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.
When the room is too hot, research has shown that it can increase your baby's risk of SIDS; when it's too cold, baby can easily become uncomfortably chilly and wake up unnecessarily.
According to Cleveland Clinic, babies should sleep in rooms between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which is equivalent to 18-21 degrees Celsius. If the bedroom your infant sleeps in doesn't have a thermostat, use a portable, indoor thermometer to keep track of how warm or cool the room is.
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. Babies are more sensitive to changes in room temperature because they're so small and their bodies are still growing.
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.
A chilly nursery can make your baby fussy and bring their body temperature too low. Meanwhile, an overheated bedroom may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), especially if your baby is sleeping in warm clothes or over bundled.
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.
Studies have found that bedroom heating increases SIDS risk,10 whereas well-ventilated bedrooms and use of a fan is associated with decreased risk of SIDS. These findings suggest that indoor heat is an important risk factor for SIDS.
Keeping your baby's room cool, but comfortable is one way to maintain a safe sleep environment. In fact, it's recommended that babies sleep in a temperature between 68° and 72°F (20° to 22.2°C). Here's what you need to know about room temperatures for your baby, as well as tips to properly dress your baby for sleep.
Infants can get seven colds in their first year alone, the Mayo Clinic says, all of which can seriously disrupt sleep. Even if your child is a star snoozer, a cold could result in odd sleep hours, multiple nighttime wakeups and increased clinginess around bedtime.
Baby cold symptoms
Runny nose (watery at first, then opaque to sometimes yellow or green-tinted) Nasal congestion or stuffiness. Sneezing. Mild fever (sometimes)
We advise only using a heater to take the chill off your baby's room, as babies should not sleep in hot rooms. The recommended room temperature for a baby is 16 to 20 degrees, with around 18 degrees being ideal.
As a general rule, if the room temperature is around 18-20 degrees Celsius, put your newborn or older baby to bed in a vest and bodysuit or gown.
If the room is warm (22 degrees), then baby should be in a 1.0 tog sleeping bag and wear a long-sleeved bodysuit. If the room is slightly cooler (20 degrees), then baby should be in a 2.5 tog sleeping bag and wear a long-sleeved bodysuit.
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.
Here is a rough guide of how to safely dress your baby depending on the temperature: 27 degrees + – vest and nappy or nappy only. 24-27 degrees – short sleeved vest and 0.5 tog sleeping bag. 21-23 degrees – short or long sleeved vest and 1 tog sleeping bag.
Make sure your baby's sleeping bag is safe and comfortable. If your baby is wearing a nappy, vest and sleepsuit, he'll only need a sheet or a low tog sleeping bag as bedding in warm weather . If he still seems hot, it's fine for him to sleep in just his vest or even his nappy.
Generally speaking, a two-piece cotton PJ set or footed onesie plus a muslin swaddle should suffice. However, this rule is just the tip of the iceberg. You'll also need to judge if this generalization applies to your baby's sleeping environment.
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.
For room temperatures between 18 - 20 degrees
With a 3 seasons Woolbabe or 1.0 Tog rated sleeping bag (such as Ergopouch or The Sleep Store), choose a long sleeve bodysuit and a onesie or PJ's.
The best way to check if your little one is the correct temperature is to put your hand on the child's chest. Does their chest feel comfortable and warm? It should not be hot or cool to your touch. Touching your baby's hands and feet is not a good way to determine if your child is warm enough.
18° is the recommended night time bedroom temperature. 19-21° is the recommended daytime temperature range for occupied rooms. 24-27º is too warm and can put babies and young children at risk.
Make sure your baby is dressed appropriately for their environment and does not have too many layers on. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2016), an infant should not wear more than 1 layer more than what an adult would need to be comfortable in that same environment.