Merino wool in summer: why your baby sleeps cooler in it
, by Maike & Djowie , 2 min reading time
Merino wool in summer? Especially then. Discover why merino wool keeps your baby cool on warm nights and what to dress them in at 15, 20 and 25 degrees.
"Wool in summer? Isn't that far too warm?" It's the question we get again every June — and the answer surprises almost everyone. Merino wool is actually at its best in summer. Not despite the heat, but thanks to what the fibre naturally does: regulate temperature. In this article we explain why a baby sleeps cooler and drier in merino wool than in cotton, and what to dress your little one in during changeable summer weather.
Wool isn't warmth, wool is climate control
The biggest misconception about wool is that it is "warm". Merino wool is in fact an insulator that works both ways: the fine fibres form tiny air pockets that hold in heat when it's cold — and keep heat out when it's hot. It's exactly why merino sheep themselves get through hot Australian summers with ease.
For a baby, who can't yet regulate their own body temperature well, that is worth its weight in gold. No clammy neck at 25 degrees, no cold feet when it cools down to 15 at night.
Why your baby wakes up sweaty in cotton
Cotton feels light, but has one big drawback: it absorbs moisture and holds it against the skin. A sweating child in a cotton bodysuit soon lies in a damp, cooling layer — and wakes up because of it.
Merino wool can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture without feeling wet. The moisture is stored in the fibre core and evaporates outwards, away from the skin. Your baby stays dry, even on the warmest nights. It's the same property with which we once — during the reflux months of our son Bo — discovered that wool never gets clammy.
And no, it doesn't itch: merino wool is far finer than the wool of the past. Why you'll never want anything else →
What do you dress your baby in at 15, 20 and 25 degrees?
The tricky thing about our summers: everything at once. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, fresh nights. A guideline:
- Around 15 degrees (cool morning/night): long-sleeved bodysuit + knitted wool blanket
- Around 20 degrees: short-sleeved bodysuit + thin wool blanket for sleeping
- 25 degrees and warmer: just a short-sleeved bodysuit or vest — the wool breathes and keeps your little one dry
In doubt? Feel the back of the neck: warm and dry is good, clammy means one layer less. Also read our article on the right temperature for your baby →
In summer too: dry sleep on wool
Not just clothing — the surface counts too. A wool mattress protector in the cot or co-sleeper absorbs night-time moisture (sweat, a leaking nappy) and keeps feeling dry — whereas a cotton fitted sheet stays wet. Many parents discover the protector in summer and then use it all year round.
In short
Merino wool regulates temperature instead of just warming, wicks away moisture where cotton holds onto it, and effortlessly keeps up with changeable summer weather. Our summer favourites: the short-sleeved bodysuits, the knitted blankets and the wool mattress protectors. All 100% merino wool, mulesing-free and OEKO-TEX certified — and with 90-day returns you can try it risk-free.
