One major worry new parents may experience when having their baby is how to know if they are warm enough while sleeping at night. Especially with any new transition such as sleeping without a swaddle, or when it turns to cold winter nights.
In this post we’ll go over how to keep baby warm at night without a swaddle, safe sleep habits, how to dress baby for sleep, and other frequently asked questions!
How to Practice Safe Sleep Habits
In order to understand the best ways to keep your baby warm at night without a swaddle, it’s important to know the safe sleep guidelines set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). While keeping your baby warm may be at the top of your mind, we should always think about safety first.
The AAP recommends all babies sleep in their own space, such as a crib or a bassinet. Their sleep space should have a firm mattress and be free of loose blankets. toys, or any other items.
Always place your baby on their back to sleep. If your baby starts showing signs of attempting to roll, immediately stop using the swaddle. If your baby rolls to their belly while swaddled, it can increase their risk of suffocation. The AAP states rolling over can happen around 3-4 months but may happen sooner so watch your baby for any attempts.
The AAP also recommends that parents sleep in the same room as their baby for at least the first six months. All of these recommendations are to help reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
How to Keep Baby Warm at Night Without a Swaddle
Sleep Sack
This is a safe and effective way to keep your baby warm at night without a swaddle. If your baby can no longer wear a swaddle because they are rolling, or you just choose not to swaddle your baby, then a sleep sack is a good option.
Wearable blankets are a safe option above a regular blanket in your baby’s bed to help reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation.
A sleep sack is a wearable blanket that you place your baby inside and zip up. Sleep sacks or sleep bags are rated by TOG, which determines the weight of the sleep sack or its thickness. Which therefore determines how warm it will keep your baby.
My favorite sleep sacks are the Kyte Baby wearable sleep bags. I have used these sleep bags for over 4 years now! They are extremely high-quality, incredibly soft and breathable, and keep baby warm all night. They have different TOG ratings so you can have your baby wear a lighter sleep sack in the warmer months and a thicker sleep sack in the colder months.
They are made from bamboo fibers which are great for sensitive skin, especially little ones with eczema. Kyte Baby also makes wearable blankets for babies that are always on the move! They include ankle cuffs that help keep the warmth in and allow for safe mobility.
The sleep bags also are designed with a double zipper which makes for easy diaper changes in the night! I highly recommend these sleep bags!
Check out the Kyte Baby website for more on TOG and how to choose the right TOG for your situation. They are a little more of an investment but have lasted through both of my babies and remained perfect quality.
Dress Baby Appropriately
When it comes to dressing your baby for sleep, it’s important to think about how you dress yourself for sleep at night. If you wouldn’t wear a long sleeve shirt, pants, and socks to bed on a warm night, then your baby probably doesn’t need to either.
For babies 12 months of age or younger, you may consider dressing them how you feel most comfortable and then adding one layer. Since babies this age have a harder time regulating their body temperature on their own. Don’t overdo it and do anything more than that to prevent your little one from overheating.
On a warm summer night, it may be appropriate to dress your baby in a onesie and a light sleep sack. This is also dependent upon the temperature in your baby’s room and if you have central air. If it’s a cold winter night, a long sleeve onesie and socks or a footed sleeper may be best under a thicker sleep sack.
Adjust the Room Temperature
It’s ideal to keep your baby’s room at a comfortable temperature. The AAP recommends your baby’s room temperature be between 68-72° F. This is recommended to prevent the risk of SIDS from your baby overheating from their room being too warm.
Check the Position of Your Baby’s Crib
Try to avoid placing your baby’s crib under a window, near an air vent, or a fan. This will help prevent the area they sleep from becoming too cold or too warm.
Preheat the Crib
On cold nights, you may notice your baby’s crib mattress is cold to the touch. If this makes your baby uncomfortable or cold, try preheating the crib before placing your baby to sleep in it.
You can do this by placing an electric blanket or hot water bottle on your baby’s firm mattress. Just be sure to remove the item before putting your baby in their bed to sleep.
How to Determine if Your Baby is Cold
If you want to feel your baby to determine if they’re cold, check your baby’s core temperature. You can do this by placing your hand on their back, chest, or neck to see if it feels warm or cold.
If you feel your baby’s core and it is cool, add another layer of clothing and possibly a thicker sleep sack. If you feel your baby’s core and they’re hot or sweaty, remove a layer of clothing or use a lighter sleep sack.
Cold hands and feet are usually not a concern in babies since their blood circulation is a bit different when they’re little.
Avoid using a hat on your baby’s head while they sleep as this could slip down and be a suffocation risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I keep my baby warm at night without a blanket?
My top recommendation is a sleep sack or wearable blanket. And putting your baby in the appropriate layers of clothing depending upon the temperature in their room.
Is it safe to use a space heater in baby’s nursery?
Space heaters should never be left unattended in your baby’s room. Space heaters are a huge fire hazard and also pose a risk of becoming too hot and overheating your baby.
If you’d like to use one to warm the nursery, be sure to turn it off when putting your little one to sleep.
How do I know if baby is cold at night?
The best way to know if your baby is cold is by checking their core temperature. You do this by placing your hand on their back, chest, or neck and testing to feel if it’s cold or warm to the touch.
Is it OK if my baby’s hands are cold at night?
Yes, cold hands are not a reliable predictor of if your baby is truly cold or not. As many babies have cold hands and feet due to their new circulation systems.
How can we keep baby’s room warm at night without central heat?
If you don’t have central heat and are worried about your baby’s room becoming cold at night, be sure to dress them in layered clothing as well as a higher TOG-rated sleep sack.
You can also warm their room with a space heater prior to putting them to sleep (then turning it off), preheat their crib with an electric blanket or hot water bottle, and be sure to keep their crib away from any windows.
When can you safely give your baby a blanket for sleep?
The AAP states you can safely offer your baby a blanket after 12 months of age, ideally closer to 18 months of age. However, I recommend sticking to sleep sacks as long as you can! Babies tend to move a lot in their sleep, and a sleep sack ensures your little one will stay warm!
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