Too hot or Too Cold?

[lachies_mum]

Hi! I have a 6 month old who is usually a good sleeper (although some nights are better than others!) what I am posting about is if anyone else worries if their bub is too hot or cold through the night? Especially with the weather warming up and changing now, some nights are hotter than others. I always worry whether i have put too many blankets on or not enough! As he cant tell me how he feels, I dont know whether he is hot or cold or just right! I know Im being a bit obsessive!

[jess_live_die]

i worry with my younest coz she has a small lung or weak lung as the doctors put it and if she gets too hot or too cold to quickly she has fits so im always worring bout her i normaly put her in long sleeves and short or short sleeves and long pants and a light blancket not that it stays on her.

[the_queen]

lachies_mum, just feel the back of his neck with the back of your fingers. If it's clammy, he's too hot. If his hands and feet are cold, then he's too cold. Just put 1 sheet, and 2 decent blankets on him. Check him during the night and if he's cold, add another blanket. If he's too hot, take one off.
And you're totally normal, btw :D I still check my daughter to make sure she's not too hot or cold, and she's 5! The mother-stress never goes away, I've been told :D

[Seekrit]

I know it's not QUITE the same, because I'm bigger than he is, etc. But I make an effort to dress as I've dressed him for bed. I even have a flannette sheet on our bed (like his wraps) if I'm too cold, I assume he's too cold and pop another blanket on him. :)

Lately his bedwear is a long sleeved body suit, with no legs, then tuck in blankies.

[Mojogal]

It's definitely one of the many normal worries of a new parent. Yes, I found Seekrit's technique worked for us as well - just dressed bub similarly to myself and went from there, depending on how hot/cold I felt thru the night, add/subtract blankets.

Sometimes in Winter her hands would be cold in the middle of the night, even with the fold-over mittens on, but she definitely had plenty of blankets on and was warm enough.

It's quite normal (so I've been told by the doc and have read) on a hot Summer's day, for bub to leave a round sweat patch under their head - apparently this is not an indication of being too hot, especially if they are appropriately dressed and uncovered. The Queen's trick of the fingers on the back of their neck is a great indicator of too hot, I believe.

Like so much in motherhood, it's a lot of playing by ear and consistent monitoring, and changing to suit wherever possible. :)
Trust yourself, your judgement will be fine - you can see and feel the sweat on a too hot babe, and definitely recognise the shakes and goosebumps of a cold baby. Trust in your ability, you are a fine mum. :yes:

[lachies_mum]

Thanks for the replies, they are some great tips! I think that u are right- I just haveto trust my own judgement. It is really hot tonight and he is just in a short sleeved jump suit and a sheet! Thanks for the advice :)

[SilverStarfish]

Just another post to let you are not the only one. Drat this silly weather!! Either get hot or stay cold. I hate this "what do I dress Sarah in" lotto that I'm playing at the moment!

[lachies_mum]

i know! i wish it would just stay warm! i am constantly having to take blankets off and on because the weather keeps changing! unfortunately i also have ocd which makes me worry even more

[shed]

I can honestly say that this has been the biggest problem I have had with the whole motherhood biz. I say it to my DP every night when we go to bed. We go through the whole "Is he warm enough? do you think he will be too hot?" routine every night. EVERY night!!!

He has different blankets than us so I can't do the "one more layer" thing, because we have a big warm doona and he has blankets.

I hate it. :(

[Mojogal]

Aaaw shed, don't worry, it will pass soon :yes: Summer's coming and he'll probably be happy in a singlet and just a sheet! Too easy :thumbsup:

That's assuming you're somewhere warm for summer??

[shed]

Yes, I can't wait for summer when its stinkin hot but at least I know its stinkin hot and not caused by 'too many blankets stinkin hot', just 'weather stinkin hot'.

So much easier to figger out!!

Bring it on!!

[catalicious]

Hi Yes I always worry about it but here is what some docs and CHN have said to me.

" It is better for a baby to be cold at night than hot or warm, as a sickness even the worst ones that come from being cold are alot easier to treat than the illnesses and problems related to overheating"

My son gets sick alot so this is what they said to me. Obviously you dont want them to get sick anyway, but you know the nights it keeps changing, just so you know anyway.