Handy chart reveals how to keep your baby warm enough on cold nights
Juliet Blank
Associate EditorDuring a cold snap, we all want to make sure our babies are warm enough in their cot ... without them overheating. That's where this handy expert chart can help when the temperature plummets.
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Brr, for parents, there's nothing like getting cosy under a thick duvet during a cold spell.
But with the current cold spell in the UK, many parents are worried about keeping their babies warm enough, without them overheating.
That's where this chart can help.
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Baby Sound Asleep, a sleep consultancy site, shared a handy guide showing their suggestion of what babies can wear at night, for all different temperatures.
Abi Thompson, a maternity nurse, sleep consultant and founder of Baby Sound Asleep, commented that the chart is:
'Only intended as a guide and is my personal opinion only. Check your baby often during times of excessive weather, all babies are different'.
Another handy resource is on the Gro.co.uk website, where you can put the temperature of your child's bedroom, their age and weight and it'll recommend what to dress them in at night. For instance, what tog Grobag and what to wear underneath it.
They have a similar chart based on room temperature, here ...
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It can be tempting to crank up the temperature in your baby's room to keep them warm enough but The Lullaby Trust, which raises awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and promotes safer sleep for babies, reminds parents the ideal room temperature can be as low as 16° C.
Even in winter, there's no need to reach for hats and too many extra layers.
It offers the following advice to worried parents:
'It is important to make sure that your baby’s room is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold.
The chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot, so try to keep the room temperature between 16 -20°C.'
It also says it shouldn't be necessary to keep the heating on longer:
'It is rarely necessary to keep your heating on all night, and adding an extra layer will usually help.'
As for what to dress them in, The Lullaby Trust recommends 'light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag' and NEVER a hat.
It says:
'Remember not to add a hat to your baby when they are indoors, as their head is important for maintaining their body temperature by releasing heat.
'Babies do not need to wear hats indoors, nor sleep under a duvet or quilt.'
'If you do feel your home is too cold and you want to leave the heating on all night, make sure it is set at a low temperature, and certainly no higher than 20⁰C.'
Amazon has a huge range of baby sleeping bags in 2.5 tog, suitable for cold weather. See more details here.
Investing in a room thermometer is a good idea, too, so you can monitor the temperature accurately. See more details here at Amazon.
Remember to always follow these Lullaby Trust-approved steps for putting your baby down to sleep safely in their cot or moses basket:
- You should always place your baby on their back to sleep and not on their front or side (unless your doctor has advised you of a medical reason to do so)
- Sleeping a baby on their front or side greatly increases the chance of SIDS
- It is important that you always put your baby on their back as part of their regular sleep routine – the chance of SIDS is particularly high for babies who are sometimes placed on their front or side.
Find more about safe sleeping in babies here.
Are you worried about your baby sleeping in the winter? Chat about all things parent-related with other new parents in our forum below ...
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