Now that it's getting colder - 8 degrees overnight in Melbourne a few nights this week - how do I keep my 8 mo baby warm? He has a 2.5 tog grobag and wears 3 layers when it is about 14 degrees, long sleeved, legless onesie, growsuit and another long sleeved legless onesie on top. But what about when it is colder?

I don't think I can put him in 4 layers? Do you?
These layers are all cotton - can he wear a woollen jumper to bed or is that just going to make him too hot?

Thanks!

I had my DS in a long sleeve, long legged suit, a 1.2tog merino sleeping bag, a cot sheet wrap and with a light wool blanket tucked over the top last night. Tonight he's in a sleeveless suit, with a long sleeve, long legged suit, the sleeping bag and with a flannelette sheet wrap. I won't put the blanket over the top unless he wakes in the night.

I've found DS to be much more forgiving of hot or cold temperatures than I would have thought. Of course, he's still usually waking for a feed in the night so I just adjust then!

I found with my bubs that I couldn't keep them warm enough without the heater on in Melbourne winters. I dressed them similar to you, but would add a fleece or wool jumper, plus wool blankets on top of the sleeping bag. However, the blankets usually got kicked off, and they'd wake up cold. I ended up using an oil heater on low setting to keep it about 16 degrees overnight. DS (2.75 yrs) still kicks off all blankets and is waking cold, despite sleeping bag, so I am interested to see what other PP suggest.

Flannelette sheets.

When my girls were little I put them in:

Cotton LS all in one
Flannelette PJ's
Sleeping bag
+ socks

I also use oil heaters in my kids bedrooms during the winter.

I would worry about adding yet ANOTHER layer as he may get too hot and not be able to cool down.
I used an all in one growsuit with singlet underneath, 2.5 tog sleeping bag and a blanket tucked in firmly ontop, then when it got REALLY cold here in Canberra we added an oil heater on low with a timer set for the coldest parts of the night.

I'd heat the room more than him if he's already wearing 3 layers.

I prefer adding blankets ontop of the sleeping bag rather than lots of clothes - easier to remove or add a layer without waking. The most clothing I do is a longsleeve bodysuit under an all-in-one sleeper suit.

We have an oil heater for use this year - last year we left the gas central heating on low but it was still expensive. Heating comes in handy between 3-6am when it gets really cold.

We are in Canberra

And I'd make sure the sleeping bag is the sleeveless type not a fleecy one with sleeves. That's way too much in case he overheats. If he's rolling and gets cold, he can always roll over onto his stomach and tuck his arms under him to warm up a bit.

I always had an oil heater on very low in my kids' rooms to take the chill off. I really like those fleece blanket sleepers from snugtime too, although maybe not til he's a bit older.

OTOH I prefer the fleecy sleeved sleeping bags. My bub liked to sleep with her arms spread wide so they an tend to pop out the top of her blankets. So I prefer the sleeved bags (or a jumper) to keep her top half warm.
I have been adding lots of blankets the last few nights. I tuck them in as tight as possible and cover with a stiff quilt, also tucked in, to try and minimise them getting kicked off.

Another Melb mum who keeps the oil heater going overnight now in bub's room.

My bub is in a cotton long sleeved footed suit and a 2.5 grobag these days (nights? ), but the heater does the rest, it doesn't drop below 17 minimum in her room overnight, and is mostly around the 19-20 mark.

But then my bub heat rashes and get eczema if she gets too warm, so I prefer a slightly warmer room than overloading her with clothes she might get too hot and sweat in.

Have you looked at the 3.5tog sleeping bags by Ergopouch? We bought these last winter and only needed 2 layers underneath, no heating! We are Sydney based not Melb but DS room gets down to 14 degrees. Another option is merino sleeping bags, you can get duvet weight ones which are slightly thicker and if you're still battling with the cold then maybe invest in good quality merino thermals. I saw some for the first time advertised today on Babyology, I'm contemplating getting these myself but they are very pricey!

The ErgoPouch 3.5 Tog is pretty thick and warm!

They're almost like a quilt! Haven't seen anything as thick as it yet... the only down side is that because they're filled with cotton (as opposed to polyester fillings in other sleeping bags) you have to be careful with washing them- just don't over do the washing!