How warm should my baby's room be for sleep?

What the evidence says

Canadian health guidance doesn't give an exact number of degrees for a baby's room. Instead, it says a simple rule: if the room feels comfortable to you, it's comfortable for your baby too. This is the advice from both the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Some other countries are more specific. The UK's National Health Service suggests keeping baby rooms between about 16 and 20 degrees Celsius (roughly 61 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit). Health experts there say this feels cooler than many people expect, which is why they suggest using a room thermometer to check.

In the US, the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't set an exact number either. They say it's hard to give one specific temperature for every home, so instead they suggest dressing your baby in only one more layer of clothing than you'd wear to be comfortable in that room yourself.

What matters most everywhere is avoiding overheating. Overheating is a known risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome, sometimes called SIDS, when a baby dies unexpectedly during sleep. Rather than relying only on room temperature, check your baby directly: feel their chest, tummy, or the back of their neck. If they feel sweaty or hot, remove a layer. Cool hands and feet are normal and not a sign your baby is cold.

During hot weather, Canadian guidance (HealthLink BC) warns that indoor temperatures above 31°C can become dangerous for babies, and suggests having your baby sleep in the coolest room of the house, using a fan for air circulation, or finding an air-conditioned space if things get too warm.