So it's better to hold off on covering your baby with a blanket at night or during her naps until she's at least 18 months old since she could still become tangled in it when she's younger.
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.
The easiest way to tell if your baby is too hot or too cold is by feeling the nape of the neck to see if it's sweaty or cold to the touch. When babies are too warm, they may have flushed cheeks and look like they're sweating. An overheated baby may also breathe rapidly.
As your baby lays on your skin, cover him/her with a blanket or swaddle. If you're heading outside, be sure baby is covered from head to toe—we're talking a hat, thick socks or booties (be careful they don't kick them off accidentally!
Until your baby reaches 12 months of age, make sure that their crib is free of loose items, such as blankets, pillows, toys, and stuffed animals. These items increase the possibility of accidental suffocation. A pacifier, however, is fine to give to your baby and may even reduce the risk of SIDS.
The basic rules
Perhaps you've heard about the general rule of thumb for dressing your baby for sleep: Put them in one additional layer than you would wear at night. This makes sense, as a baby should not sleep with a loose sheet or blanket.
Babies should sleep alone in their cot with no blankets or pillows until they are at least 12 months old. There are plenty of pyjama and sleeping bag options to keep your baby cosy and warm at night.
Signs of hypothermia include shivering, breathing slowly and having pale, cool skin. Babies who are hot, tend to look uncomfortable. Like adults who overheat, a baby's skin will become red, and they will look flushed.
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.
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.
Sleep Sacks
In lieu of blankets, the AAP recommends placing your baby in a sleep sack or wearable blanket if they need extra warmth at night. These are usually made of breathable but warm material.
The risk for sudden infant death syndrome is higher during colder months, so parents and caregivers should be aware of this risk and take the necessary precautions, according to a press release from the NIH.
HOT/COLD. The temperature can make your baby cry. They may cry because they are too hot or too cold. If your baby is fussy because of the temperature, there are signs that you can look for.
New parents often learn how to swaddle their infant from the nurses in the hospital. A thin blanket wrapped snuggly around your baby's body can resemble the womb and help soothe your newborn. When done correctly, swaddling can be an effective technique to help calm infants and promote sleep.
Make sure that your baby is completely covered from head-to-toe. If you need mittens, gloves, a hat, thick socks and boots, make sure your baby is wearing them too. Don't forget to use blankets outside.
This is to prevent your baby from getting overheated.
There is no definitive answer or rule that states little ones should wear socks to sleep. If you feel cold and are worried that your baby might be as well, consider covering their feet with socks when they sleep.
Babies tend to sleep better in a comfortably cool room. Because babies have a greater proportion of exposed surface area for their weight, it is easier for them to lose body heat.
Babies are more sensitive to changes in room temperature because they're so small and their bodies are still growing. By around 11 weeks, though, babies' bodies start to regulate their temperature at night just like older humans do.
Overheating may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies one month to one year of age. Many experts recommend that the temperature in the room where a baby's sleeps be kept between 68–72°F (20–22.2°C).
Most deaths happen during the first 6 months of a baby's life. Infants born prematurely or with a low birthweight are at greater risk. SIDS also tends to be slightly more common in baby boys. SIDS usually occurs when a baby is asleep, although it can occasionally happen while they're awake.
It is important to make sure that your baby is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. The chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot. A room temperature of 16-20°C – with light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag– is comfortable and safe for sleeping babies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends dressing babies in clothes similar to what an adult would feel comfortable wearing in the same temperature. You may choose to give them one additional layer beyond what an adult would wear, but no more.