Dressing a baby appropriately is a common concern for parents. Babies can easily overheat or get cold, as they’re not yet able to regulate body temperature efficiently. Smart layering is key to a good night’s sleep and a comfortable walk. Here’s how to do it – both indoors and outdoors.
1. How to tell if your baby is too cold or too hot?
The most common myth? Cold hands = cold baby. In reality, hands and feet are not reliable indicators. It’s much better to feel the baby’s neck (the back of the neck):
- ✅ Warm and dry neck = ideal
- ✅ Cold neck = baby is too cold
- ✅ Damp or sweaty neck = baby is too hot
This simple touch will tell you more than any chart.
2. What is TOG and why it’s only a rough guide
The TOG value indicates the thermal resistance of a material – the higher the number, the warmer the item. But there’s a catch:
- 🟡 TOG only measures heat retention – not the functionality of the material
- 🟢 Merino wool may have a low TOG but naturally regulates temperature and wicks away moisture
- 🧠 TOG is only a guideline – actual warmth depends on the room temperature, baby’s activity, season and other factors
3. How to dress a baby by season
🌸 Spring / Autumn
- Long-sleeve bodysuit + merino sleeping bag
- Or a footed onesie + light double-sided blanket
- Plus a merino liner in the stroller
☀️ Summer
- Short-sleeve bodysuit or just a diaper
- Merino liner with 3D mesh for breathability
- Lightweight merino sleeping bag or blanket
❄️ Winter
- Bodysuit + onesie + merino wool footmuff
- Sleeping bag with or without sleeves, depending on room temperature
- Blanket on top if it's very cold
4. Every baby is different – follow the signs
One baby may sweat in pajamas, another needs both a sleeping bag and a blanket. Listen to your baby:
- ✔️ Check the back of the neck, monitor sleep quality and night waking
- ✔️ Don’t rely solely on charts – some babies “run hot”, others cold
- ✔️ Fewer layers and high-quality fabric is often better than too much layering
5. What Kaarsgaren offers
- 🛏️ Merino sleeping bags – summer and all-season variants
- 🧺 Double-sided blankets – merino + organic cotton
- 🚼 Liners for strollers and car seats – merino knit + 3D mesh
- 👖 Anti-slip merino pants – ideal for crawling and cold floors
- 🤲 Stroller hand muffs – to keep parents’ hands warm
Conclusion: Trust the back of the neck – and merino
Every baby is unique, but functional clothing and high-quality natural fabrics can help you keep your little one comfortable. Merino regulates, breathes and warms – without overheating.
And remember: the neck (and your intuition) will always tell you more than cold hands or TOG numbers.
