Optimal nursery temperature for sleep
The right nursery temperature ranges from 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Here's why that exact range, what happens outside it, and how to dress baby in every season.
Sleep · Reference
Safety note. This article reflects AAP and CDC safe sleep guidance current as of May 2026. Talk to your pediatrician about your baby's specific needs. The AAP advises an environment that is not too hot for the baby to reduce SIDS risk.
TL;DR
The pediatrician-recommended nursery temperature is 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 Celsius). Below 65 is too cold for most babies even with a sleep sack. Above 74 raises SIDS risk. Use a single thermometer at crib height, not at thermostat height. Dress baby in one layer more than you would wear yourself in the same room.
Need help figuring out wake windows for your baby's age? Use our free wake windows calculator.
The recommended range
Most pediatric sleep researchers and the AAP recommend a nursery temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 Celsius). This is the range where most babies sleep deeply, with the lowest risk of overheating-related arousals.
The range isn't arbitrary. It's based on three things:
- Thermoneutral zone. Babies can regulate body temperature without effort in this range.
- Sleep-cycle quality. Slightly cool environments support deeper sleep cycles.
- SIDS risk. Studies have shown elevated SIDS rates above 74°F when paired with extra layers.
Why the temperature at crib height matters
Most thermostats are 4 to 5 feet above the floor. Your crib is at 1 to 2 feet. Heat rises and cool air sinks, so the crib is often 2 to 4 degrees cooler than the thermostat reads. A house at 70°F often has a crib at 66 to 68°F.
The fix: put a small thermometer or a smart sensor at crib height. Many baby monitors have built-in temperature readings, but check what height the sensor sits at.
How to dress baby by temperature
The AAP guidance is one layer more than you'd wear yourself in the same room. In practice:
| Room temp (°F) | What to wear | Sleep sack TOG |
|---|---|---|
| 65 to 68 | Long-sleeve cotton pajamas | 2.5 TOG |
| 68 to 72 | Long-sleeve cotton pajamas | 1.0 TOG |
| 72 to 74 | Short-sleeve cotton pajamas | 0.5 TOG |
| 74 to 76 | Short-sleeve or just diaper | 0.3 TOG or none |
| Above 76 | Just a diaper, fan the room | None |
TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade. It's the standardized warmth rating for sleep sacks. A 2.5 TOG is winter-weight; 0.5 is summer-weight; 1.0 is the everyday default for most homes.
Match the schedule to the season
Hot summer naps and cold winter wake-ups change your schedule. Get a personalized wake-window plan that fits your home.
Try the calculatorHow to check if baby is too hot or too cold
Stop checking hands and feet. Baby hands and feet are almost always cool because babies' circulation prioritizes the core. They're not a useful temperature signal.
Check the chest or the back of the neck. Slightly warm and dry is correct. Sweaty hair or damp neck is too hot. Cool to the touch through the pajamas is too cold.
Hot-climate sleep tactics
- Run a fan. Studies have shown that fans in the nursery are associated with lower SIDS rates. The fan moves air, doesn't blow directly at baby. Set on low.
- Close blinds during the hottest part of the day. Keeps the room from heating up before bedtime.
- Cool baby down before bed. Cool bath, lightweight pajamas, room set 2 degrees below target.
- Window AC. If you don't have central air, a window unit in the nursery is worth it. Put it on a low fan setting.
- Move bedtime earlier in summer. Heat retention from the afternoon often peaks at 7 to 8 p.m. An earlier bedtime catches baby before peak warmth.
Cold-climate sleep tactics
- Sleep sack over warmer pajamas, not loose blankets. Loose blankets in a crib remain a SIDS risk regardless of temperature.
- Footed pajamas. Catch the cool feet that don't get covered by a sleep sack.
- Move the crib away from windows and exterior walls. Cold radiates from glass and uninsulated walls.
- Skip space heaters in the nursery. Fire risk plus uneven heat. Run central heat or set the thermostat 2 degrees higher.
- Avoid hats indoors past the first few weeks. Heat escapes mostly from the head; a hat overnight raises overheating risk.
What about humidity?
Humidity matters less than temperature for sleep quality, but it matters for comfort and respiratory health. The ideal nursery humidity range is 40 to 60 percent.
- Below 40 percent. Dry air. Run a cool-mist humidifier. Helps with stuffy noses and dry skin.
- 40 to 60 percent. Optimal.
- Above 60 percent. Risk of mold and dust mites. Run a dehumidifier or AC.
Common mistakes
Over-bundling because the house feels cold
Parents often dress baby for how the parents feel. Adults move during the day and feel cold. Babies are warm-blooded and contained in a crib. Use the temperature, not your feelings, as the dial.
Reading the wrong sensor
Thermostat reads the hallway. Smart bulb reads the ceiling. Crib-height reading is the only one that matters for baby.
Adding a blanket "just in case"
Loose blankets are not safe in a crib for babies under 12 months. Use a warmer sleep sack instead.
Cranking the heat for a cold
When baby has a cold, run a cool-mist humidifier, not the heat. Hot dry air makes congestion worse.
When to call your pediatrician
- Baby is unusually warm or has a fever along with poor sleep.
- Sweating heavily during sleep that doesn't resolve when you cool the room.
- Cold extremities that stay cold even after warming the room and adding a layer.
- Heat rash or other signs of overheating despite a correctly cool room.