When you’re sitting on the couch and feel a sudden chilly draft, your first instinct might be to grab your favorite fuzzy blanket and layer up—right?
But despite your baby’s growing abilities, they’re probably too young to grab their own blankets or extra socks to snuggle up with. Even if they could, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends keeping blankets and other soft items out of their cribs and bassinets, as they pose an increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).1
In lieu of blankets, the question remains—how to keep baby warm at night?
From wearable sleep sacks to setting the thermostat to a comfortable temperature, there are plenty of ways to keep the little one comfy. With these tips, you can feel confident that your sleeping baby will be warm and cozy while they slumber.
#1 Layer Your Baby’s Clothes Accordingly
One question many parents ask themselves when it’s time to put on their baby’s pajamas is, how many layers do they need? Are we talking double layers with a one-piece underneath the footie pajamas, or maybe a single layer with a zip-up footless jammie?
Both options could be right, depending on the temperature inside the house.
Consider these basic guidelines when choosing your baby’s jammies each night:
- Dress them in as many layers as you plan to wear – If you’re comfortable going to bed in a pair of pants and a tank top, then a single pair of footed pajamas is an excellent choice for your baby. However, if it’s chilly and you plan on doubling up with multiple layers, the odds are that your tiny tot should layer up, too.
- Don’t forget their hands and feet – Cold hands and feet can cause discomfort. It’s important to consider those precious fingers and toes when choosing what to wear to bed. On colder nights, make sure they’re wearing socks (or footie jammies) to keep their tootsies warm. The same goes for their hands. Protective mittens or long-sleeve baby pajamas with the ever-convenient foldable mittens are excellent options to make sure their extremities stay toasty.
#2 Swaddle Them or Use a Wearable Sleep Bag
Wondering about the different types of baby blankets you can use for your sleeping baby? Many parents use swaddle blankets or wearable sleeping bags when their children are sleeping. They’re a useful extra layer to keep them warm on cold nights and they can double as a soothing mechanism for your little one:
- Swaddles – If you’re a parent to a newborn or baby who isn’t yet able to turn themselves from their backs to their tummies, a swaddling blanket is a fantastic way to keep them bundled up at night. They can keep your little ones from startling themselves awake and provide them with an extra layer of fabric to keep them warm on those cold nights.2
- Wearable sleep bags – A wearable sleep bag is similar to a swaddle, but many parents find it easier than the process of wrapping their wriggling baby in a swaddling blanket. To use it, you simply unzip the sleep sack, gently lay them inside, zip it back up, and use the convenient velcro straps to ensure they feel snug. Bada-bing-bada-boom—an efficient (and cozy) way to keep your little one warm at night.
#3 Maintain a Comfortable Nighttime Temperature
Do you ever feel the need to embrace the cold-weather spirit (especially in the middle of those hot summer days)? Maybe you turn down the thermostat as low as it’ll go and snuggle up in your flannel robe and multiple blankets to watch Elf.
As wonderful as that sounds, it’s important to keep your nighttime temperatures at a comfortable and safe level for your little one—ideally between 68 and 72 degrees.3 That way, your sleeping babe will feel cozy and secure in their pajamas and swaddle.
#4 Keep The Breeze at Bay
Your temperature might be set perfectly for your snoozing babe; however, your air conditioner or open windows still bring a pesky draft to their room, which can lead to a potential chill despite their snuggly swaddle and comfortable temperature.
If you notice that your little one’s bassinet or crib is near one of these common culprits of cold air drafts, consider moving their crib a few feet away to avoid receiving too much direct chilly air:
- Air vents
- Mobile fans
- Overhead fans
- Open windows
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Sources:
- AAP. Safe Sleep. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Swaddling: Is it Safe for Your Baby? https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Swaddling-Is-it-Safe.aspx
- NIH. Thermoregulatory effects of swaddling in Mongolia: a randomised controlled study.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26515228/
FAQs
An ideal room temperature for your baby is around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. As a general guide, your baby needs one more layer than you do to be comfortable. (So if you're wearing long sleeves and pants, dress your baby in their regular pajamas, plus a sleep sack.)
How to keep baby warm enough at night? ›
An ideal room temperature for your baby is around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. As a general guide, your baby needs one more layer than you do to be comfortable. (So if you're wearing long sleeves and pants, dress your baby in their regular pajamas, plus a sleep sack.)
How to keep baby feet warm at night? ›
Instead, try using a flannel fitted sheet for your baby's crib or toddler's bed, making sure the child has enough room to move his or her feet. Then try to regulate the sleeping room temperature somewhere between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
What keeps a baby warm? ›
It is important to warm and dry your baby right away using warm blankets and skin-to-skin contact. Another source of warmth such as a heat lamp or over-bed warmer may also be used. Open bed with radiant warmer. An open bed with radiant warmer is open to the room air and has a radiant warmer above.
