It is always a joy for the whole family when a newborn arrives home. However, babies are fragile and need to be kept as comfortable as possible. They also can’t express themselves so they result in being fussy when in distress. Thus, amidst all the excitement, parents can’t help but worry about providing a comfortable environment for the little one.
One area of concern is maintaining an ideal room temperature for the baby. There is a notion among parents that babies need to be kept extra warm at all times. So they tend to keep them fully bundled around the clock or keep the heat high in their room.
However, over bundling the baby or leaving the room at high temperatures can lead to overheating, which is a known cause for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). On the other hand, leaving them unbundled or turning down the heater too much can expose them to cold, which can, in turn, lead to some cold-related infections.
That being said, what is the ideal room temperature for babies and how do you maintain it?
Here are some guidelines.
1. Control the room temperature
Most experts recommend maintaining the temperature in a baby’s room at a temperature between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 21 degrees Celsius) both in summer and in winter. You can have the temperature controller set at this level.
Ideally, your home’s heating system controls the temperature all-around your home. However, setting the temperature controller at the recommended levels doesn’t mean that all the rooms have that same temperature. For instance, a room with a lot of windows or poor insulation could be letting in cold air from outside.
It is important that you keep monitoring your baby’s room to ensure that it maintains the ideal temperature. In addition, ensure that it is well insulated and if the baby has to use a room with many windows, ensure that they are well sealed.
Another way to regulate the temperature is by using a fan. If the room gets too hot, you can run a fan for a few minutes. However, make sure it doesn’t face the baby directly. You can also open the window slightly to let in cold weather.
2. Share a room with your baby
You can use a thermometer to measure the temperature in your baby’s room. However, an adult can tell whether a room is too warm or too cold when in normal clothing. So instead of going through the trouble of measuring your baby’s room’s temperature, just assess whether the temperature is comfortable for you. If it’s too chilly or too warm for you, then it likely feels the same for your baby.
In this case, it is good to consider sharing a room with your baby. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents share a room with their babies for the first six months. Just move your baby’s crib or bassinet to your bedroom, and be sure to place it near your bed.
Besides monitoring the room’s temperature, you will get insight on whether your baby prefers to sleep in a cool or warm room depending on how comfortable he or she is.
3. Mind the baby’s clothing
When it comes to a baby’s temperature, how you dress him or her and the beddings matter a great deal. If the weather outside is warm, consider dressing your baby in lighter clothing. Ideally, just an onesie with socks is enough. On the other hand, add an extra layer of clothing when the weather is chilly. The good rule of the thumb is to add one more layer than what you are wearing yourself. You can also bundle your baby lightly, but never over bundle him or her.
In addition, avoid using loose blankets in your baby’s crib. There are chances that the blankets can block the baby’s face, preventing proper breathing, which can be fatal. Instead of blankets, you can put your baby in a wearable blanket or sleep sack. A sleepsack with a thermal overall grade (TOG) of 1.2 or lower is best for warmer months. If it’s chilly, one with a TOG of 2 to 2.5 is recommended.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, a newborn’s body doesn’t have the ability to regulate temperature. It is up to you to keep a close eye on your baby to ensure that he or she is comfortable. If you are a new mom, checking on your baby at intervals is recommended. You can feel their feet, hands, ears or the nape of the neck to determine if the baby is cold or warm and act accordingly.
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