Is my baby too hot at night?
There have been times in my life when one of my most important relationships was with my baby monitor. Is my baby sleeping yet? Can I see their chest rising and falling? Are they starting to wake up? Is it too hot or cold in the room?
That baby monitor and I spent a lot of sleepless nights together - me waking up with worry, and it needing to stay perpetually charged from over-usage.
Turns out, there was a lot I didn’t know about sleep, temperature, and my baby that would have helped me to sleep more soundly at night. So allow me to give you the 411 on navigating sleep through warm weather:
When it comes to temperature, heat is the one we need to be especially aware of. Coolness actually helps to induce melatonin, which helps sleep. Whereas when your little one is too hot they can struggle more in sleep, become lethargic and waking more. In toddlers, overheating can cause nightmares or disorientation.
Dress baby for sleep according to the temperature of the room. We don’t need to be as mindful about the actual weather (if baby is sleeping indoors), only about baby’s sleep space. The best temperature for great sleep is between 18-22C (or 64.4-71.6F), and the general rule of thumb is to dress baby for sleep with one layer more than you are wearing (use your judgment here). Here is a great guide for littles in sleep sacks:
Avoid checking hands or feet to determine their core temperature. The best way to check baby’s temperature is waiting until they are in deep sleep, and then tucking two fingers down the back of their neck.
There are specific heat signs to look for to determine that a change needs to be made. If the back of baby’s neck feels sweaty, if baby has a flushed face, if they have rapid breathing, or are cranky with multiple wake ups … then it’s time to intervene.
Here are some tips for managing heat and sleep for babies:
Make sure baby gets a full feed before bed - this will help to keep baby hydrated.
Add in a dream feed if needed.
If baby feels sweaty down the back of their neck, remove a layer.
Here are some tips for managing heat and sleep for toddlers:
Make sure your toddler gets plenty of water during the day, and with dinner.
Use bedding that is cooling and breathable - if your little one’s favourite blankie is best for winter, consider introducing a special summer blankie.
Put several damp cloths in the freezer, and pull out one during the night if your toddler wakes up feeling too hot and there are no other layers of clothing to remove.
Consider having a special sleepover on the bedroom floor (the air is cooler near the ground).
And for all littles if the room is especially hot:
Make sure to check on your little one during the night, consider installing air conditioning, and put the mattress cover in the freezer for 15 minutes before they go to sleep.
Wondering about what to do when baby is too cold? Check out my YouTube tips here:
Enjoy the summer!
Anna