How to dress a newborn for sleep, by room temperature

What's probably happening

The right amount of clothing for sleep is set by room temperature, not the season or the time of night. Get the room into the safe range first, then dress to fit it.

• Room at 16–20°C is the target. This is the safer-sleep range across AAP, NHS, and Lullaby Trust guidance.
• Overheating raises SIDS risk. Too many layers is the more common error than too few.
• Hands and feet running cool is normal. The reliable check is the chest or the back of the neck — warm and dry, not hot or sweaty.

When to escalate

See a doctor when you can:

• Sweating, damp hair, or a flushed chest at every sleep despite a single layer in a 16–20°C room.

Get immediate medical care:

• Fever > 38°C in a baby under 3 months.