These days, there is a huge emphasis on the importance of avoiding overheating during children's sleep. Absolutely, we do not want our little ones overheating due to the increased risk of SIDS. However, it is also important that we pay attention to the effects of underheating, because no one sleeps well when they are cold, especially babies.
Here are five signs your baby may be cold when they sleep, and how to deal with each.
Early rising before 6am
The outside temperature drops to its lowest point in the early hours of the morning before 6am.
Many babies lying still in their cots or bassinets will naturally rouse or wake fully and struggle to resettle back to sleep because they are cool or cold. They may not be freezing cold, but if they aren't snug and cosy in their sleep space, they can have difficulty sleeping through until morning. If the baby's body temperature is dropping in the early hours, you will need to increase your baby's sleepwear layers and/or TOG-rated sleepwear, and you may also need to increase their sleep environment temperature too.
Frequent night waking and unsettledness after feeding
Newborns and infants need to wake and feed overnight, however, if they are waking frequently outside their feeding times, it could be happening because they are not warm enough. There are a huge number of babies that are unsettled and struggling to fall back to sleep after their overnight feeds when they go from being held in Mum or Dad's cosy, warm arms, back into their cot or bassinet. If your baby's night stretch of sleep is very disrupted, look at their sleepwear layers and the overall sleep environment temperature and adjust both. To ensure your baby's sleep environment stays comfortable and cosy when feeding overnight, keep the door closed and before putting them back into their cot or bassinet give them a big, warm cuddle so they feel snug going back into their sleep space.
Excessive movement around the cot during sleep
When babies are particularly restless and moving around their cot through the night, it can be a sign that they are cold. They might move constantly to warm themselves up, or they might move all around the cot to try and find the warmest place and position to sleep. You will be able to view excessive movement in the cot by checking your baby monitor.
Cold hands and feet
Despite being a slightly controversial way to measure temperature, if bub's hands and feet are cold, then odds are they are cold. Whilst some people say you cannot rely on feeling a baby's hands and feet because they are furthest away from the core of the body.
However, cold is cold and parents checking bub's hands and feet serves as a handy way to determine overall body temperature. Checking bub's chest is another quick way to check their temperature, especially in chilly winter. Think of it in terms of an adult, if your hands and feet are cold, you're probably feeling chilly too, little ones aren't too dissimilar.
Red Nose Six Safe Sleep Recommendations
For all babies 0-12 months, Red Nose recommends six key steps to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.
1) Always place baby on their back to sleep
Placing baby on their back to sleep helps keep their airway clear and ensures their protective reflexes work. Back sleeping reduces the risk of suffocation, overheating and choking.
2) Keep baby's face and head uncovered
Babies control their temperature through their face and head, so keeping baby's face and head uncovered during sleep helps reduce the risk of overheating. It also helps keep their airways clear which reduces the risk of suffocation.
3) Keep baby smoke free, before and after birth
Smoking during pregnancy and around baby once they are born increases the risk of sudden infant death – this includes second-hand smoke. If you or your partner smoke, don't smoke around baby and never smoke where baby sleeps.
4) Safe sleeping environment, night and day
The safest place for baby to sleep is in their own safe space, with a safe mattress, and safe bedding. Baby should always be placed on their back to sleep, with their feet at the bottom of the bassinet or cot.
5) Sleep baby in their own safe sleep space in the parent's or caregiver's room for the first 6 months
The safest place for babies to sleep is in their own safe space, in the same room as their parents or adult caregiver for the first 6 months.
Adapted from: Honey
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