Swaddling can increase the chance your baby will overheat, so avoid letting your baby get too hot. The baby could be too hot if you notice sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash and rapid breathing. Consider using a pacifier for naps and bedtime.
Keep the swaddle loose: It's important not to swaddle your baby too tightly during the summer months. You want to allow air to circulate around your baby's body to prevent overheating. A loose swaddle will also allow your baby to move their arms and legs more freely, which can help prevent overheating.
After ensuring baby can move freely in whatever sleep sack they're wearing, families should next ensure that baby cannot overheat due to wearing a sleep sack. Indeed, babies are at much higher risk of overheating than being too cold.
The ideal temperature is between 68° and 72°F (20° to 22.2°C). However, because this may not be easily controlled, our TOG chart offers guidance for which SleepSack is best for your room temperature. Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby sleeping too hot or too cold.
Or consider using a swaddle or wrap whereby the manufacturer has specified what temperature zone the swaddle is suitable for. Light weight for nursery temperatures of approx. 21 – 25C or a cosy weight for nursery temperatures of approx. 16 – 20C.
If you can keep your room at a stable temperature of 68-70℉ (20-22.2℃), a long sleeve onesie or pajama underneath a swaddle will be suitable for most babies. If the room is warmer, try just a short sleeve onesie or diaper. For colder temperatures, add an extra layer of clothing.
If your baby is too hot you will feel the skin is hot, slightly clammy or sweaty, and you will need to remove some layers.
"But the symptoms may include flushed cheeks, sweating, or fussiness." Baker says when a baby is too hot, then his skin will usually feel very warm, especially early on, but if overheating progresses, babies "may actually get cool, pale, and appear ill."
A baby can overheat when they're asleep because of too much bedding or clothes, or because the room is too hot.
Swaddling your newborn at night can help your baby sleep longer stretches at night. The purpose of swaddling is to help reduce the “startle or Moro” reflex. Yes, you should swaddle your newborn at night. The startle reflex is a primitive reflex that is present and birth and is a protective mechanism.
When your baby is in a deep sleep, newborn sweating can occur as their tiny body works hard to regulate itself. They may even wake up in the middle of this sleep cycle with damp skin. In addition, if you swaddle your baby, the extra layer may make them too warm.
Babies will wake and cry if they're a bit chilly, and you can solve the problem then. But they won't likely do the same if they're too hot. And while I don't like to spark fear, especially when the summertime heat is beyond our control, overheating is a risk factor for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
A baby is a lot less likely to cry if it's too hot than if it's too cold, because the heat can make your little one more lethargic and less responsive. Although some babies do cry if they're too hot, it's more likely that your baby will get restless or cranky rather than tearful.
Although swaddling has been practiced for years, recent studies show that swaddling for sleep can put your baby at risk of suffocation.
Dressing a baby in a short sleeve bodysuit and cotton sleepsuit can be just right under a swaddle during colder nights, while just one long sleeve vest or sleepsuit is commonly worn underneath swaddles in milder temperatures.
SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable. So, all infants in this age range are at risk for dysfunction of neurological control of breathing.
For infants, a normal temperature is considered to be 97.5 degrees fahrenheit (36.4 degrees celsius). A temperature around 100.4 degrees fahrenheit (or 38 degrees celsius) is considered too hot for a baby.
Swaddling can increase the chance your baby will overheat, so avoid letting your baby get too hot. The baby could be too hot if you notice sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash and rapid breathing.
The Optimal Temperature for a Baby's Room in Australia
So much so that any changes in room temperature can make them fussy. That's why, according to The Sleep Store Australia, your baby's room shouldn't be either too hot or too cold. It should be somewhere between 18 to 22 degrees Celsius.
You should stop swaddling your baby when he starts attempting to roll over. Many babies start working on this move at about 2 months old. Swaddling once your baby can roll over may increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and suffocation.
If it is warm outside, putting your baby in a diaper underneath the swaddle may just be enough. If however, the temperature is cold, it's a good idea to put baby in a short or long sleeved onesie or even footy pajamas to ensure that baby is kept warm.
While it might be tempting to overdress your baby in the winter, a simple long-sleeved onesie and socks should keep your baby warm under the swaddle. If your baby's hands are cold, consider using no scratch mittens.