Baby
Safe sleep for your baby
On the back for every sleep, a firm flat surface without pillows or covers, sleeping in the parents’ room on their own surface, a room at 16–20 °C. Based on the AAP 2022 and The Lullaby Trust.
2 min read
Dressing your baby for the temperature
The most common question of the first weeks is “Isn’t she cold?”. Yet the opposite problem is more common. Here is a simple way to check that your baby is neither too warm nor too cold.
A check that works
The Lullaby Trust advises putting your hand on your baby’s tummy, back or the back of the neck. Hands and feet are usually cooler and are not a good guide.1
| What you feel on the chest or back of the neck | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| hot, damp or sweaty skin | your baby is too warm | remove a layer |
| pleasantly warm, dry skin | all is well | nothing |
| cool skin | your baby may be cold | add a layer |
Layers instead of one thick item
Several thinner layers are easy to add and take off: in a shop, on the bus, in the car. One thick layer is hard to take off, and your baby soon overheats in it once you go indoors.
At home
- The room where your baby sleeps should be at 16 to 20 °C, according to The Lullaby Trust.2
- Do not put a hat on indoors; the head helps to let heat out.1
- For sleep, a light sleeping bag or blanket to suit the temperature. More in the article Safe sleep.
Outdoors in winter
- a hat that covers the ears,
- a warm outer layer, and a footmuff in the pram if needed,
- once you are back indoors, take layers off straight away, even if your baby is asleep.
If you carry your baby, read Babywearing in winter; in a sling or carrier they need fewer layers than in a pram.
Outdoors in summer
The NHS recommends keeping babies under six months out of direct sunlight; sunscreen is not recommended for them. Older babies, too, should be kept in the shade as much as possible, especially between 11am and 3pm.3 Light, long-sleeved cotton clothing and a sun hat protect better than bare skin.
When your baby is unwell
A baby with a fever needs fewer layers, not more, according to The Lullaby Trust. If a baby under three months has a temperature above 38 °C, see a doctor.1 If anything worries you, call your paediatrician; out of hours, call the out-of-hours medical service (lekárska služba prvej pomoci) or 155.
Where this comes from
The numbers in the text refer to these sources. The links go to the publishers’ own pages; we simply cite them.
- The Lullaby Trust:Temperature (factsheet)Check on the tummy, back or back of the neck; no hat indoors; a poorly baby needs fewer layers; a temperature above 38 °C in a baby under 3 months – see a doctor.
- The Lullaby Trust:Room temperature
- NHS (United Kingdom):Keeping your baby safe in the sun
We last checked these sources on 13 October 2026.
Further along the path
Babywearing
Babywearing in winter
How to carry your baby in winter without overheating or getting cold. Layers, a babywearing coat or insert, hats and feet, checking temperature, and a clear face.
2 min read
Baby
Newborn clothes – sizes and quantities
How baby clothing sizes work (50, 56, 62…), how many items to buy, and which fabrics and cuts work well. With a size finder based on length or the WHO growth standards.
In-depth guide 3 min read