No hats and beanies in bed Babies can quickly overheat if they fall asleep wearing hats or beanies. So it's important to keep your baby's head uncovered during sleep. Headwear in bed can also be a choking or suffocation hazard.
When babies are born, they come out of a warm, cozy environment – the womb – and into one that can be downright chilly. That's why nurses immediately cover their tiny heads with those precious knit hats. But after your newborn leaves the hospital, they don't need to wear a hat all the time, unless it's cold outside.
When dressing your newborn for bed, follow this rule of thumb: dress the infant in one additional layer than what you'd be comfortable wearing at night in that room. Consider a onesie, sleep sack, or lightweight swaddle in warmer months. In colder months, opt for a long-sleeved onesie or a heavier sleepsack or swaddle.
An article by Raylene Phillips (MD IBCLC, FAAP) in 2013 states, “A hat is not required to keep the baby warm when skin to skin, and appears to be annoying to many babies, interfering with normal rooting.”
Babies need a hat outside.
A lightweight hat with a brim protects your baby's head from the sun in warm weather and traps the heat he needs when it's cool — making it a must-have outdoor accessory in just about any weather.
Hats are used immediately after birth to keep a baby's temperature stable. They are not needed for sleep after then.
By avoiding the use of hats in an open crib, it's possible infants will avoid overheating and a risk of suffocation, creating a safer sleep environment. Implications for research: The removal of hats during sleep to promote infant health should be considered for all infants.
Newborn hospital hats help infants conserve heat and regulate body temperature. As hospital temperatures are much lower than temperatures inside the womb, infant caps are instrumental in helping babies adjust to a sudden drop in temperature.
Swaddle your baby in a swaddle blanket to add extra warmth and to help them to feel calm. Whilst you shouldn't place regular blankets over a newborn, it is fine to wrap them in a swaddle blanket, as this can't end up over their face. A swaddle is a piece of fabric that you can wrap around your baby.
Babies do not need to wear hats indoors, nor sleep under a duvet or quilt.
Simple is safest. Put your baby in a base layer like a one-piece sleeper, and skip the socks, hats or other accessories. Instead of a blanket, use a sleep sack or swaddle. She'll be warm enough — but not too warm.
A baby should sleep in clothing intended for infant sleep in order to stay warm at night, since babies are not supposed to sleep with blankets or bedding apart from tight-fitted bed sheets. For example, babies often sleep in sleep sacks and onesies.
In warmer weather, you can dress baby in a sleeveless and legless onesies, or just a nappy and singlet. For cooler weather, a full suit will keep baby warm. If you are using a sleeping bag, select the TOG that matches the temperature of the room.
Babies that are too cold will not exert the energy it takes to cry, and may be uninterested in feeding. Their energy is being consumed by trying to stay warm. A baby that is dangerously chilled will have cold hands and feet and even baby's chest will be cold under his or her clothes.
If you're wondering how to keep baby warm without swaddle the Lullaby Trust recommends using “light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag.” Especially when unwell babies need fewer, not more bedclothes.
You may be tempted to offer your baby a soft, warm blanket to help comfort them at night. However, blankets are not recommended until your baby reaches at least 12 months old because they can increase the risk of accidental suffocation.
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.
But one of the most important aspects of good health is protecting them from the harshness of Australia's sun. Thankfully, the solution is simple – a baby sun hat. For all Australians, the risk of developing skin cancer is extremely real.
Swaddling can be very helpful in the first days and weeks of life. However, it should be discontinued once the baby is actively trying to flip from back to front, which can happen as early as 6-8 weeks of age. “Actually, the goal should be to swaddle as little as possible,” says Dr. Srinivas.
Newborn Swaddles or Gowns
Most hospitals prefer to dress babies simply, either in just a diaper and swaddled in a flannel blanket, or in a side-snap bodysuit or basic gown.
Babies can't regulate their own body temperature, which is why you need to dress them properly under their swaddle. If you're wondering what your baby should wear under swaddle, remember that babies dressed in too many layers can overheat.
You can absolutely put your baby in a onesie or even pajamas underneath their sleep sack depending on the temperature. Babies, like adults, sleep better when they're cool as opposed to too warm, so keep this in mind when dressing your baby for bed.