This guide is general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different, and advice can vary by country. If you are worried about your baby, talk to your doctor or health visitor.
The short answer
The Lullaby Trust recommends a baby room temperature of 16°C to 20°C (61°F to 68°F), with light bedding or a light, well-fitting baby sleeping bag. Their baby room temperature advice has the full details. The range is a guide only, so you still need to check your baby and follow safe sleep advice.
Use a room thermometer
It is hard to guess the temperature of a room. The Lullaby Trust suggests keeping a room thermometer in the room where your baby sleeps. A calculator or an app can only give an estimate, so for a baby's room use a real thermometer.
How to check if your baby is too hot
Feel your baby's chest or the back of their neck. Hands and feet are usually cooler, and that is normal. If the skin is hot, sweaty or clammy, remove a layer of clothes or bedding and think about moving your baby somewhere cooler.
In hot weather
When it is hot, 16°C to 20°C can be hard to reach. The Lullaby Trust suggests these steps:
- Close the blinds or curtains in the day so the room does not heat up.
- Use a fan to move the air, but keep it out of reach and do not point it straight at your baby.
- Use fewer layers. In hot weather, a nappy with no bedding can be fine.
The Lullaby Trust has more in its hot weather guidance. If the room stays hotter than you expect, see why a room can be hotter than outside.
In cold weather
If you heat the room, do not push it above the top of the range. Dress your baby in layers that you can add or remove, and check them the same way, by feeling their chest or the back of their neck.