Room Temperature For Babies – The Ultimate Guide In 2023

Are they too hot? Do they have too many layers on? Why are their fingers cold? Should we put socks on? Being a parent comes with plenty of love and laughter, but it also comes with equal amounts of worrying over our precious bundles of joy. Maintaining optimal room temperature is essential for the comfort and safety of your little one. Babies are more sensitive to temperature changes than adults, and creating an ideal environment can promote better sleep, reduce the risk of overheating or chilling, and contribute to their overall wellbeing. In this article, we will explore the importance of room temperatures for babies and provide practical tips to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for your little bundle of joy.

Do I need to monitor the room temperature for babies?

As with anything to do with our precious newborns, safety is vitally important. Finding and maintaining the right temperature for your baby isn’t just about keeping them comfortable. It’s about keeping them safe too.

Red Nose is a great source of information when it comes to your baby and safe sleep, with plenty of evidence based articles for you to peruse. As Red Nose states “It is not necessary to monitor the room temperature or to leave the heating or cooling on all night, as long as the baby is dressed appropriately for the room temperature”. No need to toss and turn in your sleep fretting over whether it’s too hot or cold. No need to endlessly stare at the monitor waiting for changes. What you need is to ensure your little one is dressed appropriately for the room temperature.

Safety considerations

While maintaining the ideal temperature for baby’s room, it’s crucial to prioritise safety:

• Avoid using electric blankets or hot water bottles near your baby.
• Ensure cords of heating or cooling devices are safely secured and out of your baby’s reach.
• Keep the cot or sleeping area free from excessive bedding, pillows, or stuffed animals that can pose suffocation hazards.

Creating a safe and comfortable environment with the optimal room temperature for babies is essential for their wellbeing. By following these tips and remaining attentive to your baby’s cues, you can provide them with a peaceful and nurturing sleep environment.

Importance of room temperature for sleep

The temperature of a baby’s room plays a significant role in their sleep quality. Babies who are too hot or too cold may have trouble settling down and staying asleep. A comfortable temperature promotes better sleep patterns and can contribute to your baby’s overall well-restedness.

Signs Baby Is Cold At Night?

Many parents find themselves grabbing their little one’s tiny fingers or toes in theirs and panicking: why are my baby’s hands and feet cold? It’s a question most – if not all – of us parents have asked at one point. The truth is, unlike us adults, their circulatory system is still developing. This means that blood is supplied to the organs that need it the most, and the ones that need it the least, including the hands and feet, are the last to receive it and generally are cold to touch.

So, how to tell if your baby is cold when sleeping? The best thing you can do is pop two fingers onto their little chests, or down on the back of their neck. These two spots will give you the best indication of how warm or cold your little one is.

Of course, you may be on the hunt for signs your baby is cold at night. Waking early in the morning can be completely normal depending on the age of your baby, but it can also be a sign that they’re cold. Temperatures can drop overnight and often peak just after the sun rises in the morning. So, what happens if your baby is too cold at night? If your baby doesn’t have enough layers of clothing on, they will be woken by this drop in temperature.

A change in sleep patterns is another telltale sign. If your baby usually sleeps for a couple of hours after a feed, but starts waking after 20 minutes, it’s worth checking whether they are warm enough. Feeling the cold is enough to keep anyone up at night time.

Signs baby is too hot while sleeping

While a cold baby at night time is a cause for discomfort and frequent waking, a hot baby at night can be dangerous. It increases their risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Babies often wake and cry if they’re feeling a little chilly, but won’t do the same if they’re too hot. This is where appropriate bedding is so important. So, what temperature is too hot for a baby to sleep?

Again, you can simply feel the back of your little one’s neck or their chest to get an idea of whether or not they’re feeling comfortable. It’s the easiest way to tell if your baby is overheating. If they are a touch warm, avoid reaching for the air-conditioning. Since babies can’t regulate their body temperature like adults, leaving the air conditioner running can cause a sudden drop in temperature that their body can’t cope with. Instead, opt for a fan faced away from them to cool the room.

You can also look for other signs your baby is too hot while sleeping. Just like us adults they will sweat and be unsettled in their sleep – tossing and turning trying to get comfortable. You may also notice they look unwell, have dryer skin, refuse to drink, or are general irritable.

