The nights are getting cooler, fog hangs over the Swiss Plateau in the morning – and the nursery is suddenly noticeably chillier than it was just two weeks ago. If you're wondering whether your baby is wearing enough at night or getting too sweaty, you're in the same boat as most parents in autumn. This guide shows you how to dress your baby at night without having to guess every time.
First things first: how warm should the room be?
Before you think about clothes, it's worth taking a look at the room. Around 16 to 18 °C is widely considered a comfortable sleeping temperature for a baby's room – so cooler than many people expect. A simple room thermometer next to the cot takes the guesswork out of it and only costs a few francs.
In autumn, the real issue is the fluctuation: during the day the sun shines into the room, at night it cools down, and at some point the heating comes on. So give the room another quick airing in the evening and check the temperature once more rather than relying on your gut feeling – adult hands are a poor gauge.
The basic rule: one layer more than you
The best-known rule of thumb is that for sleep, your baby wears about one layer more than you'd be comfortable in in the same room. In practice, that usually means:
- A bodysuit as the base – right next to the skin, ideally cotton. Usually long-sleeved in autumn.
- Pyjamas or trousers plus a top as the second layer.
- A sleeping bag instead of a blanket, in a thickness that suits the room temperature.
Bodysuits are the item you'll need most often – at night, in the morning, after spit-up at three a.m. A 5-pack of long-sleeved bodysuits in ribbed cotton covers a whole week without you having to wash in between. For the second layer, soft baby joggers in a 5-pack are practical: they don't press on the tummy and are quick to pull back on after a nappy change.
Table: what works at which room temperature?
This overview is a starting point, not a rule – every baby feels warmth differently.
| Room temperature | Possible combination |
|---|---|
| from approx. 22 °C | Short-sleeved bodysuit, thin sleeping bag |
| approx. 19–21 °C | Long-sleeved bodysuit, medium-weight sleeping bag |
| approx. 16–18 °C | Long-sleeved bodysuit, pyjamas or trousers, warmer sleeping bag |
| below 16 °C | add socks; better: keep the room a little warmer |
By the way, cold little feet are the most common reason parents add another layer at night. Often, thin cotton baby socks are all it takes – and your baby doesn't need to be bundled up more warmly overall.
How to tell whether it's right
Babies' hands and feet almost always feel cooler – that says little about their body temperature. The back of the neck is more reliable: gently slide a finger onto the back of the neck or between the shoulder blades.
- Pleasantly warm and dry: that's just right.
- Damp or sweaty, flushed face: one layer less.
- Noticeably cool at the neck: one layer more or a warmer sleeping bag.
There's no need to check every hour – once at bedtime and once when you go to bed yourself is usually enough. If your baby sweats heavily for no obvious reason, sleeps noticeably restlessly or you're unsure, bring it up with your paediatrician at the next check-up.
What doesn't belong in the cot at night
When it comes to sleep, less really is safer. These points apply whatever the season:
- No loose blankets, pillows, cot bumpers or soft toys in the first year.
- Sleeping on the back – for naps too.
- No hat indoors: babies release heat through their heads.
- Not right next to the radiator or a draughty window when you position the cot.
- A sleeping bag in the right length: the head must not be able to slip inside.
A sleeping bag replaces the blanket and solves two problems at once: your baby can't kick it off and won't get cold at four in the morning.
Little helpers that make the difference at night
Not everything that helps at night is clothing. A muslin cloth over the mattress under your baby's head catches spit-up – and instead of changing the whole bed, you just swap the cloth. Our 3-pack of cotton muslin swaddles works well for this because the cloths are light, dry quickly and get softer with every wash.
Another tried-and-tested tip: a second complete set of clothes within reach next to the changing table. Anyone who has hunted for a fresh bodysuit in the half-dark at night knows why it's worth it.
The bottom line
Dressing your baby at night in autumn isn't rocket science: keep the room on the cool side, one layer more than you, a sleeping bag instead of a blanket – and if in doubt, feel the back of the neck. More important than the perfect combination is that after a few nights, you'll notice what works for your child.
If you're still missing long-sleeved bodysuits, warm trousers or muslin swaddles for autumn: in our range, you'll find soft cotton basics in 0–3, 3–6 and 6–9 months – with free shipping from CHF 50 within Switzerland.