How To Dress Baby For Sleep In Winter: Everything You Need To Know
When your little one is well-rested, life is a whole lot easier. So, its not surprising that many new parents are looking for tips and tricks to ensure success when it comes to naps and bedtime. There are a number of different factors at play when it comes to your babys sleep routines and clothing is an important piece of the sleep puzzle. If youre wondering how to dress baby for sleep in winter, youve come to the right place! In this article, well walk you through everything you need to know about how to dress a newborn in winter and share a few of our winter sleep must-haves. We have a feeling that peaceful winter nights are in your future.
What Is An Ideal Room Temperature
Knowing the right temperature for your infant can be tough they’re much smaller than adults, and we want to be sure they’re cozy and warm. However, keeping a room too warm can increase the risk of SIDS as well. So how hot is too hot, and how cold is too cold?
There really isnt some perfect temperature to keep your room at, but some experts recommend somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. If your baby is preterm, it’s a good idea to keep the temperature on the warmer end of this spectrum, as preterm infants aren’t able to regulate their temperatures as efficiently. Keep in mind that this is just an average every baby is different and may be comfortable at a colder or warmer temp. A good rule of thumb is to check their chest. If they are warm but not hot, youre good to go.
Get More Info: The Ideal Room Temperature for a Baby
How Do I Know If My Baby Is Too Warm
The best way to determine if your child is overheating is to take their temperature. There are also a number of other easy-to-spot signs you can look for. Here are some key indicators that your baby is overheating:
- They feel warm to the touch
- Their skin is red or flushed
- Theyre nauseous or vomiting
- They have an elevated heart rate
- Theyre acting tired or sluggish
- They appear to be confused, disoriented, or dizzy
- Theyre sweating or have damp hair
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Best Environment And Temperature For Safe Sleep
Lets start with the room environment and temperature. The best temperature for sleep in a nursery found in most studies is 68-72ºF for both optimal and safe sleep.1 It may seem a little chilly, but our body temperature naturally drops at night. Keeping your environment at a cooler temperature allows your body to stay in that natural sleep.
Studies have shown that sleeping in a room above 70°F triggers slow production of melatonin, our natural sleep hormone.2 Keeping the temperature cooler allows for more time for deep sleep. While parents often worry about their babies being too cold at night, studies found that going to bed too warm had impacts on sleep safety.3 These studies also indicate that having a child that is too warm or going to bed overheated is linked to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome .
Do Babies Sleep Better With Clothes On
It is clear that babies are found to sleep longer when they are at peace. And their peace depends on a clean diaper, a full tummy, and the proper body temperature. But, the right temperature does not always require clothes.
Remember our motto babies are just tiny humans. They do everything you do but with very little communication. If you can sleep without clothes on, so can they. In warmer settings, it is perfectly acceptable for a baby to sleep only in a diaper or a very light swaddler.
Sleeping with just a diaper is not recommended in temperatures under 70 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler months. Even if the temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit, babies will tell you if they are cold with just a diaper. They will continue to fuss, wake up from sleep early, or be cold to the touch when you check on them.
Babies want to be free. For them, clothing is optional it is not always a necessity. I know some moms who wish that was a rule for them too! But in all seriousness, babies sleep about the same whether they are in a diaper or a onesie. They only fuss if there is discomfort, like if their clothes are too tight or if their clothes do not suit the temperature.
In short, dont overthink it, and dont discount your instincts and intuition.
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How Not To Dress A Baby For Sleep
Beyond setting the thermostat to the ideal sleeping temperature and dressing your bub in breathable cotton, its important to avoid the following sleepytime slip-ups:
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Dontput a hat on your baby. Covering your babys head during sleep reduces their ability to give off extra heat. Plus, a hat can accidentally slip over your little ones face and cause breathing difficulties.
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Dont wrap Baby in a heavy blanket. In cool weather, dress your bub in a long-sleeve bodysuit or footie pajamas and a lightweight swaddle . Heavy blankets are not meant for swaddling as they make Baby too hot and can unwrap and become a suffocation risk.
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Dont reach for fleece PJs. Synthetic fabrics, like fleece, arent breathable and can increase your babys risk of overheating.
