One of the biggest concerns of every mother is how to keep baby warm at night during the cold winter months.
This most challenging season makes it really difficult for babies to maintain their body temperature, so they become more susceptible to getting colds and the flu.
Also, an inadequate room temperature can greatly affect the quality of baby’s sleep. We all know what this means.
Restless baby = restless parents. Sleep deprived baby = sleep deprived parents. Unhappy baby = unhappy parents. Okay, I think you get the idea.
So, every parent’s mission is to keep all that from happening and that is why it’s important to be well informed about ways in which you can protect your little one from freezing at night during colder months.
Thanks to advanced technology and modern solutions, keeping your baby warm at night has never been easier.
From space heaters, to sleeping bags and electric blankets, there is a wide array of effective ways for regulating your baby’s body temperature and all you need to do is choose the one(s) that suits you best.
1. Dress Your Baby In Layers
If you’re wondering how to dress your baby for sleep and keep him warm at night, a good rule of thumb is to add some extra layers like a onesie, socks, or a bodysuit.
One more layer of clothing can do wonders when it comes to keeping your baby warm at night. But, remember one thing.
Do not dress your baby in heavy layers like those made of wool because this might result in overheating, which is one of the risk factors for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
The best bet is to add a lightweight layer(s) that can be easily removed when needed. The same thing goes for adults as well.
You’ve probably noticed that wearing a few thin layers keeps you warmer than one thick layer and it also makes you feel more comfy and mobile.
2. Set The Ideal Room Temperature
We all know that an inadequate room temperature can be a real problem when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep.
It is not good if the temperature is too low or too high. Current advice states that the thermostat should be set between 18 to 20 degrees Celsius (between 64.4 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit).
This is an ideal temperature to keep your baby warm at night.
Make sure to use a room thermometer and regularly check the room’s temperature and act accordingly if you notice that it’s too high or too low.
3. Swaddle Your Baby
Sometimes when it’s freezing outside, you have no other option but to swaddle/wrap your baby in a blanket (sometimes known as the baby burrito).
Even to this day, I sometimes wrap myself in a blanket during winter when it’s really cold and my friends have confirmed that this is also their favorite warming method for both them and their children.
Unfortunately, there’s one potential downside regarding swaddling your baby and that is kicking the blankets during the night, which might result in them freezing instead of staying warm.
Even if you have a baby monitor in your baby’s room, you cannot intervene the whole night and re-wrap your baby a thousand times.
But, no need to worry because modern problems require modern solutions.
The best solution for this particular problem is a sleep sack – aka a sleeping bag. Still, I suggest trying both methods to see which one works best for your little one.
If your baby enjoys being wrapped like a burrito and doesn’t kick the blankets while sleeping, then there’s no reason not to swaddle him/her. Again, happy baby = happy parents.
4. Use A Sleep Sack
If you ask me, a sleep sack is the best thing since sliced bread. You may know it as a baby sleeping bag or a wearable blanket.
Whatever you call it, one thing is for sure: It will DEFINITELY keep your baby warm at night and you won’t need to worry that he/she will kick it off and as a result end up freezing in the middle of the night.
For extra warmth, you can add a one piece suit underneath the sleep sack.
Also, it’s important to mention that some sleep sacks have a TOG rating, which stands for Thermal Overall Grade rating.
With the help of the TOG rating you can easily decide which sleep sack is suitable for your baby at different temperatures. In case you’re wondering about the American Academy Of Pediatrics’ recommendations regarding TOG, there aren’t any.
Baby sleep bags are a far better alternative than loose blankets or duvets that increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) because they might cause suffocation.
It’s advisable not to use loose blankets, duvets or similar at least during the first year of your baby’s life. As always, safety is the number one priority.
5. Place The Baby’s Crib In The Right Place
There are so many things a parent needs to keep in mind when it comes to the safety and comfort of their child.
One of those things is placing the crib in the right place. Now, you’re probably wondering where the right place is.
The answer on how to keep baby warm at night is the following: Avoid placing the crib next to windows, fans, air vents and similar. If you can, place it a few feet away from those things and make sure that all doors and windows are closed.
