What is the ideal baby room temperature?
The recommended room temperature for babies is 16 – 20°C.
It’s important to make sure that your baby is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is higher in babies who get too hot. A room temperature of 16 – 20°C, with light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag, is comfortable.
Use a room thermometer
It can be difficult to guess temperature so use a room thermometer in the rooms where your baby sleeps.
We recommend using a room thermometer for accuracy.
You can buy a simple room thermometer from The Lullaby Trust’s online shop.
How to check if your baby is too hot or too cold
Every baby is different and our advice on the ideal room temperature for babies is intended as a guide only. You will still need to check your baby regularly to see if they are too hot.
To do this, feel your baby’s chest or the back of their neck (your baby’s hands and feet will usually be cooler, which is normal). If your baby’s skin is hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of bedclothes or bedding.
Our advice on bedclothes and bedding
Babies do not need to wear hats indoors or sleep under a duvet or quilt. Avoid these to help prevent over-heating.
The benefit of sharing a room with your baby
To reduce the risk of SIDS, it is strongly recommended that your baby sleeps in the same room as you, day and night, for at least the first six months.
Frequently asked questions
We appreciate how difficult it can be to keep a room at 16 – 20⁰C (the ideal baby room temperature) in the warmer months, knowing that overheating can pose a risk. If the room where the baby sleeps is difficult to cool, follow the ‘summer rules’ of lighter bedding and clothing and open the bedroom door and a window, if it’s safe to do so.
You could also use a fan to cool the room, but don’t aim it directly towards the baby.
When the weather is hot, it’s important to make sure that your baby has plenty of fluids. Fully breastfed babies don’t need any extra water until they start eating solid food but during hot weather they may want to breastfeed more than usual. If you’re bottle feeding, as well as their usual milk feeds, the NHS recommends giving your baby a little cooled boiled water.
It’s rarely necessary to keep your heating on all night, and adding an extra layer will usually help if you can’t get the room to the recommended room temperature for babies.
Remember not to put a hat on your baby when they are indoors, as babies maintain their body temperature by releasing heat through their head. Wearing a hat can mean they get too hot. Ensure your baby’s cot or Moses basket isn’t placed near a heat source, such as a radiator, heater or in direct sunlight.
If you do feel your home is too cold and you want to leave the heating on all night, make sure it is set at a low temperature, and certainly no higher than 20⁰C.
When babies feel unwell with a cold or high temperature (fever), they may be warmer than usual. Your baby should be dressed for their environment – it’s important not to feel tempted to wrap an unwell baby up more than usual.
If your baby has a fever or you are worried about them, you should call your GP or 111. If your baby shows signs of being significantly unwell, always seek medical advice. The NHS has more information: High temperature (fever) in children.
You may also find it helpful to use our Baby Check app to monitor your baby’s symptoms.
Remember
Keeping the baby room temperature to 16-20°C, using a room thermometer and sleeping in the same room as your baby for the first six months will help keep your baby safe and comfortable while they sleep. Every baby is different, and checking for signs of overheating means you can adjust their clothes and bedding if you need to.
Every baby safe. Every family supported.
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