How Do I Keep My Baby Warm At Night Without A Blanket
A lot of parents swear by sleep sacks. A sleep sack is a wearable blanket which eliminates the need for anything extra in the crib which, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics , greatly reduces the risks of SIDS . That means no extra bedding is needed to keep your baby warm as the sleep sack will help to regulate his body temperature.
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Should I Worry About My Baby Being Cold
To reduce the risk of SIDS its better for your baby to be on the cooler side, rather than too hot. Premature babies may have more trouble keeping warm, so it is appropriate to dress them a little more warmly. By contrast, when your baby has a fever Trusted SourceMedline PlusMedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends.medlineplus.gov, resist the urge to turn up the heat or add extra clothes.
Avoid using hats or anything else that covers the babys face or head, as your baby regulates temperature by releasing heat through the head. You can monitor for overheating by touching your babys chest or checking for telltale signs such as sweating, flushed cheeks, damp hair, a heat rash, or rapid breathing. Dont worry if the hands and feet feel colder than the rest of the body.
The AAP does not provide an exact temperature range for the bedroom, but its best not to keep the room too hot. If you use a fan, adjust it so that the air doesnt blow straight at your infant.
To Swaddle Or Not To Swaddle
Newborns generally respond well to being swaddled. The snug bundling technique can help young infants feel safe and soothed, like theyre back in the womb. A cotton or muslin material is a good choice, as both are lightweight and breathable and offer ample flexibility for easy wrapping and tucking.
That said, parents who arent quite confident in their baby-burritoing skills can choose a swaddle sack or suit that offers Velcro and zipper cheats .
Do note that once your baby starts to roll over, its time to lose the swaddle, as its no longer considered a safe option. Baby can graduate to a sleep slack or wearable blanket instead. These are also great options if your munchkin didnt take to the swaddle from the get-go.
If neither swaddling nor sleep sacks work for you, thats fine as well. Choose footed sleepwear or slightly warmer fabrics to increase warmth when needed.
If youre the type who prefers a concrete example to follow, check out the following suggestions for warm or cool nights, along with additional tips on hats, snug fits, and snaps.
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How Do I Know If My Baby Is Too Cold
2 Ways to Assess If Your Child Is Too Hot Or Too Cold
Cold hands – not uncommon, not a sign her body is too cold.Cold nose – a sign the room might be too cold. Cold back of neck – definitely a sign she is too cold. â
Want to remember all these tips and put them on your fridge? Grab my How To Dress For Winter Sleep Cheat Sheet.
Come check out my video on this topic:
Be Prepared For Quick Changes
âHunting for a fresh crib sheet after your baby soaks his diaper or spits up is miserable in the middle of the night, and turning on the lights can wake them up more fully, meaning getting him back to sleep can take an eternity. Instead, double layer ahead of time: Use a regular crib sheet, then a disposable waterproof pad, then another sheet on top. That way, you can just peel away the top layer and pad, throw the sheet in the hamper, and toss the waterproof pad. Also be sure to keep a one-piece, a swaddle, or a sleep sack nearbywhatever it is your baby needs to continue the night comfortablyso youâre not hunting through drawers every time your babyâs diaper leaks.â Aimi Palmer, a sleep consultant and cofounder of AB Child Solutions, in London
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How Do I Know Baby Is Warm Enough At Night
The best way to tell if baby is warm enough in their baby sleep clothing at night is to check their temperature not necessarily with a thermometer, but by putting your hand on their tummy, chest, or the back of their neck.
Their skin should be warm to the touch about the same temperature as your hands .
How do I know if my baby is overheating?
Common signs that your baby may be overheating in their baby sleepwear include:
- They feel hot to the touch.
If youre worried that your baby is overheating, you can:
- Slowly remove layers of clothing or covering.
- Lower the thermostat.
- Move them to a cooler room.
- Offer them fluids. If theyre younger than six months, stick to breastmilk or formula instead of water.
- Wipe them down with a lukewarm or cool cloth. Dont use one thats too cold, as this can be too much of a shock to their little systems.
If things dont improve quickly, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Knowing how to dress a baby for sleep at any time of the year can be challenging.
However, a home thermostat or thermometer can help you figure out what to dress them in to keep them comfortable no matter the season.
