The advice is one more layer than you're wearing.” - Suggested by Mumsnet user TheLovelinessOfDemons Baby sleeping bags or swaddles In winter, the biggest challenge can be when the temperature drops in the early hours, particularly if your central heating isn’t on overnight. This can cause your baby to become cold and wake prematurely as a result.

If you're using a sleeping bag and feel like your baby is cold, add an extra layer of clothing – but not extra blankets. We’ve researched the latest advice and guidance from health and parenting experts such as the NHS and Lullaby Trust, along with real-life experiences from the Mumsnet community to bring you this ultimate guide to baby sleep.It all starts with knowing the temperature of the room. From here you can make the clothing decisions. Monitor the temperature using a nursery thermometer and then dress them accordingly.

Most sleeping bags come with a useful guide on baby clothing, indicating how many layers your child should wear with the sleeping bag, depending on the temperature of the room. As a rough guide, they suggest: If your baby is less than 12 months old, you should avoid using loose blankets, duvets or pillows in the cot, as these can pose a smothering or suffocation hazard.BabyCentre's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organisations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.AAP. 2012. A parent's guide to safe sleep. American Academy of Paediatricians. www.healthychildcare.org Opens a new window [PDF accessed March 2017] Blankets – Choose blankets made from light-weight fabric. A blanket folded in half to cover baby counts as two layers, and if you fold it in half again that counts as four layers. In general you will use one to three blankets depending on the temperature. I personally always liked to use a combination of cellular blankets and fleece baby blankets (in winter) to keep my little ones comfy. When it comes to dressing your baby for sleep, using a room thermometer and following the sleeping bag guidance about TOG levels is a great place to start. Beyond that, you should dress your baby in layers that can be easily adapted to their surroundings - adding or removing a layer as required.

AAP. 2016b. Tips for dressing your baby. www.healthychildren.org Opens a new window [Accessed April 2017] When getting your baby’s crib or Moses basket ready use a firm mattress that is made to fit the bed, with no gaps around the edges, and a fitted cotton sheet.So consider how many layers you are wearing to remain comfortable, then add one more layer for your baby. All-night heating of the room where your baby is sleeping is rarely necessary, according to the NHS, and it’s easier to adjust the temperature by using layers of lightweight blankets. Part of this issue is confidence. As first-time parents may second-guess themselves a lot when it comes to how you should be dressing your baby for sleep. Nottingham Post. 2017. Warning after report of baby's death from 'big bow headband'. www.nottinghampost.com Opens a new window [Accessed April 2017] Lullaby Trust. 2014. Safer sleep for babies. www.lullabytrust.org.uk Opens a new window [PDF accessed March 2017]