It's time to sleep baba

Top 6 tips to monitor your baby's temperature in Winter

1.Know the right temperature of your baby's room - and what is safe

The ideal temperature for the baby's nursery is between 16°C to 20°C. It would be worthwhile to invest in a room thermometer in your baby's nursery so you can keep an eye on the temperature. You can use this to guide you on whether to add or remove layers on your child. The number of layers required, as a guide, will depend on whether your baby sleeps in a sleepsuit or with a sleeping sack.

2. Feel your baby's neck

You can check whether your baby has too many or to few layers by checking the back of their neck or tummy. This will give a clear indication of overheating or being too cold. If they are too hot, their skin will feel slightly clammy and sweaty and you should make sure to remove layers instantly.

3.Never put a hat on your baby while indoors

If you think your baby is cold, you may be tempted to put a hat on them indoors, however, avoid this at all costs, even when it is cold. A bare head is vital for a baby to maintain and regulate body temperature and release heat. Obviously, if you are taking your baby outside in the cold, an appropriate hat may be recommended.

4.Avoid putting heating on all night

In cold weather it might be tempting to blast the heating all night whilst you are asleep to keep everyone warm, including your baby. However, this is advised against for your baby. If you do want it on, set it no higher than 20°C.

5.Don't put your baby's cot directly near a heat source

Leaving your baby's cot or crib next to a radiator can lead to overheating or even possible burns, especially if your baby reaches out of their cot to touch it. Radiators are often placed under windows which have cords and pull strings creating an additional risk. The same rule applies to hot water bottles, fires, electric blankets and even direct sunlight – they should be avoided.

6. Skip bath time

On a really cold night, a bath isn’t going to make your baby more relaxed. It's going to agitate them, as the temperature changes can make them uncomfortable. As babies don’t sweat during the winter months it’s not necessary to bath them every night, instead, opt for a sponge bath if necessary or a simple wet washcloth. If a bath is essential you’ll want to make sure the indoor temperature is warm.

Elaine Soller, from Babysense says:

“Of course, you want your baby to be warm and comfortable at night, which means in the colder months it can be tempting to cover them in lots of layers and crank the heating to the highest. We know how tricky it is to maintain a balance between keeping the baby warm in winter and not to layer him so much that he/she starts feeling hot. 

However, it's important to remember that babies can't regulate their body temperature in the same way as adults can, so it is much easier for them to get hot, quicker, and overheat.  Essentially, compared to adults, their bodies have more surface area by weight which causes quicker heat loss. Babies also don't have as much insulating fat which makes a huge difference.

Keeping your baby comfortable during the colder months is equally as important as keeping your child safe in the summer. Monitoring your child and their temperature is so vital to your child's immune system and overall health, and comfort. By keeping them at optimal temperature, they can conserve energy and essentially build up reserves. It is especially important when your child is sick or premature. Babies that are too cold use all their energy and oxygen to generate warmth and may be too tired and uninterested in feeding.

On top of these extra precautions, make sure your baby sleeps on their back, and on a firm surface. A humidifier can also help in certain circumstances, when a room is damp or colder than you would like”