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Are you overheating your baby at night? Only 56% of parents can spot the warning signs

Are you overheating your baby at night? Only 56% of parents can spot the warning signs

New research shows many parents struggle to spot overheating. Here's how to keep babies safe and comfortable at night.

Newborn baby boy in bed. New born child sleeping under a white knitted blanket. Children sleep. Bedding for kids. Infant napping in bed. Healthy little kid shortly after birth. Cable knit textile.

Hollie Bond

Published: January 20, 2026 at 2:35 PM

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As the UK cosies up against the coldest months of the year, many parents face the same night-time worry, how do you keep your baby warm without making them so hot it becomes dangerous for them?

New research suggests this is more than a passing concern. While most parents are thinking carefully about temperature at bedtime, only just over half feel confident they would actually recognise if their baby was getting too hot.

And that matters because overheating doesn't just result in a sweaty or crying baby – being too hot is a known sleep safety risk, and it can be harder to spot than many parents realise.

Only half of parents feel confident spotting overheating

baby wearing white sleep suit sleeping in cot

Research commissioned by baby sleepwear brand Love To Dream highlights just how common this uncertainty is.

The survey found that 93% of parents worry about their baby overheating while sleeping, yet only 56% feel confident recognising the signs that their baby is too hot.

A further 44% of parents say they lack full confidence in spotting early warning signs, such as flushed skin, restlessness or sweating.

“Even in cooler months, babies can overheat if they’re wrapped in too many layers,” explains Love To Dream. “Parents naturally want their little ones to stay warm, but it’s important not to overdo it. Babies’ bodies can’t regulate temperature as well as adults, and overheating can disrupt sleep or even pose safety risks.”

Why winter can make temperature tricky

Colder weather often leads parents to add extra layers, turn up the heating or use thicker bedding. While well intentioned, these changes can increase the risk of overheating, especially overnight when temperatures fluctuate.

The research also found that:

44% of parents sometimes struggle to keep their baby at the right temperature at night
36% find it a little difficult
16% say it is extremely difficult

This is reflected in online behaviour too. UK search data from Glimpse shows that searches for baby sleep temperature, TOG guides and what babies should wear to bed triple during winter, peaking in January.

What parents need to know about TOG ratings

One area that continues to confuse families is Thermal Overall Grade, more commonly known as TOG.

TOG ratings measure how warm or insulating a fabric is and are designed to help parents choose suitable sleepwear based on room temperature. Lower TOG ratings mean lighter fabrics, while higher TOG ratings provide more warmth.

Experts recommend an ideal baby sleep environment of 16 to 20°C. Choosing sleepwear with a TOG rating that matches the room temperature is safer than adding blankets or extra layers.

If you are unsure, safe sleep guidance advises checking your baby’s chest or the back of their neck, not their hands or feet, to judge whether they are too hot or too cold.

Safe sleep advice every parent should follow

To help parents feel more confident, Love To Dream shared key safe sleep and temperature management guidelines that align with NHS and Lullaby Trust advice.

Use a room thermometer so you always know the temperature where your baby sleeps
Dress babies in sleepwear with an appropriate TOG rating for the room
Keep the sleep space clear of loose bedding, pillows and accessories
Always place babies on their back to sleep

These steps are especially important in winter, when it is easy to overestimate how much warmth a baby needs.

Parents often don’t realise that even small changes in room temperature or clothing can make a big difference in comfort and safety.

Love To Dream spokesperson

We've also put a handy baby sleep safety and TOG guide together for you to follow at a glance here:

Temperature charts COLD sleeping bag tog

The signs your baby may be too hot

Common signs of overheating include:

flushed cheeks
damp hair
sweating
rapid breathing
unusual restlessness.

If you notice these, remove a layer and allow your baby to cool down gradually. Hands and feet can feel cool even when a baby’s body temperature is just right, so they are not a reliable guide.

The signs your baby may be too cold

Common signs a baby is too cold include:

feeling cold to touch on their stomach, back or neck
waking up frequently
pale, blotchy or blue skin
shivering (usually shows up in babies over 6 months)
slow movements or lethargy

Why it's important to know the signs

The takeaway from this research is not that parents are getting it wrong, but that many are unsure where the line is. But it's essential that parents feel confident putting their babies to bed in winter as overheating has been strongly linked to an increase in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

With only 56% of parents confident in recognising overheating, clear, consistent advice is essential. Understanding TOG ratings, checking room temperature and following safe sleep guidance can help take the guesswork out of winter nights.

Authors

journalist and two young kids sat on a bench in France for a review of Eurocamp

Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!