It’s the first week of December and temperatures have dropped below freezing point. The weather has become intensely cold and miserable. For first time parents, it can get quite stressful knowing how to keep their baby warm and dry. Whatever temperature it is, always make sure you keep your baby comfortably warm and not overheated. If you overdress the baby, it will cause overheating and it is thought to be one of the major causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or cot death. If you underdress the baby, they will get too cold and may get hypothermia.
Today, I want to cover four topics to help you to keep your baby healthy, warm and comfortable, whether you are going to the Christmas market or tucking him/her in at night.
1. Create a Safe Sleeping Environment
Make sure you remove any soft objects, loose bedding, or any objects that can increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation of the baby. Baby does not need any soft toys to play with, especially as they won’t be able to hold or see clearly for the first few months of their lives. All decorations are mostly for others to look at and it is definitely not necessary. Baby won’t appreciate those objects at all. Once you have ‘instagrammed’/took the photo, always remove the unnecessary items away from the baby.
Make sure you keep your baby’s sleeping area away from radiators, heaters, fires, or direct sunlight. Also, do not use a hot water bottle or an electric blanket.
2. Get the Right Room Temperature
It is recommended that a baby’s room should be between 16 – 20° with light bedding. Investing in a good room thermometer is the best way to be sure you get the right temperature wherever your baby is sleeping as it is extremely hard to judge just by the feel of it.
3. Use the Right Bedding
Use a fitted cotton sheet and not a flat sheet for the cot bed. Keep a couple of cotton blankets available to keep your baby warm in bed. You can always add or remove layers of blankets depending on if they are too hot or too cold. I always used to keep a few spare in my cupboard as my son would often puke due to his reflux. Washing and drying would take some time.
Don’t use duvets as babies can be suffocated by duvets, as they cannot move them away from their faces. Also, duvets can lead to overheating.
4. Clothing
A sleepsuit is a good option for dressing your baby, especially as a cosy baby zip sleepsuit will keep them warm. Some sleepsuits come with fold-over mittens, which come in handy if their palms look blotchy or bluish during colder nights. It is normal for their hands and feet to feel cold. It is best to feel their tummy/chest to see if he/she is getting too hot or too cold.
Baby loses excess heat through its head, so never cover their head in bed or anywhere indoors. You can keep the hat on when you are venturing out in the cold! Also, have mittens or gloves to keep the chill off little fingers. Make sure there are no loose threads on the inside of the mittens or gloves, as the loose threads might cause poor blood circulation. Make sure your baby wears socks to keep his/her feet toasty.
If you are going outdoors, it is good to remember that a baby needs one more layer of clothing than you do. If it is extremely cold outside, you can layer your baby up with a snowsuit. It is important to bear these tips in mind for keeping baby warm in winter without overheating.
Disclosure: This is a featured post.
