Does my baby get overheat?

[Yarra]

This is a question about how to put the baby in cot to sleep at night. I ask this because I recently come to live in Melbourne from a hot tropical country and had a baby here. Now, I‘ve been advised to keep the room temperature around 16 C to 20 C and put one extra layer on baby than I would for myself. But the problem is, since I got used to hot weather, I heavily dress myself even when room temperature is 22 C, when most other people find comfortable to be in. I definitely don't want to dress the two month old one that way since she might get overheat.

Could someone please explain to me how I should dress my baby at night and how many blankets to use on her so that she wouldn't get too hot at night. I keep the room temperature around 19 C or 20C all night long.

Also, she is comfortable to play in her terry towel overall at night. However when she sleeps in cot in same exact temperature, I feel like I need to put extra layers on her, but it's really not necessary, isn't it? I feel this way because when I am go to bed to sleep I need quilt to be comfortable even though the temperature remains the same.

I have never seen raising a baby in temperate weather and have no clue if I am doing the right thing. Thanks heaps for your help. It means a lot.

[JJJ&D'sMum]

It depends on where in Melb you are but going from memory, I used to dress my boys in growsuits, a sleeping bag suit and use a woollen doona with an extra blanket overnight. They used to wriggle around and out from under the doona so the sleeping bag suit kept them warm.

I do the same with DD even though we're now in country Vic with central heating.

You have been told correctly in that babies/toddlers need an extra layer of clothing than an adult. Especially in the colder months here in Vic. So in this type of weather I would be dressing her in a long sleeved top and jumper along with long pants and/or socks/tights underneath. It keeps DD warm enough !


Good luck.

[trouble]

Im in brisbane atm and some may say I go overboard ( im a cold frog)

But remember never put anythinh on their head to sleep, like a beanie!

[little bean]

It's funny how we get used to a certain climate - I'm from Canada and I used to wear singlets in winter in Sydney because I thought it was so hot out!! Now I've been in Australia for about ten years and when it's 22 degrees out, I think it's freezing!

Doonas and thick blankets are a SIDS danger, as is putting a hat on a baby when sleeping (as somebody else mentioned).

We have a reverse cycle air conditioner in DD's room. This is what we do -

When she was little, I dressed her in a terry towelling suit and wrapped her in a cotton wrap. The temperature was set at 24 degrees.

Now she wears a cotton suit and a polarfleece long-sleeved sleeping bag on top. We still set the temperature at about 22 degrees.

If you're worried about your bub being too hot, stick your finger down the back of their neck. You'll be able to feel if they're getting all sweaty under the clothing. I've checked this way several times - especially when we're on holidays or camping (and the temperature changes during the night and into the morning).

I use blankets when we're camping but at home (because we have the heater/air con) I find it much easier just to use the sleeping bag - no need to tuck it in or worry about it getting tangled on DD's head.

[dreamtobeamummy]

I agree with what others have said, also another way to tell if they are too hot is just put the back of your fingers on their belly, if its toasty they are nice and warm, obvuisly if it feels quite hot then they will be hot. You don't tell from their hands or feet (if they are anything like me my hands and feet are always cold ) but i could be quite warm

[Tam-I-Am]

All babies are different, so the best way to judge is to feel her tummy or chest - NOT her hands or feet. If she's warm to the touch, not hot, then she's probably okay.

Perhaps you could look into something like grobags which are temperature weighted and give you a good idea of what to dress your babe in overnight under the grobag.

Good luck

[Lipsmacker01]

Just wondering since the grobag brand has come up...are other mums using a blanket on top of a grobag as well? With Sarah who is 13 months now we have an oil heater on low all night long, she wears a once piece suit, a cotton flanellete top and we put a light weight blanket over her as well as she doesnt have flanelette bottoms on (as it says she should in grobag instructions!).

Are other mums using blankets on top of the grobag? Ours is a 2.5 tog the warmest rating. Im starting to worry that my girl is getting too warm too!

[UmmInayah]

Just wondering since the grobag brand has come up...are other mums using a blanket on top of a grobag as well? With Sarah who is 13 months now we have an oil heater on low all night long, she wears a once piece suit, a cotton flanellete top and we put a light weight blanket over her as well as she doesnt have flanelette bottoms on (as it says she should in grobag instructions!).

Are other mums using blankets on top of the grobag? Ours is a 2.5 tog the warmest rating. Im starting to worry that my girl is getting too warm too!

We use a 1 tog grobag and long sleeve, long leg sleep suit underneath and her blanket on top. She won't sleep without her blanket being on top of her - its a security thing, I guess. She's old enough now to be able to move it away from her face, I would think so I don't worry too much about having a blanket AND grobag.

[gizmoduckus]

Are other mums using blankets on top of the grobag? Ours is a 2.5 tog the warmest rating. Im starting to worry that my girl is getting too warm too!

My DS has a 2.5 tog. We just put him in long sleeve pj's and socks and he is fine with that.

I still have a fear of using blankets or sheets in the cot with him and he is 20 months old. I have seen the uncomfortable positions that he sleeps in and if he doesn't move then, I don't think he will move if the blanket ends up around him.