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Little ones can’t regulate their body temperature and rely on us to keep them cosy, night and day. Keeping a baby warm enough for sound sleep and healthy growth is easy even with a cold house in a harsh winter.
First, you’ll need a thermometer if your baby monitor doesn’t already have one. You should adjust the radiator in the nursery to keep the temperature moderated. If the room is chilly (due to multiple exterior walls, for instance), you might need to invest in an oil-filled radiator. The best temperature for a baby to sleep is between 16°C and 20°C, with an optimum middle ground of 18°C. Cold fingers and toes are relatively normal, so to accurately check body temperature, put a couple of fingers under the baby’s vest to feel their chest. Don’t forget that babies are pretty good at crying when cold, and overheating is more dangerous than being chilly.
Most parents put their baby into a soft, one-piece, footed sleepsuit with flannel sheets and layers of blankets for sleep. As the baby grows and becomes more mobile, a 2.5 tog sleeping bag is a good idea as a base layer to moderate core temperature when blankets get kicked off in the night. Bamboo textiles are an increasingly popular alternative for baby sheets, coverlets, muslins and the like. It’s antibacterial, super soft to the touch, chemical-free, has excellent temperature control (warm in winter, cool in summer) and is environmentally sound – bamboo requires no replanting, pesticides or fertiliser and grows fast. You can warm bedding with a hot water bottle before bedtime, but don’t leave the bottle in the bed with the baby, and never use an electric blanket in a cot. You want your baby to be warm, not heated by a radiator right next to the cot.
Even with double glazing, windows can be the worst offenders for heat loss in a room. Hanging fully-lined curtains will prevent heat loss and keep the room nice and dark whenever you want the baby to sleep.
Layers are vital for keeping the baby warm outside as well. The rule of thumb is that baby needs one more layer than you do. They can get a tad tetchy with all the putting on and taking off of clothing, so have everything in one place when getting ready for an outing. One-piece snowsuits are a great top layer for cold winter days. Always have an extra blanket on hand, and try and get baby to keep socks and hats on – although these always seem to be the first things taken off! Slings for winter walks are a good idea as your body heat will keep your baby warm.
Just as our skin chaps in cold weather, so will baby’s, so you should apply lotion after bathing. If it’s a freezing day, you might want to delay bathtime until temperatures rise – make sure you monitor the room temperature as well as that of the bathwater.
And you should always use a carbon monoxide monitor in the house, and especially the nursery.