What Do Babies Sleep In During The Summer
Many emphases are put on the temperature being a factor in dressing a baby for bed. It is easy to forget that babies are human too. As smaller versions of us, they can become irate or bothered when they feel uncomfortable. How did you act the last time you were overheated and tried to get to sleep? Well, your baby feels your pain.
Because they can not tell us their problems directly, moms must rely on trial and error to find the issue. For example, studies have shown that if the diaper is clean, the baby refuses to eat, and they have tuckered out but will not sleep, the answer lies somewhere else.
The comfort of their clothing plays a part, but the amount of warmth or coolness they receive affects them too. Overheating and cooling can be a serious potential threat to babies. Health issues like sudden infant death syndrome or heat rash can be brought on by not maintaining the appropriate temperature for babies. Again, comfortability is typically the solution.
Common signs your newborn is too hot or too cold are:
- Excessive sweating
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Reasons For Sleep Problems For 7 To 12 Months
At 7 to 12 months, babies need less sleep overall, but they should be sleeping for longer stretches at night. At this age, many babies stop waking up for night feedings. They should be napping around two hours a day, maybe three, and sleeping 10 or 11 hours at night, says Dr. Karp.
Heres what could be going on if theyre waking often, aside from the reasons mentioned above.
Top It All Off With A Blanket
Of course, a blanket isnt necessary when baby is up and about, practicing their tummy time. But if theyre nursing, in a stroller or being carried out to the car, a blanket will keep them feeling cozy and protected. Also, Smith says, any baby leaving the hospital needs to be covered up, more so germs. In summer, a light blanket will do. Opt for something thicker as the days get chillier. Whatever the case may be, wrap baby up from toes to neck, and secure it so it doesnt end up flapping in their face. If youll be out and about for a while in winter, consider putting baby in a coat, if you have one. Otherwise dress baby in extra-warm layers and extra-thick baby bunting or a toasty foot muff.
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What Is The Startle Reflex
One of the many benefits of swaddling is its ability to prevent the startle reflex, or Moro Reflex, from waking up your baby in the middle of the night.
The Moro Reflex is a completely natural physiological response found in babies that causes them to involuntarily extend their arms and legs, throw their head back, and cry out, typically in response to a loud noise or sudden movement. They will then bring their limbs back toward their body, and may have a little cry – after all, they’ve just been startled!
Perhaps youve heard about the general rule of thumb for dressing your baby for sleep: Put them in one additional layer than you would wear at night. This makes sense, as a baby should not sleep with a loose sheet or blanket. Generally speaking, a two-piece cotton PJ set or footed onesie plus a muslin swaddle should suffice. – Healthline
This reflex usually starts to happen less at 4 months before stopping completely at 6 months, but in the meantime, it can be the cause of many nighttime wake ups for your newborn baby. This is where swaddling can really come in handy – by keeping baby’s limbs close to their body, you can prevent this reflex from fully happening, meaning your baby can more easily fall asleep again.
Check Your Baby’s Room Temperature
The temperature of your babys room is the biggest indicator of what your little one should wear when its time for bed. According to The Lullaby Trust, your baby’s room should be kept between 16-20°C. At this temperature, your baby should wear a vest, sleepsuit and have a lightweight sleeping bag.
The best way of checking your baby’s room temperature is using a baby room thermometer in your babys room. This will help you determine what they should wear at night. We’re huge fans of the Tommee Tippee GroEgg2, a nightlight and thermometer in one, which glows different colours according to the temperature of your baby’s bedroom.
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How To Dress Baby In A Bodysuit
Newborn babies are cute, squirmy lumps offering you exactly zero help when it comes to getting them dressed. No matter! You can still get your little one into a bodysuit or lapped tee with ease by following these simple steps:
Step 1: Place your baby on a safe flat surface or support your little one on your lap.
Step 2: Unsnap the crotch of their bodysuit and scrunch it up like an accordion toward the neckline.
Step 3: Stretch the neck open wide.
Step 4: Gently pull the bodysuit over your babys head, using your fingers to guide the bodysuit away from your little ones face or ears.
Step 5: Accordion-gather one sleeve at a time and tenderly guide your babys hand through the opening.
Step 6: Pull the bodysuit down the rest of your bubs body and snap the crotch closed.