Baby Sleeping: Getting the Body Temperature Right

When it comes to ideal room temperature for your baby, everyone tells you the same thing ‘not too cold and not too hot’. However, the reality is something else! Depending on the room temperature, you’re required to adjust what your little one is wearing and what kind of bedding products you’re using to protect your infant. This blog post teaches you how to keep your baby’s body safe and comfortable at different temperatures, but before we go any further, let’s understand how to know if a baby is too cold or too hot.

Signs of Chilling:

A baby who is unable to stay warm stops crying suddenly and thereby becomes very quiet and still. He resists feeding and has very cold hands, feet, and chest. In this situation, he needs to be held close to an adult body to get enough warmth. Once the baby becomes warm, you should add some extra layers of covering to help him maintain the temperature of his body.

Signs of Overheating:

A baby who is feeling too hot may have damp hair, flushed cheeks, red ears, a sweaty chest, and even sometimes fever. Due to a sudden rise in the body temperature, he starts crying loudly and feels very hungry or thirsty. A baby with these signs should not wear excessive layer of clothing and must be taken to a cooler environment.
Now that you have learned about the signs that your baby may be too cold or too hot, let’s know how to keep your little one comfortable and safe at different room temperatures.

Above 24°C - Too Hot

If the temperature in your baby’s room is over 24 degrees Celsius, your baby will likely feel very hot and sweaty, especially when the room does not have proper ventilation. In that case, you’ll need to bring the room temperature as down as possible with the help of an AC or Fan. Also, keep your little one in just a vest and use a flat sheet instead of a blanket until the room cools down.

20-24°C - Very Warm

At this temperature, your baby will not feel too hot but may feel a little bit warm. Try dressing your little one in a baby grow or pajamas, and using a baby blanket, if needed. Alternatively, you can take advantage of a sleeping bag, if your baby is habitual to kick off his blanket. For a baby under 3 months old, wear him a vest underneath baby-grow and use a tiny sleeping bag. If you’re using a blanket, make sure it doesn’t reach past baby's shoulders.

16-20°C - Ideal

18 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature for a baby's room. For the room temperature between 16-20 degrees, dress your little one in a vest and a baby grow made of organic cotton fabric. If the room temperature is around 20 degrees, use either a swaddling blanket or sleeping bag. And if the temperature is below 18 degrees, use a combination of baby sleeping bag and blankets to keep your baby warm and cozy.
 
Below 16°C - Too Cold

If the room temperature goes down below 16 degrees Celsius, your child may wake up in the night due to cold. To deal with this problem, you’ll need a baby mattress and a few extra baby blankets. Dress your little one in a vest, a cotton baby grow and a sleeping bag, lay him on a baby mattress and put two or three baby blankets over him. Also, try to warm up the room using a room heater before you put your little one to sleep in the room.