Doing all this will prevent cold air from entering the baby’s room. So, before getting a sleep sack or something else, first make sure to place the baby’s crib in the appropriate place in their nursery.
6. Protect Your Baby’s Head And Hands
The reason why it’s important to cover a baby’s hands and head is because they tend to lose lots of heat through them.
To keep that from happening, you can use mittens (preferably lightweight) and a baby cap (a soft one that will be gentle toward sensitive baby’s skin).
Some people argue that a baby cap is not that safe a method because it could slide over the baby’s face and as a result cover her/his nose and mouth.
All in all, it’s up to you to decide whether to add a baby cap into the equation or not. Another option is to add booties as well.
7. Preheat The Crib
If you’re wondering how to keep baby warm at night, preheating the crib is another effective and handy method.
You can preheat the crib by placing a heating pad or hot water bottle over the baby’s crib sheet. Do this approximately 30 minutes before you put your little one down to sleep.
Before putting your baby in the crib, remember to remove the heating pad or hot water bottle so that you avoid burns or overheating.
When I was a little child, I remember my mother placing a heating pad in my little bed a half an hour before I was about to sleep.
I still remember those warm sensations through my body.
Snuggling in a preheated crib or bed is definitely one of the best feelings in the world, so you should definitely add this one into your warming routine.
8. Heat Proof The Baby’s Room
Keeping your baby warm at night during winter can be especially challenging if you live in an inadequate home that is poorly insulated or if you live someplace VERY cold.
If that is the case for you, there are some things you can do to heat proof your baby’s room and/or the entire home.
Aim for double-glazed windows (if possible) and make sure to keep curtains in the baby’s room closed. Put a rug down on the floor (especially if you notice that it’s cold), and check that the windows and doors aren’t letting in a draft.
When it comes to heat proofing the room, even the smallest thing can make a big difference.
You might think that putting a rug down won’t mean much when it comes to maintaining the right temperature, but I assure you that you will certainly notice the difference.
9. Use Footed Pajamas
I’ve recently noticed that footed pajamas have really evolved. There are tons of unique designs, and they come with a snap closure and even with mittens (speaking of 2 in 1).
Whenever I hear the word snap closure, they instantly get my attention.
There is nothing more annoying for a parent than wasting more time than needed when it comes to changing baby’s clothes, but with snaps this isn’t the case.
I personally am a huge fan of footed pajamas because I know it will keep my baby toasty, comfy and warm at night.
Also, they are great for a car seat as well because thick layers that resemble a snowsuit are not safe in these circumstances.
10. Get A Humidifier
Due to overly worrying about heating, many parents forget another important thing during winter and that is a humidifier.
I don’t think there’s any need to list the potential consequences of dry air in your baby’s room.
If your baby already has skin problems like eczema or any other type of irritation, you shouldn’t think twice about getting one.
With a humidifier in your baby’s room, you will never have to worry about fresh air since it adds moisture to the air.
Humidifiers are also good for dry sinuses and can alleviate symptoms of respiratory conditions. By increasing humidity in your home, it will increase the quality of your life.
11. Use The Right Crib Sheets
If you’re wondering which type of crib sheets to get, the answer is: Fitted crib sheets.
I already stated that babies shouldn’t sleep with loose blankets or other things, so the same thing applies to crib sheets as well.
Fitted, soft and warm crib sheets are the basis for keeping your baby warm at night and dressing your baby in layers or footed pajamas are additions that add to maintaining the right temperature.
Luckily, there are plenty of fitted crib sheets with interesting designs out there, so you will easily find the right one for your little one.
Wrapping It Up
Mastering how to keep baby warm at night is an ongoing concern for every parent.
If you implement the above methods, you will surely keep your baby warm and comfy during the cold winter months.
Just keep in mind that the room temperature shouldn’t be too high or too low.
The same thing applies to your baby’s clothes. Adding one too many layers might be the culprit of a restless night, or God forbid, overheating.
As with everything, it’s important to find the balance.
If you notice that your baby’s temperature is out of the regular range, talk to your pediatrician because this might be the first sign of illness.
READ NEXT: 11 Best And Safest Room Heaters For Baby Rooms
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