Tips for maintaining optimal room temperature for babies

• Use a reliable thermometer: Invest in a quality room thermometer to accurately monitor the temperature. This will help you adjust the conditions accordingly.
• Adjust bedding and extra layers: Use lightweight, breathable bedding and adjust the number of layers based on the room temperature. Avoid heavy blankets or excessive layers that can lead to overheating.
• Ensure proper ventilation: Proper air circulation is crucial. Use fans or open windows to maintain fresh air flow, especially during warmer months.
• Consider the season: While a heater or fan can be used to prepare your little one for bed, they shouldn’t be left on all night. Rather, you need to dress your baby for the season.
• Dress your baby appropriately: Dress your baby in comfortable, breathable clothing suitable for the room temperature. Consider using sleep sacks or swaddles to keep them cozy without the need for loose blankets.

What should I sleep my baby in?

Did you know: babies control their temperature through their heads and faces. It’s crucial that these areas remain uncovered throughout their sleep, to ensure your little one’s safety. Once you have done your best to create a comfortable environment, it’s time to dress your little one accordingly.

Red Nose doesn’t recommend a specific room temperature for your baby. Instead, they focus on ensuring they are dressed appropriately for the temperature of the room. The idea is simple: dress your baby as you would dress yourself for the room temperature. And remember, no hats or beanies on their head to keep them warm, as this is the area they control their temperature and it needs to breathe.

Consider the season when getting them ready for bed. In Summer, a lightweight onesie or singlet with a low-TOG-rating swaddle is ideal. In Winter a singlet with a long-sleeve onesie and a high-TOG-rating swaddle is best. This means even if the temperature fluctuates during the night, you know your little one is appropriately dressed for the season. You can use the manufacturer’s guide that usually comes with the swaddle to select the right TOG and clothes to wear underneath.

Remember, it’s important to follow the Red Nose guidelines for safe sleep.

• Always place baby on their back to sleep
• Keep baby’s face and head uncovered
• Keep baby smoke free, before and after birth
• Safe sleeping environment, night and day
• Sleep baby in their own safe sleep space in the parent’s or caregiver’s room for the first 6 months
• Breastfeed baby

Once your little one is out of swaddles, you can shop for baby sleeping bags that serve the same purpose, while giving them the freedom to move around. ErgoPouch, Love 2 Dream and Bonds, all have a range of sleeping bags in various togs. The higher the TOG, the warmer the product. TOG stands for ‘Thermal Overall Grade’, which is a unit of measurement used to calculate the thermal insulation of a product, usually in the textile industry.

Swaddling Temperature Guide

Swaddling a newborn baby is no easy task and certainly takes some practice. The midwives in hospital do it with ease, but when you attempt it, your little Houdini fights their way out in seconds! Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

That’s why Swaddles with zips and velcro are a popular choice these days. You can wrap them up nice and snug without worrying about it coming loose overnight and posing a risk to your little one. You can also control their temperature with them. Choosing the right tog for the right season is the best way to keep them comfortable all night long. Many brands have a temperature guide for dressing babies at night to help you out.

Maintaining the right room temperature is a key aspect of caring for your baby. By understanding the ideal temperature range, making necessary adjustments, and being mindful of your baby’s comfort and safety, you can create a coz]sy and soothing environment that promotes restful sleep and enhances their overall wellbeing.

FAQs

What temperature should a baby’s room be in Australia?

The best room temperature for babies is generally between 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. This baby room temperature range helps maintain a comfortable sleep environment without overheating or chilling your baby.

What temperature is too cold for a baby?

As long as you have appropriate clothing for your little one, you can keep them nice and cosy no matter what the temperature is. You can check your little one’s chest or the back of their neck to know whether or not they’re feeling the cold, and add more layers to suit.

Do babies prefer warm or cold rooms?

Babies like adults sleep better when they’re in a nice, warm environment, but it’s important to ensure it’s not too warm for them. Ideally you don’t want the room too hot or cold. As babies are still developing their regulatory system, they are very sensitive to sudden changes. Keeping a constant room temperature and dressing them appropriately is the best way to keep them safe.

The help you need

If you’re on the hunt for a little extra help when it comes to helping your little one get the best night’s sleep possible, you can review my packages for some one-on-one support, check out my newly released ebook,which focuses on babies aged 0-4 months, or get in touch and book a free chat to discuss any sleep challenges you might be having with your little one. I would love to chat!