Overheating During Sleep Studies show that an overheated baby is more likely to go into a deep sleep from which it is difficult to arouse. Some evidence indicates that increased SIDS risk is associated with excessive clothing or blankets and a higher temperature in the room.
Going to bed too warm can cause mild side effects from poor sleep to a heat rash, but research has also linked overheating to an increased risk of sudden-infant-death syndrome (SIDS). For infants, a normal temperature is considered to be 97.5 degrees fahrenheit (36.4 degrees celsius).
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).
The best way to check if baby is too hot is to touch your baby's chest, head or neck to check for dampness. If your child is damp this is a sign that they're sweating and overheating. As advised above, if your baby's chest is too warm this is also a sign that they're too hot.
Babies and children sweat less, reducing their ability to cool down, and they generate more heat during exercise than adults. They are at higher risk of overheating and developing a heat-related illness. Heat can also make existing illnesses worse.
Goodstein said, when babies sleep in the same room as their parents, the background sounds or stirrings prevent very deep sleep and that helps keeps the babies safe. Room sharing also makes breast-feeding easier, which is protective against SIDS.
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. Signs of the baby being too hot are sweating, damp hair, heat rash, or clammy skin.
Babies will wake and cry if they're a bit chilly, and you can solve the problem then. But they won't likely do the same if they're too hot. And while I don't like to spark fear, especially when the summertime heat is beyond our control, overheating is a risk factor for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
Overheating can increase your baby's risk of cot death. A baby can overheat when they're asleep because of too much bedding or clothes, or because the room is too hot.
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.
It may be because babies don't sleep as deeply when they have a pacifier, which helps wake them up if they're having trouble breathing. A pacifier also keeps the tongue forward in the mouth, so it can't block the airway.
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.
What Room Temperature Is Too Hot for a Baby? A baby room temperature above 72 degrees Fahrenheit, or 22 degrees Celsius, may be too warm.
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.
Keeping them cool at night
Your baby will sleep most comfortably in a room with a temperature between 16 degrees C and 20 degrees C. But during summer or extreme heat waves, bedroom temperatures can reach the dizzying heights of 28 degrees.
Breastfeeding promotes safer sleep.
Rather, being able to arouse from sleep periodically (such as to nurse) reduces a baby's risk of SIDS. Studies show that breastfed infants are more easily aroused from sleep than formula-fed babies.
Moving air over them is fine. Pointing directly at them can apparently make them too cold and then they can't regulate their temperature very well.
Signs of heat stroke in children may include: A body temperature that rises dangerously high – above 104˚ Fahrenheit. Absence of sweating. Confusion, disorientation.
Swaddling can increase the chance your baby will overheat, so avoid letting your baby get too hot. The baby could be too hot if you notice sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash and rapid breathing. Consider using a pacifier for naps and bedtime.
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.
White noise reduces the risk of SIDS.
A relatively famous study (famous if you read a lot about baby sleep, so honestly you should be a little proud if you haven't heard of it) showed that babies had a significant reduction in the risk of SIDS if they had a fan in their room.
SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable. So, all infants in this age range are at risk for dysfunction of neurological control of breathing.
If you're worried that your baby might suddenly stop breathing during the night, know that the chances of a child succumbing to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) — which is defined as the sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant — are very, very small.