When it comes to keeping your newborn baby safe and comfortable, one of the most important factors to consider is the temperature of their sleeping space. Here are some things to know to help you maintain the ideal temperature for your baby's room:
- Keep the room between 20-22°C: Newborns are unable to regulate their body temperature as efficiently as adults, so it's important to keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
- Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature: Most baby monitors have an in-built thermometer, some can even sound an alert when the temperature gets too hot or too cold as per the limitations you set.This will help significantly to make sure that the temperature stays within the ideal range.
- Dress your baby appropriately: To ensure that your baby stays warm and comfortable, it's important to dress them appropriately for the temperature of the room. This can sometimes become difficult to achieve when the temperature starts off warmer and then drops overnight. If you use baby specific sleep sacks/sleeping bags they come with information on how to best dress your baby for the specific TOG rated sleeping bag. A TOG rating helps to identify how many layers the baby will need under the sleeping bag for a specific temperature and the type of layer recommended e.g. sleeves or sleeveless layer. You'll become more confident with this overtime!
- Avoid overheating: Overheating can be dangerous for newborns as it increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) so it's an important one to be aware of. This can be a common mistake for parents to make as they don't want their baby to be cold therefore adding too many layers or blankets.
- Consider using a sleep sack: A sleep sack is a wearable blanket that covers your baby from the neck down, keeping them warm and cozy while they sleep (as mentioned above). This can help prevent overheating, as there is less of a guessing game when it comes to what's appropriate for that temperature. Think of it as a more controlled way of keeping your baby comfortable.
In conclusion, maintaining the ideal temperature for your newborn baby's sleeping space is crucial for their safety and comfort. It can also help with avoiding unnecessary wake-ups overnight but this can sometimes be unavoidable with temperature drops during the night.
Do your best and know that with time comes more knowledge and confidence!