How To Dress A Baby In Spring For Sleep

As the flowers burst into bloom and the temperatures begin to rise, it comes time to ditch the winter woollies and rethink the way you dress your baby for sleep. Spring brings with it fluctuating temperatures and changing weather patterns, which pose a unique challenge for ensuring your little one sleeps comfortably through the night. Transitional seasons and newborn spring clothes can often cause some confusion for new parents, but they shouldn’t have to. Breathable, flexible layers that allow you to adjust clothing as the temperatures change are often the way to go to help ensure a safe and comfortable sleep for baby. We explore expert tips to help prepare you and your baby for the spring season ahead.

What TOG is best for spring?

When choosing spring baby clothes you should aim for comfortably warm, not too hot, and not too cold. TOG ratings or Thermal Grades can be a helpful way of choosing the right garment for the temperature of the room. For spring, the 1.0 TOG or Moderate/Mild thermal range is suitable for temperatures ranging from 20-24°C.

Ensuring your baby’s sleepwear and apparel are aligned to the room temperature is important to help prevent any case where your baby may overheat. If a baby overheats during sleep it can pose a risk to safe sleeping. Always check in on your baby when temperatures are fluctuating to make sure they are comfortable.

What should my baby wear to bed in spring?

Spring weather can be extremely unpredictable with cooler nights often followed by warmer days. For baby spring clothes, lightweight layers that can be adjusted as needed are the way to go. Clothing and sleepwear, you may consider during spring are:

Bodysuits – Close-fitting and lightweight, bodysuits are available in a variety of fabrics, with either sleeveless, short-sleeve, or long-sleeve designs available to suit a range of temperatures.
Footless Rompers – Available in a variety of fabrics, rompers allow breathability and provide lightweight warmth when temperatures dip overnight, the footless design provides the option of your baby’s feet being uncovered to help prevent overheating in fluctuating temperatures.
Swaddle Up™ - Lightweight and breathable, Swaddle Ups™ are lightweight, and breathable and come in a variety of thermal grades with suitable options available for all climates.
Sleeping bag – Sleeping bags are ideal for helping to provide a consistent temperature across the night or nap time and are available with safety features such as fitted armholes and zipper houses to help protect your baby.

It’s a good idea to ensure you have a selection of these types of garments available for spring, so you can choose the most appropriate combination for the temperature of the day. Having a range of options available will help you provide your baby with the most appropriate, safest, and comfortable sleeping conditions.

What are some other considerations for dressing your baby for bedtime in spring?

Beyond selecting the appropriate sleepwear, there are several other factors to keep in mind when dressing your baby for bedtime in spring to ensure your baby’s safety and comfort through the night.

Ensure your baby’s room temperature is optimal

Average spring temperatures in Australia can be anywhere from 11-23°C. Given the wide range of possible temperatures outside, when considering how to dress your baby for sleep in spring, first check the ambient temperature in your baby’s room on any given day. The ideal room temperature for a baby is between 18-22°C. Taking the room temperature into account, as well as monitoring the comfort level of your baby will help you adjust your baby’s clothing as necessary to ensure they stay safe and comfortable throughout the night.

Choose breathable fabrics

When choosing sleepwear for your baby in spring, prioritise lightweight, breathable fabrics such as cotton or bamboo. These materials are naturally breathable and allow for proper airflow, helping prevent overheating while also providing warmth if the temperature dips unexpectedly.

Look for fabrics such as:

Cotton
Organic Cotton
Bamboo
Tencel™

While it’s perfectly natural to want to keep your baby warm and cosy during sleep, as the warmer spring temperatures approach, be cautious not to overdress or over-layer your baby’s clothing. For spring, a lightweight sleeping bag or swaddle and a bodysuit or romper may be all that is required for a comfortable night’s sleep. Keep the layers light to help ensure a comfortable sleep and monitor your child’s temperature in spring to ensure they are sleeping safely and comfortably.

Don’t over layer

Overdressing your little one can increase the risk of overheating, which in turn can increase the risk of SIDS.

Use our helpful reference guide below to give you a range of layering combinations that may be suitable for spring newborn clothes in each temperature range.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your baby sleeps comfortably during the unpredictable spring nights ahead. Ensuring breathability in the clothing and sleepwear you choose, layering where necessary, as well as monitoring your baby and the room temperature will help create the ideal sleep environment for your little one in spring so that everyone can enjoy a peaceful and restorative night’s sleep throughout the season.