For new moms, figuring out what temperature is best for babies while they are sleeping can be a stressful transition. You want to keep your little one comfortable without putting them at any risk of overheating or getting too cold.
With the right tips and understanding of how to tell if your baby is too cold when napping and sleeping, you’ll have peace of mind that your child will get the restful sleep they need in an environment that supports their well-being.
So, How to tell If baby is too cold when sleeping?
It is perfectly normal for your baby to have slightly colder hands and feet from their core body temperature. If you really want to check that your baby is cold or warm enough, I suggest you feel the skin on their tummy and back.
So let’s dive into some key ways on how to quickly assess if there is any cause for concern when it comes to ensuring optimum temperatures during nap and bedtime.
What Is The Ideal Room Temperature For A Baby?
Maintaining a safe room temperature is critical for your baby’s health, particularly when they are sleeping overnight. Overheating has been linked to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and hypothermia, a serious condition requiring immediate medical treatment if your infant gets too cold.
The most effective method to determine whether your baby’s room is too hot or cold is to consider how you feel while in it. If the room is a comfortable temperature for you and between 68-72°F, it should be fine for your baby too.
What Is The Average Body Temperature For A Baby?
Check your baby’s temperature with a thermometer to see if their body heat has dropped too low. The average temperature of the body in babies and children is 97.9°F to 99°F. If your baby’s own body temperature drops below 95°F, they are perilously cold and risk hypothermia.
Take their temperature if you’re concerned about your infant’s cold while sleeping. However, there’s a good chance you’ll wake them if you do this. We’ll discuss how to check if your baby is too cold at night later in this post, but knowing the typical range for a baby’s body temperature is crucial information for all parents.
Crying is the primary form of communication for a baby. When babies are hungry, exhausted, have a stomachache, need to go to the bathroom, have a wet diaper, and so on, they cry. Babies frequently howl, and not being comfortable enough isn’t the only reason your youngster may be distressed.
If your baby is too chilly or hot, she may cry owing to discomfort and require a temperature change. However, merely crying alone is not always adequate to determine whether your infant is too cold; you’ll also need to look for additional indicators.
How To Tell If Baby Is Too Cold When Sleeping?
If they’re sleeping, they won’t cry, so it’s important to check their temperature and ensure they’re comfortable.
- The ears of a freezing baby will feel colder than normal to the touch.
- Low body temperature in babies is signaled by blue lips and skin paler than normal.
- Press with one finger on the baby’s cheek, stomach, or back. Gently touch your baby’s skin with your palm to check their temperature. If your baby’s skin is chilly, you’ll need to try and warm them up by using more blankets or clothing layers.
- Don’t rely just on your hands and feet for temperature determination. It’s simple to check the temperature of your infant’s hands while sleeping without waking them, but their extremities aren’t always an accurate indicator of their general condition. Although newborns do not have a developed circulation system, their hands and feet may be cooler than the rest of their bodies.
- Your baby may seem lethargic and less active than normal if its body temperature is low. When it’s cooler, your baby has to use more energy to keep all of its organs functioning properly. So while their body is busy trying to stay at a stable temperature, they may not have as much energy for movement or play.
- Avoid giving medicines like Nyquil to babies.
What Should I Do If My Baby Is Too Cold At Night?
Adjust The Room Temperature
It’s better to sleep in a warmer environment. If the room where your baby is sleeping is below 68°F, it’s too chilly, and they will be cold while sleeping. If the room is dreadfully chilly, shut any open windows and either increase the temperature or add more layers for your child.
Frequently Keep A Check On Your Baby
You don’t have to check your baby’s temperature every hour, but it is advisable to know how hot or cold they are. Check-in on your baby before going to sleep and follow the guidelines above (feel skin, look for a change in the color of the lips, etc.), and you’ll know whether your child has become too chilly.
Appropriately Dress Your Infant
If you are unsure how to tell if baby is too cold when sleeping, it is best to dress them in layers. You don’t want your infant to overheat, so don’t pile everything on them. You need enough layers to keep your baby at a proper temperature.
The most common guideline is that you should dress your child in one more layer than you would be comfortable sleeping in if you were staying the night in their room. If you can wear pajamas yourself, dress your kid in a bodysuit and a sleepsuit.
Use A Swaddle
If your baby kicks off their blanket, they might get cold at night. You wrap up your infant snugly before putting them to sleep, only to wake up screaming an hour later because they are chilly and have no covering. Does this sound familiar? Why not try swaddling or a sleepsack to prevent this issue? A baby can’t remove themselves from a swaddle, and kicking a sleepsack off is difficult.
Babywear
If you notice your baby is too cold while sleeping, put them in a sling or carrier. Close contact with your skin will help regulate your body temperature. Babywearing can help your baby warm up and fall asleep again with a normal body temperature.
When Can Babies Figure Out How To Keep Themselves Warm?
Parents worry about their baby’s temperature at night, especially since overheating has been linked to SIDS. However, it is important to remember that babies will eventually learn to regulate their body temperature as they grow older.
Premature infants and those with a low birth weight frequently have trouble maintaining a normal body temperature because they lack body fat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is it possible that my baby will awaken because she is too cold?
Ans: If your baby is cold, it will become fussy and wake up more often. This is especially true for babies who wake up between 3-4 am.
Q2: What is the ideal room temperature for infants?
Ans: Maintaining a comfortable temperature in your baby’s room is crucial. Between 20 to 22 degrees Celsius ( 68 to 72 Fahrenheit ) is ideal for babies.
Q3: What Is the Ideal Infant Temperature?
Ans: The average temperature in babies is generally 36.4 degrees Celsius ( 98 degrees Fahrenheit ). However, whether the reading was taken orally, rectally, or under the arm will result in different temperatures. If your baby has a temperature that falls outside the standard range, it might indicate an illness, and you should consult a pediatrician immediately.
Q4: How to tell if a baby is too hot at night?
Ans: There are several signs that your baby is too hot such as sweating, having red cheeks, and feeling warm to the touch.
Conclusion
It is important to ensure your baby is not too cold when sleeping, as it can lead to serious health problems. Feeling their chest or back, checking the room temperature, and using a thermometer are a few ways.
If you are unsure whether your baby is too cold, it is always best to be on the side of caution and dress them in more layers. Remember that babies will eventually learn to regulate their body temperature, but in the meantime, it is up to you to keep them safe and comfortable.
