Not too thin, not too thick – everything you need to know about the TOG scale

The birth of a child is quite an anticipated moment – the world of a parent then changes beyond recognition. All the attention is focused on the little one, and there is a lot to learn and teach. Each day is a lot of questions bothering mom or dad: isn’t the baby hungry? Is the room at the right temperature? Or is he or she dressed too thickly? No one is prepared just like that for the role of a parent. That’s why every day we learn and learn new things about raising a child and his needs. In today’s post we will talk about the TOG scale – no doubt it sounds quite mysterious, but you may encounter it, for example, when choosing a sleeping bag for your baby.

TOG scale – what is it?

The TOG scale is nothing but an indicator that tells you about the degree of thermal insulation. It is used to determine the thermal properties of many layered textiles, including a quilt, blanket or baby sleeping bag for baby to sleep. The rule here is simple – the higher the TOG scale, the better the accessory is for lower temperatures.

The following is the TOG scale for sleeping bags:

• thickness 0.2-0.5 TOG – a summer thin sleeping bag designed for hot days. Recommended if the temperature in the baby’s room is from 24°C upwards,
• thickness 1.0 TOG – a sleeping bag (usually with light filling) that we can use all year round. Ideal for afternoon naps in warm spring and autumn. Recommended for use when
• the temperature in the baby’s room is between 21°C and 24°C,
• thickness 2.5 TOG – a sleeping bag with warm filling, usually made of two layers of material. Ideal when the room temperature is between 17° and 22°C,
• thickness 3.5 TOG – winter, thickest sleeping bag with very warm filling. Its use will be in rooms with a temperature of 14° to 21°C.

Correct choice of sleeping bag

The thickness of the sleeping bag, as well as baby clothes, should be adapted to the temperature of the room, not the season. It is also important what the toddler is dressed in for sleeping – a different thickness of sleeping bag is needed for a baby who sleeps only in a diaper, from one who has pajamas on. All this needs to be taken into account in order to consciously choose the best, perfectly adapted to the needs of the infant accessory.

How to check if the baby is not cold?

The best way to check this is to put your hand to the baby’s neck. If it is warm as well as dry, it means that the toddler is sleeping well and is neither too cold nor too warm. On the other hand, a damp neck signals that the baby is sweaty, in which case you should take off one layer of clothing and reassess the situation in a while. However, if the neck is cold, the consolation should be dressed warmer or covered. Parents, remember that if the baby’s hands are cool, as a rule, this is not a cause for concern. It is not always related to the fact that he is cold – newborns and infants have an immature circulatory system, so their hands and even feet are often icy.

Can overheating a baby be dangerous?

An overheated child can catch a cold more easily – usually by the age of 12 or so, a strong autoimmune system is building up. If a toddler is dressed too warmly, he can’t learn to thermoregulate on his own. The effects of this can be felt throughout life. In what way? Our baby will be susceptible to infections and poorly able to cope with any pathogens. In addition, overheating causes the child to become weepy, irritable or lethargic, and small pustules, known as sweat marks, may appear on the body. In some cases, this can even lead to heat stroke.

In conclusion, to help parents learn the ins and outs of dressing a toddler and explain to them what proper preparation for sleep should look like, textile manufacturers have introduced the extremely helpful TOG indicator. Commonly used to determine thermal performance, it is particularly important when choosing a sleeping bag – the best companion for a child for the whole year. The popularity of this type of accessory is growing, because it is a very practical piece of layette. The sleeping bag can be adjusted to the environmental conditions, and in combination with the right clothing will provide the child with comfort and warmth during sleep. And did you know what the TOG scale is?

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