New parents always want what’s best for their baby, including during their sleeping hours. We oftentimes get questions from parents about what their babies should be wearing to sleep, both in warm and cold weather. Regardless of the temperature, it is important for your baby to be comfortable so they can fall asleep easily and stay asleep.
What should your baby wear to sleep during the winter?
The individual preferences of your baby will vary, but most advice recommends dressing your baby in one additional layer than you wear to bed yourself. However, babies also have a very high metabolism meaning they may get quite hot at night. In this case, it might make more sense to dress them in one less layer than yourself.
The ideal setup for your baby is a sleep sack with additional layers worn underneath it, which could include a onesie or sweaters for additional warmth.
What types of layers should your baby wear to sleep?
Layers are key for keeping your baby warm throughout the night. As we mentioned above, the outermost layer should be a sleep sack to keep your baby nice and toasty all night. Sleep sacks come in all sorts of materials, so if you live in an especially cold area, opt for a thicker one made from fleece but be aware of the risk of overheating. If you are looking for something more breathable, cotton and wool are great options. Newborns should only use cotton or wool for safety
Underneath the sleep sack, a footed onesie makes for a cozy bottom layer. If your baby needs more, you can also add a bodysuit underneath the onesie. Line their crib with a flannel sheet for extra warmth.
How warm should your baby’s bedroom be in the winter?
Your baby’s bedroom should be dark and cool at bedtime to encourage good sleeping habits. We recommend a temperature between 69- and 72-degrees Fahrenheit. During the winter, a humidifier might be helpful if you find it is particularly dry due to the added heat.
How can you tell if your baby is too hot or too cold during the night?
There are risks for your baby associated with them getting too cold or too hot at night. Many of them are very serious, but it is ultimately more dangerous for your baby to be too hot than too cold. If your baby becomes too hot during the night, not only will they be uncomfortable, but they will be at increased risk for SIDS. This is most important to pay attention to when your baby is a newborn as newborns don’t have the ability to regulate their own temperature until around three months of age.
The first way to determine if your baby is too hot or too cold is based on their behavior. If your baby is fussy or irritable, something is wrong, and you should check on them. The second way to find out if your baby is uncomfortable temperature-wise is to feel their skin, particularly their hands, nose, and the back of their neck. While having cool hands is normal, if they feel cold and your baby is fussy, continue to investigate. Check their nose and the back of their neck. If those are both cold, the temperature of the room may be too cold. If you find they’re starting to sweat along the hairline, they are likely too warm.
Petite Dreamers is here to help.
If you need help getting your baby to sleep or just have questions about how to handle sleep during the winter months, give our sleep experts a call at Petite Dreamers today.