What does TOG mean?
Have you ever received a sleep sack or purchased one from a store and seen the words TOG? Maybe you just thought “wow, this feels super thin; I’m going to have put so many layers on this baby!” Or “this feels like a down comforter! Definitely not going to work in the summer.” Today I will break down what TOG means and how to go about finding the best sleep sack for healthy, happy baby sleep!
TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade and is a unit of measurement used to calculate a product’s thermal insulation. TOG is separated into categories from 0.5 TOG to 3.5 TOG.
0.5 TOG is the thinest material that you can find for a sleep sack. You would want your home to be between 75-77 before you used this with your baby. Under this TOG level you could have baby wear a long sleeve onesie and if your home was even hotter or you noticed baby waking up uncomfortable, a diaper would suffice.
1.0 TOG is the next on our list. 72-75 degrees is how hot you would want it in your home before using this TOG level. This is a very common thickness for baby sleep sacks. Underneath you would want to pair a long sleep onesie for hot days or a pajama for colder days. You also want to take into account if your baby is sleeping in a drafty room and ensure that they are kept warm with sufficient layers.
1.5 TOG would be appropriate for a home set around 68-72 degrees fairenheit. This is the most common setting on people’s thermostats and we would suggest fitting baby in a onesie underneath a pair of pajamas with this level of TOG. You could also wrap newborns hands in their mitted pajamas to keep hands warm. This practice should stop around eight weeks when swaddling stops because babies self soothing often involves using their hands!
2.0 TOG is not as common of an option in most places but is great for homes set between 65-70 degrees. Baby should be dressed in a onesie and a warm pair of pajamas with this TOG option.
2.5 TOG is appropriate for winter time especially with a drafty home or a home that runs cold. Babies comfort should always be at the forefront of everyones minds but many babies will sleep comfortably with a long sleeve onesie, warm pair of pajamas and a 2.5 TOG sleep sack. The home should be between 61-65 degrees for this TOG level
3.0-3.5 TOG sleep sacks are great options for drafty homes and homes that run cold during the winter. They are thick and cozy like a down blanket but soft and safe for safe sleep practice. These are appropriate for a home thermostat between 60-65.
Some of our favorite sleep sack options include Kyte baby, Little Sleepies, Halo and Kaiya Baby.
I hope this blog makes it easier to shop for and plan to keep baby healthy and sleeping! If you aren’t sure what to use, you can always ask your Newborn Care Professional and we can talk with you as you make these decisions! Give us a call today!