What is the ideal room temperature for a baby's sleep environment?
The recommended room temperature for a baby's sleep space is between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius, according to the Lullaby Trust. Parents can use a room thermometer — such as a Gro Egg — to monitor the temperature accurately, and should regularly check the back of the baby's neck to make sure they are not overheating.
This guidance comes directly from the Lullaby Trust, the organisation that Bill Clapson and Emily Clapson consistently point parents toward on The Toddle About Show as the primary authority on baby sleep safety. The Gro Egg is specifically mentioned as a practical, accessible tool for keeping a close eye on room temperature — it gives parents a clear visual reading rather than relying on guesswork. The neck check is a simple but reliable physical indicator: if the skin at the back of the baby's neck feels hot or sweaty, the room is too warm regardless of what the thermometer reads.
Temperature is one piece of a broader safe sleep picture. The Lullaby Trust also recommends that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for the first six months — a guideline the hosts treat as non-negotiable on the show. If you want to hear the full conversation, including the hosts' own practical experience and the other sleep myths they bust in this episode, you can find The Toddle About Show on Listenly.
"Broken sleep doesn't just make you tired. It makes you short tempered, more anxious, less enjoyable as a parent. So when we work on children's sleep, it's really important to focus on the whole family."
— From the episode: Baby & Toddler Sleep: Myths, Safe Sleep & Bedtime Tips for Parents · The Toddle About ShowSee also
According to the Lullaby Trust, babies should sleep on their back, in a clear cot with no toys or thick padded bumpers, on a firm and flat mattress. They should also share a room with their parents for at least the first six months.
No — babies absolutely do not need silence to sleep. Creating a consistent sound environment, such as white noise, rain sounds, or stories, can actually help babies settle and stay asleep more reliably.
This is also a myth. Babies are not machines programmed to shut down for exactly 12 hours; sending them to bed late does not result in a later wake-up time — it simply means a more overtired baby.