Winters is a season of warm cuddles and hot chocolates. But when you have a baby at home, winters is also a time to constantly worry about how to keep your baby warm. While during the day it might be easier, keeping a baby warm at night can be a real challenge for new parents. But we’ve got you covered with our tips on how to keep baby warm at night in winter.
Keeping your baby warm at night in winter can be a worrisome issue for many parents even if the baby is not an infant anymore. With winter creeping in, the chances of your baby catching diseases such as colds, pneumonia, winter vomiting, etc. increases. Babies tend to feel cooler during the night and it is difficult to gauge how cold is too cold for the baby sleeping. Hence, it is important for parents to keep a constant check on their baby’s body temperature.
9 Tips To Keep Baby Warm At Night In Winters
Babies till the age of 2 cannot regulate their body temperature unlike us adults. While the first instinct is to dress your baby in multiple layers, it is not really the right thing to do. The extra layers can pose a threat to your baby’s life in the form of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, commonly known as SIDS.
Finding the right balance between overheating your baby and keeping them warm can be tricky. Hence it is important to follow these tips to keep your baby warm at night in winter. Here are some frequently asked questions by most parents on keeping your baby warm at night in winter.
1. What should a baby wear to bed in winter?
During winter, the baby’s hands and feet get cold easily. Hence it is important to keep their hands and feet warm. Full body sleepsuits and footed onsies are a great help in keeping your baby’s entire body warm.
The extra paddling on the hands and feet helps giving the baby the extra layer of protection that they need. Woollen and light fleece garments are soft and keep your baby feel cosy during winter.
You many also opt for gloves and socks to cover your baby’s palms and feet. Too many clothing layers can cause itchy skin so keep moisturing your baby’s skin with a paraben-free baby lotion. Baby massages also keep the skin supple and soft.
2. How cold is too cold for a baby sleeping?
While the winter chills may make you want to put on an extra layer of clothing, it is difficult to understand how cold is too cold for baby sleeping. The ideal room temperature for a baby should range between 20-22 degrees Celsius. Any temperature below that is too cold for your baby to sleep in.
While your baby might fall off to sleep easily, being in an atmosphere that is too cold could increase its risk of catching a cold. If it is too cold, keep your windows closed and you can make use of room heaters in a safe place too. But also ensure that the room in which baby sleeps is well-ventilated too.
3. How do I know if my baby is too cold at night?
One of the best ways to check your baby’s body temperature during winter is by checking their stomach and the back of their neck. If your baby’s stomach or the back of the neck are on the cooler side, adding an extra layer of clothing would be suitable.
You may also check for their hands and feet to see whether they are well protected from the cold. If sudden a sudden change in weather makes you want to put on another layer of clothing, it means that your baby needs it too.
However, just checking your baby’s hands and feet isn’t a reliable way of checking your baby’s temperature. As your baby’s hands and legs remain uncovered, it is normal for them to be cooler than the rest of the body.
4. How do I keep my baby warm at night without a blanket?
Sometimes, covering your baby with a blanket may not be the best option, especially if your baby gets restless in its sleep. In such a scenario, you may use a swaddle or a sleeping bag for your baby. This will help in keeping your baby snug and warm without a blanket. Another effective way is to place a heating pad or a hot water bag on your baby’s bed before it sleeps. This would keep the bed warm when you place your baby in the crib or bed.
5. How to keep baby’s hands warm at night?
There are many ways to keep your baby’s hands warm at night. Swaddles, sleep sacks and sleep bags are effective in keeping your baby’s hands tucked and warm at night. Another way to keep baby’s hands warm at night is by covering your baby’s hands with gloves.
6. What winter blankets for babies to use?
When layering your baby’s bedding with winter blankets, use light blankets or fitted cotton sheets. Having a heavy blanket may suffocate the baby. You many also add more thin blankets for extra layers, depending on how cold the weather is.
However, if you are confused between what winter blankets for babies to use, you may opt for sleep sacks. Sleep sacks are also known as wearable blankets and eliminate the need to having to think about how many layers of blankets to add.
7. How to keep my baby from overheating in winter?
Often adding too many layers to your baby’s clothing causes overheating of your baby’s body. Overheating exposes your infant to the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Hence, it is important to prevent your baby’s body from getting overheated. Keep checking your baby’s body temperature for any changes and add or remove layers accordingly. If you are using a room heater, make sure that there is still air circulation in the room.
8. How to keep baby in air conditioning?
Even during winters, many households use air conditioning. However, air conditioners also act as dehumidifiers and can make your baby’s skin dry and itchy. Make sure to apply a light layer of moisturizer on your baby’s body before bed. The moisturizer will take care of the dryness that may be brought due to air conditioning. If you are using an air conditioner in winter, make sure that there’s no direct blast of air on the baby. You many also cover your baby’s ears to prevent air from getting in.
9. How to keep baby warm naturally?
Sometimes, parents may feel scared of adding extra layers to the baby because of overheating. In such a case, parents can keep their baby warm naturally during winter by wearing their baby. Taking your baby in your arms and placing it near your chest is an effective way of keeping your baby snug during winter. Make sure that your baby’s head is not pressed against your chest as it can block its passage way.
Other things to look out for keeping baby warm in winter
With new-borns, keeping your baby warm at night in winter is difficult because of how delicate they are. However, you must also watch out for some extra caution.
- If your baby is too cold and shivering, try to warm its body using skin-to-skin contact. If the condition doesn’t improve, go to a doctor.
- Don’t bathe your baby too frequently as they may catch a cold. Keep your baby moisturized with perfume-free lotions after baths.
- Call the doctor if you find your baby with cold hands and feet and a hot body.
- Frequently change your baby’s diaper as babies are more prone to catching colds from wet diapers during winters.
- If your baby gets too cold, don’t rub their skin to produce heat. Instead, try cuddling them and putting their tiny hands in your armpits for extra warmth.
Nowadays, keeping baby warm at night in winter has become a hassle with those bulky blankets and jackets. Putting them on makes your baby too hot, while removing them makes your baby feel too cold. However, with these tips and tricks on keeping your baby warm at night in winter, you will be able to keep your new-born warm and snug for the rest of the winter.