How to heat a baby's room at night? ›
Set the thermostat for 70-72 degrees Fahrenheit. While we encourage avoiding space heaters, if this is one of your only options for keeping baby warm, be sure it is a fireproof model positioned as far from baby's crib and curtains as possible to avoid overheating.
How can I keep my baby warm at night without swaddling? ›
For these little ones, putting them to bed in just pajamas is a perfectly fine alternative to swaddling. There are a variety of pajama options out there for parents to choose from, but they should keep in mind their baby's age and the temperature. Some newborns, who do not like the swaddle, enjoy a knit newborn gown.
How to keep baby's feet warm without socks? ›
In cold weather, moccasins help keep babies feet warm since infants are not able to regulate their body temperature like older children can.
How to tell if baby is too hot at night? ›
Here are some indicators a baby is too hot:
- • Warm to the touch. • Flushed or red skin. • Rapid heartbeat. • Fast breathing. • Vomiting. • Lethargic or unresponsive. • Sweaty neck or damp hair. • Heat rash. • Restless and unable to sleep. • ...
- If your baby is sick, it's important to follow the advice of a healthcare professional.
Do babies' arms get cold in sleep sacks? ›
Q: Do babies' arms get cold in sleep sacks? A: It's possible, depending on the room temperature. If you need long sleeves in the bedroom or your baby's arms feel cool to the touch, then ensure your baby has long-sleeved pajamas underneath the sleep sack.
How can I keep my baby warm without heating? ›
For example, if the room your baby sleeps in is 16 – 18˚C, a sleepsuit under a 2.5 tog sleeping bag will keep them warm enough. If the room is colder than that and you can't warm it up, put a vest under the sleepsuit to keep them cosy.
Babies should be dressed in layers that suit their bedroom's temperature to avoid overheating. Experts also advise against covering babies with blankets or putting anything on or over their head during sleep to prevent suffocation or strangulation.
How do I keep my baby cool in the heat at night? ›
Keeping cool
Run them a cool bath before bedtime. Keep your child's bedroom cool during the day by closing blinds or curtains. You can also use a fan to circulate the air in the room. Keep nightwear and bedclothes to a minimum.
What can I do at night if my baby has a cold? ›
Top 5 Remedies for When Your Baby Already Has A Cold
- Use Steam from a Hot Bath or Shower. Babies are full of mucus and until they are around 2 years old, they won't be able to clear their nose properly themselves. ...
- Use a Nasal Rinse Solution or Baby-Safe Syringe. ...
- Rest. ...
- Use A Humidifier. ...
- Keep Theirs Heads Upright.
How do I keep my baby warm enough at night? ›
It's often at night when babies get the coldest, when temperatures drop and the heating is turned off.
- Follow Best Practices for Bedtime Clothing. ...
- Adjust Your Baby's Room Temperature. ...
- Choose Winter-Proof Clothing Options. ...
- Choose Warm (but Breathable) Materials for Pajamas and Sleep Sacks. ...
- Check Your Baby's Temperature.
How to keep baby warm in crib? ›
How to Keep Your Baby Warm (and Safe!) During Sleep
- Stick with cotton bedding and PJs.
- Don't use loose blankets.
- Use the right swaddle for winter.
- Don't put a hat on your sleeping baby.
- Pay attention to your baby's temperature cues.
- Don't put your baby near a drafty window or a heater.
How do I know if my baby is warm enough to sleep? ›
To do this, feel your baby's chest or the back of their neck (your baby's hands and feet will usually be cooler, which is normal). If your baby's skin is hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of bedclothes or bedding.
How do I make sure my baby is not too hot at night? ›
Here are a few tips to help you find the right balance:
- Keep your baby's room temperature between 68°F and 72°F. ...
- Keep blankets out of your baby's crib or bassinet. ...
- Dress your baby like you would dress at night. ...
- Make sure your baby isn't sleeping near a heat source, like a heater or radiator.
Is it okay if my baby's hands are cold at night? ›
In general, the hands and the feet are a poor way to tell if your baby is too cold. This is because they are often exposed and thus will naturally carry a lower temperature. If the hands and feet are cold, this doesn't mean that your baby is too cold! A better way to measure is to feel your baby's torso.
What temperature is too cold for a baby to sleep? ›
The Best Room Temperature for Babies
You don't want your baby's room to be either too hot or too cold. It's recommended that the best temperature for babies is between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.