What should my baby wear to bed at night to ensure they stay sound and safe all night? How many layers? This question was a minefield for me immediately after we got home, and it hit me that the nurse wasn't around anymore!
I know it's an intolerable situation for you as well, wondering whether your baby is too hot or too cold. The information you have of babies not being able to regulate their body temperature and not releasing heat is now a scare.
Allow us to take the stress out on what your bub should sleep in comfortably regardless of the seasons providing an optimal environment for quality eye shut.
The Basics of What Your Baby Should Wear To Bed
Clothing should be simple when it comes to sleep for newborns. I bet you have heard the rule of thumb that says : what you are comfortable with, add another layer to your tot. If you are comfortable in your pair of cotton pajamas, then the baby will be comfy in their 100% organic cotton pajamas plus an extra tee or bodysuit.
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For warmer months, you can consider dressing your tot in sleep slacks, onesies, or lightweight saddles. Pajamas that feature a comfy stretch waistband are also vital as they help on cold nights and offer comfort for the baby. Our footies offer a generous fit as they accommodate underneath clothes as well as disposable diapers.
Another excellent option for your tot to snuggle is a sleepsuit, and sleeping bags with the right TOG(Thermal Overall Grade) labeling will suffice. REMEMBER your nugget does not need to sleep with blankets or coverings yet.
Think About Temperature and Weather Seasons
What temperature is your baby's sleeping environment? Your baby's ideal room temperature should range between 68⁰and 72⁰ F . This temperature is the most significant indicator of what your baby should be dressed in when it comes to time for bed.
At this perfect temperature, your tot should wear a vest, a sleepsuit, or a lightweight sleeping bag. Keeping a thermometer in your baby's room will help you determine what you should cloth them at night.
So what are the indicators that your best person in the world is feeling cold?
Hands and feet, BUT this is a poor indicator as heat escapes quickly through the hands and feet, and they are often the most exposed. But when you notice your bubs legs and hands are turning slightly bluish, it may be time to add up a layer or turn up the heat.
Other cues that your baby might use are: being fussy for seemingly no reason, if they start sneezing, if they become very still, quiet and lethargic. You can also feel the skin on your baby's neck, tummy, or chest. If the mentioned areas are hot, you can try making your baby cooler by removing a layer.
And yes, how you dress your tot to sleep will also be significantly affected by the seasons. Your wee one might need to be clothed in an extra layer or a heavier microfleece swaddle or sleep slack during the winter months. You can also use our baby pad as a natural insulator to keep your tot warmer in the winter.
While this will work for the winter months, sleeping in the summer seasons will mean your tot wear light and breezy clothing. Organic cotton bodysuits or light swaddles will suffice. Overheating has been linked to SIDS; therefore, you must pay attention.
Dress your tot in layers if need be but do not cloth them with unnecessary accessories like hats and beanies. These accessories have some loose articles that may cause health hazards.
Furthermore, your baby self regulates by releasing heat through that newborn nogging; thus, a hat can lead to overheating.
How Do I Know If My Baby Is Too Hot?
Sleep is essential for your newborn development-and to your sanity! And during the warmer months, we always wonder whether we are overheating our young ones. Ensuring your child is not too hot is critical as it can cause mild side effects, from poor sleep to a heat rash.
First, perform a temperature check by placing your hand on the baby's chest or back of the neck to check if they are too hot. Other indicators to look out for are:
- Rapid breathing
- Damp hair
- Crying
- Flushed or red cheeks
- Sweating
- Heat rash
- Warm to the touch
- Restless and unable to sleep
- Lethargic or unresponsive.
- Rectal temperature of 100.4 or higher
If your baby is overheating, the important thing to do is stay calm! Some ways to bring back your toddlers temperature down are:
- Open windows or remove layers from your baby to cool them down.
- Apply a cold compress to their forehead or limbs
- Offer fluids, e.g., breastmilk or formula.
- Give your bub a lukewarm bath.
Note that checking your baby's hands and feet is unsuitable as they are often cooler than the body.
Take Age Into Account
Taking your tot's age into account will help you re-evaluate the sleep situations as they get older and bigger. Things continue to evolve as your child becomes more independent.
Your tot at 0-3 months may need more clothing items, whereas 6-12 months babies, you might consider adding a small thin blanket in the sleeping regime.
Conclusion
Your little love bug needs a restful night of sleep for development, and figuring out what to dress them for sleep can be a difficult decision. While it's true that balancing your baby's not too hot or too cold temperature for bedtime can be a delicate act, it is achievable.
Prioritize safety by keeping it simple with light G.O.T.S. certified pajamas, onesies, light sleep slack, or swaddle, all the while trying to find out what works for your little one. Also, skip the hats, beanies and heavy pajamas and blankets, or any other loose beddings until your tot is old enough.
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