What Is a TOG Rating? A Plain Guide for Parents

The short answer: TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade. It's a number that tells you how much warmth a fabric or garment holds in. The lower the number, the lighter it is; the higher, the warmer. You'll mostly see it on baby sleep sacks and wearable blankets.

What the number measures

TOG is a standard measure of thermal insulation, long used for bedding such as duvets. A fabric is tested in a lab to see how well it slows heat passing through it, and the result is given as a TOG value. It describes the fabric, not your baby: two babies in the same sleep sack, in the same room, can feel quite different.

How to use a TOG rating

1. Measure the room. A simple room thermometer near the crib tells you more than the thermostat in the hallway.
2. Use the chart for the product you own. Brands publish their own room-temperature charts, and they don't always match. Follow the one that came with your sleep sack rather than a generic table.
3. Count what's underneath. The TOG number covers the sleep sack only. What your baby wears under it adds warmth too.
4. Check your baby, not the label. Feel the chest or the back of the neck. Warm and dry is right. Sweaty or hot means choose a lighter layer. Cool hands and feet on their own are normal.

Why it matters for safe sleep

Overheating is recognized as a risk factor for SIDS, so the goal is steady, comfortable warmth rather than bundling. A wearable blanket is also a common alternative to a loose blanket, which doesn't belong in the crib. TOG is simply a tool for choosing the right weight. The basics still come first: back to sleep, a firm flat surface, and nothing loose in the crib. See the NIH Safe to Sleep campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org for full guidance.

Does MulmulBaby have TOG ratings?

No. We don't publish a TOG rating for any MulmulBaby product, because we haven't had our fabrics measured. We'd rather tell you that plainly than print a number we can't back up. If a TOG rating matters for your routine, choose a sleep sack from a brand that has tested and labeled it.

Wondering what to dress your baby in? Start with our guide to dressing your baby for sleep in a 70°F room, or read how hot is too hot for a newborn.

This is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concerns.