Baby Room Temperature and How to Set Up a Safe Sleep Space

Room temperature

• Aim for a room that is comfortable for a lightly dressed adult. Many pediatric sources suggest roughly 68-72°F (20-22°C). There is no single magic number; the main goal is avoiding overheating.
• Feel the baby's chest or back of the neck rather than the hands. Sweating, damp hair, flushed skin or rapid breathing mean too warm.
• No hats indoors for sleep after the first hours in the hospital. Babies release heat through the head.
• A fan that moves air gently is fine. Keep it, and any heater, well out of reach and away from the crib, with cords secured.

What to dress them in

• A onesie plus a sleep sack, or a footed sleeper, covers most nights. In a warm room, a diaper and a light sleep sack is enough. In a cool room, add a layer underneath.
• Sleep sacks come in warmth ratings (often called TOG). Lower numbers for warm rooms, higher for cool. Unweighted only.
• No loose blankets until at least the first birthday.

The sleep space checklist

• A crib, bassinet or play yard that meets current safety standards. Since 2022, US federal rules ban inclined sleepers and padded crib bumpers.
• Firm, flat mattress that fits snugly: no gap wider than two fingers at the sides.
• A fitted sheet made for that mattress. Nothing else: no pillows, positioners, wedges, bumpers or toys.
• In the parents' or caregiver's room, separate surface, ideally for at least the first 6 months.
• Away from windows, blind cords, curtains, and wall hangings or shelves above the crib.
• Baby monitors, if used, mounted well out of reach with cords at least 3 feet (90 cm) away.
• Wearable monitors that track oxygen or heart rate are not shown to prevent SIDS and aren't a substitute for safe sleep basics.

Light and sound

• Dark for nights and long naps. Blackout curtains help in summer and for shift-working households where babies nap in daylight.
• A dim, warm-toned night light for feeds and changes.
• Steady background sound is optional; see the white noise guide for safe volume.

Smoke and air

• Keep the home and car completely smoke-free and vape-free. Smoke exposure, before or after birth, is one of the strongest risk factors for sudden infant death.
• In dry climates or heating season, a cool-mist humidifier can ease stuffy noses. Clean it daily and keep it out of reach.

Shared rooms and small homes

• Many families share a room with siblings or other relatives. That's fine. The baby still needs their own flat, clear sleep surface, and older children shouldn't put toys or blankets in it.
• A play yard works well as a full-time sleep space in small homes and when travelling.

When to check in

• Ask at a checkup if you are unsure whether a product, mattress or hand-me-down crib is safe, or how to adapt safe sleep to your home.
• A baby who is unusually hot, limp or hard to wake needs urgent care; if they are not breathing or are blue, call 911.