As the seasons start to change and temperatures start to drop, many parents are left wondering how to keep their baby warm in winter at night. This is a challenge for many parents because young babies struggle to regulate their own body temperature. This makes them prone to easily becoming too cold or too hot.
Even if babe is super warm, if they are breathing in cold air, it can wake them up. This is often the cause for early morning waking - as a baby who has gone to bed in a cold room wakes up as the temp drops suddenly in the early hours.
If your little one is too cold, they may become less active, cry or become fussy for no apparent reason, and their skin will feel notably cooler than usual. If you're worried that your little one is cold, adding an extra layer of well-fitting bedclothes will usually help.
Signs of hypothermia include shivering, breathing slowly and having pale, cool skin. Babies who are hot, tend to look uncomfortable. Like adults who overheat, a baby's skin will become red, and they will look flushed.
Do Babies Sleep Better in a Cold Room? Babies tend to sleep better in a comfortably cool room. Because babies have a greater proportion of exposed surface area for their weight, it is easier for them to lose body heat.
You don't want your baby's room to be either too hot or too cold. It's recommended that the best temperature for babies is between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.
Babies need to be comfortably warm. If they are just starting to get too warm or too cold they will often get fussy. Keep baby nearby to parents and caregivers, so they may respond and check on baby if baby becomes fussy.
HOT/COLD. The temperature can make your baby cry. They may cry because they are too hot or too cold. If your baby is fussy because of the temperature, there are signs that you can look for.
Q: Can cold weather make a baby get sick? A: We're so happy you asked this question so we can set the record straight once and for all: To catch a cold, you need to be exposed to a virus. Simply being out in cold weather can't trigger the sniffles.
The risk for sudden infant death syndrome is higher during colder months, so parents and caregivers should be aware of this risk and take the necessary precautions, according to a press release from the NIH.
When it comes down to the ideal temperature for your baby's room regardless of winter or summer months, experts recommend maintaining a temperature within the range of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.
It is important to make sure that your baby is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. The chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot. A room temperature of 16-20°C – with light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag– is comfortable and safe for sleeping babies.
Since a lower body temperature promotes sleep, cooler room temperatures in the evening and throughout the night may aid in a good night's sleep for your child. Most children sleep well between 61 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 20 degrees Celsius), even though this seems cooler than you might expect.
Dress your baby in layers of fitted clothing rather than just thick pyjamas. You can add or take away layers as the temperature changes. Babies cool themselves down by releasing heat from their heads and faces. Babies can quickly overheat if they fall asleep wearing hats or beanies.
Dress your baby as you would dress yourself for the temperature of the room – comfortably warm, not too hot, not too cold. The right sleepwear can help keep baby comfortable and safe.
We advise only using a heater to take the chill off your baby's room, as babies should not sleep in hot rooms. The recommended room temperature for a baby is 16 to 20 degrees, with around 18 degrees being ideal.
Overheating may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies one month to one year of age. Many experts recommend that the temperature in the room where a baby's sleeps be kept between 68–72°F (20–22.2°C).
Sleep Sacks
In lieu of blankets, the AAP recommends placing your baby in a sleep sack or wearable blanket if they need extra warmth at night. These are usually made of breathable but warm material.
Tip #2: Check your baby's body temperature quickly
The easiest way to tell if an infant is too hot is to place your hand on your baby's head, neck or stomach to check whether it is too warm. Signs of overheating include sweating, damp hair, fast breathing, flushed cheeks and heat rash.
While the cause of SIDS is unknown, many clinicians and researchers believe that SIDS is associated with problems in the ability of the baby to arouse from sleep, to detect low levels of oxygen, or a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood. When babies sleep face down, they may re-breathe exhaled carbon dioxide.
The peak incidence of SIDS occurs between 1 – 4 months of age; 90% of cases occur before 6 months of age. Babies continue to be at risk for SIDS up to 12 months.
Most SIDS deaths happen in babies between 1 and 4 months old, and cases rise during cold weather. Babies might have a higher risk of SIDS if: their mother smoked, drank, or used drugs during pregnancy and after birth. their mother had poor prenatal care.
You may be tempted to offer your baby a soft, warm blanket to help comfort them at night. However, blankets are not recommended until your baby reaches at least 12 months old because they can increase the risk of accidental suffocation.