddle sleep bags and startle stop sleep bags, the swaddle wings add an extra layer of insulation - 0.5 TOG to the wearable blanket. 

What TOG does my newborn need for winter? 

With the colder winter weather, depending on your newborn’s room temperature, you may opt for a heavy-weight sleep bag like 3.5 TOG. These are made for rooms between 10-16°C (31°F). Nest Designs’ 3.5 TOG sleep bags are made from GOTS certified organic cotton. We choose organic cotton because it is made without the use of toxic chemicals or dyes and does not contain any GMOs. Organic cotton feels soft and comfortable - making it feel great against a newborn’s delicate skin and better for the environment. Like our 2.5 TOG sleep bags and footed sleep bags, the 3.5 TOG wearable blankets are insulated with Sorona®️ too. 

What TOG does my newborn need for spring?

The spring’s warmer weather means you can shed the heavier layers and dress your newborn in a lighter TOG. Depending on your baby’s room temperature, we recommend opting for a mid-light weight TOG like 1.0. These are great for rooms 20° to 24°C (69° and 74°F). 

Nest Designs 1.0 TOG sleep bags and footed sleep bags are made from a range of materials. These include GOTS certified organic cotton, rayon from bamboo, and our signature avocado bamboo. These wearable blankets are made with features like removable sleeves, foldover handcuffs, and foldover foot cuffs.

Bamboo is a sustainable fabric but is also a good choice for little ones. The material is buttery soft, breathable, and great at thermal regulating. Because is naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial, it is gentle on a newborn’s delicate skin, especially if they are experiencing sensitive skin issues like eczema.

What TOG does my newborn need for summer? 

Who doesn’t love the warm sun basking against them? But for bubs that cannot regulate their temperatures well, the hot weather can become uncomfortable. For the summer, Nest Designs’ sleep bags and footed sleep bags come in 0.23 TOG, 0.5 TOG, and 0.6 TOG. These are lightweight to ultra-lightweight TOGs that are made for hot to extremely hot weather. Our lightweight wearable blankets are made from breathable, thermal-regulating, and moisture-wicking fabrics like bamboo, bamboo silk, bamboo Pima, and bamboo jersey - making them ultra-soft and comfortable on. These sleep bags and footed sleep bags come in sleeveless, ¾ inch sleeves, and removable long sleeves. 

How do I know that I’ve chosen the right TOG? 

Babies and toddlers learn to regulate their temperatures around 1.5 to 2 years old. You’ll know if your baby is wearing a sleep bag with the right TOG based on how comfortable they seem while they’re sleeping. Your baby is too hot if they’re showing these signs:

• Warm to touch
• Flushed skin/red cheeks 
• Sweaty neck
• Hair is damp
• Rapid breathing 
• Lethargic, floppy, or unresponsive 

As a rule of thumb, you can dress your baby in one extra layer than what you’re wearing. 

Rest Well, Little One

The right sleep bag or footed sleep bag can help your little one sleep comfortably at night - and hopefully longer too! A TOG rating is one factor that will help them sleep. Keep in mind, there are other factors like your little one’s room temperature, the extra layers they may be wearing, their overall temperature, and the materials the wearable blanket is made from. Need help with deciding on the best sleep bag or footed sleep bag for your little one? Contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help!