Swaddle your newborn for the first weeks, then move to a sleeping bag as soon as your baby shows signs of trying to roll. In Singapore, choose a light 0.2 TOG bamboo sleeping bag for rooms at 24°C and above, and a 0.5 or 1.0 TOG bag for cooler air-conditioned rooms.
Safe sleep basics
Whatever your baby sleeps in, the Ministry of Health's HealthHub advises (HealthHub Singapore):
- Put your baby on their back for every sleep, including naps.
- Use a firm mattress with a fitted sheet, and keep the cot clear of pillows, bumpers, loose blankets and soft toys.
- Keep your baby's head uncovered.
Why swaddle a newborn?
Newborns have a startle reflex that can wake them. A snug swaddle keeps their arms close and helps them settle. Use a large, light swaddle: ours are 120 x 120 cm, single layer, so there is enough fabric to wrap securely without overheating.
Wrap firmly around the arms, but leave room at the chest so your baby can breathe deeply, and keep the hips and knees free to bend up and out. Start the wrap below the neck so the face stays clear.
- Bamboo Muslin Swaddle, S$29. 70% bamboo, 30% cotton, OEKO-TEX certified. The coolest choice for warm nights.
- Organic Cotton Swaddle, S$29. 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton. Can be personalised with a name.
See all Swaddles.
When should I stop swaddling?
Stop swaddling as soon as your baby looks like they are trying to roll over. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that rolling usually happens around 3 to 4 months, but it can happen earlier, sometimes as early as 2 months (HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics). That is the moment to switch to a sleeping bag, which keeps arms free.
What is TOG?
TOG measures how warm a fabric is. The lower the number, the lighter it is. For Singapore, you will rarely need more than 1.0 TOG.
Which TOG for my baby's room?
Use this as a starting guide for our sleeping bags, then check your baby.
| Room temperature | Sleeping bag | What to wear underneath |
|---|---|---|
| 24°C and above | 0.2 or 0.5 TOG | Sleeveless onesie |
| 22°C | 0.5 or 1.0 TOG | Short-sleeve onesie |
| 20°C (cold aircon) | 1.0 TOG | Long-sleeve sleepsuit |
Check your baby's chest or the back of the neck. Warm and dry is right. Sweaty means take a layer off. Hands and feet often feel cooler, and that is normal.
Which sleeping bag should I choose?
- Bamboo sleeping bags, 0.2 TOG. A light bamboo-blend jersey, for warm rooms and most Singapore nights.
- Classic Pooh sleeping bags, 0.5 or 1.0 TOG. Cotton jersey. The 1.0 TOG is padded, for colder aircon rooms.
See all Sleeping Bags.
Can I use a blanket instead?
Not in the cot. HealthHub and the American Academy of Pediatrics both advise keeping loose blankets out of your baby's sleep area, for naps as well as at night, because a blanket can cover the face (HealthyChildren.org). If you are worried your baby will get cold, use a sleeping bag instead. Save blankets for when your baby is awake and with you: in the pram, on the play mat and for tummy time. See Blankets.
Do swaddles and sleeping bags make good gifts?
Yes, both are used every day. A swaddle suits a newborn gift. A sleeping bag in 6M suits a full month or 100 days gift. See Full Month & 100 Days Gifts.
