Baby May Be Cold at Night

Totally understand what you are going through. I couldn't sleep well because I was afraid my baby was either too cold or than too hot. Mine always seem to kick her blanket off so it gets a little colder when that happens. So here's what works for my baby and us: PJ, Fleece Sleep sak, space heater on low setting with cold mist humidifier to balance the dry heat but crack the door open for circulation. My husband and I like the house a little cooler to sleep. I adjust each night the space heater temp and humidifier until baby can sleep through the night without waking up. You can test temp on an hr before bedtime. Good luck

We live in an older home with drafty windows, so I always worried about my boys being too cold also, try adding socks to her sleeping attire. I also put my oldest son to sleep in a fleece stocking cap with a thick velcro strap under the chin that we referred to as his "sleeping cap". That should keep her toasty.

Two things:

- We lose about 70% of our heat out the tops of our heads (hence "sleeping caps" in any old poem/story/book. Putting a warm hat (beanie) on her head will warm her up considerably.

- Babies have something called "brown fat". It's vascularized fat, that helps keep them warm before until they develop a shiver response. It's right around now that they start losing it. So she will be colder now in the same temp than she will be next year. Don't worry about trying to "condition" her shiver response (it's cold enough, she'll learn it fine in the daytime). You'll probably notice that all of a sudden, where she was cold before she'll start dripping sweat. That's the sign she's starting to get the whole temperature regulation thing. Once she starts getting too warm, don't fret... just start peeling the layers off.

My baby is the same age and sleeps the same without the blanket sleeper and she is warm enough. Sometimes I think my little one is cold too especially close to the morning. I have our heat on 71 at night.

I would hold out on the blanket for another month or two just to make sure she'll be able to get it off (especially while wearing a blanket sleeper). But what I would add would be a long sleeved, long pant cotton jammie under her fleece one and maybe some socks. You don't want to get her too hot however, if she sweats at all then she is going to end up a lot colder in the long run.

I can relate... my daughter at that age was the same way. I know all the books, doctors, etc. say not to put a blanket over your baby at night in the crib, but we did and it worked. I just used one of her soft blankets that was lighter in weight, but still warm and covered her up to her chest. It helped. Often she would just kick it off, but it helped her sleep. Only do this if you are comfortable with it. best wishes.

Make sure she is wearing a hat. So much heat is lost through the head, if she has one on, it can help her retain heat.

Just put her in bed with you every night, everyone will sleep like a baby. She will be warm and her body will learn to moderate temp better. In most cultures babies never sleep alone and they don't get cold either even in places where they keep their houses much colder.

I used a fleece crib sheet and fleece blanket for my youngest when he would wake up cold, but you also have to be careful of too many blankets and a sleeping baby. maybe long underwear under fleece footie pjs?

E.
http://www.babysignswithelizabeth.blogspot.com

I didn't see anyone advise you to use a sleeping bag/sack. Where I live (switzerland), they are very common. You can find them in all weights, including wool or down. I'm pretty sure you could find them in the US as well. Even though my 2 1/2 year old doesn't technically need one anymore, he still enjoys using one as part of his bedtime routine and I find that he sleeps better when wearing one.

For example

http://iparentingmediaawards.com/winners/9/925-15-118.php

One of my kids was the exact same way...still is actually, needs to be all bundled up to be comfy cozy:)

We went with the following:
Long sleeved onesie
always socks
thick blanket sleeper
flannel sheets
quilt

In the winter when it was super chilly I sometimes would put on a longjohn type jammie underneath the blanket sleeper...you know the kind that are all one peice and that thin long john material that sticks close to the body...they sell them everywhere for uber cheap!

Lots of great experience and advice... I will just add that at our daughters' daycare, their provider informed me that they aren't technically allowed to swaddle the little ones, and instead they put them at the foot of the crib with a blanket that's tucked in on the three sides at the foot of the crib. It's very snug and both my daughters did very well with this method when they were little and needed something more. Our younger daughter is 6 months now and we do this at home too. We use a microfleece blanket, that's dense and soft, but not "thick" if that makes any sense.

Our girls are opposite-seasons of birth, and we notice our spring baby (now 6 mos) is definitely more sensitive than our winter baby (now almost 3) when it comes to temperatures!

Hope you find a solution that works for you!

We had the same problem when our little girl was about 1 and 2 yr old. Even with all that heavy stuff on, if you touched her feet, they would feel cold to the touch. We went to Lowe's and got one of those little heaters to put in her room and she slept much better.

I can't sleep with the heat way up. I like it a little cool, however, babies don't have as much insulation on them as I do so a little heater to heat up her room just a tad, did the trick.

Babies sleep feel colder in their hands than the rest of their bodies, so don't go by what their hands feel like.

When my daughter was that age, I found a tent for her crib that held in her warmth. It fitted around her mattress, had a sheet, flexible supporting rods, and a zipper that I used when she was very, very tiny. I dressed her warmly for winter time and she was just fine. Perhaps you can fine something similar.

Hi M.,

Hmm, I have a couple thoughts for you.

1. Wool PJs? Try a company from England - old drafty building everywhere and COLD winters.
2. We use "smartwool" socks for my son b/c he hates the onsie. They are super soft and really warm.
3. How about putting her to sleep on a lamby? Ours kept my son really warm.
4. Now that my son is older we use a down comforter - they really are the best and you can find "affordable" ones from "Warm Things" - check online.

Hope these ideas help! I'd stay away from a heater if I were you - it will ultimately be expensive and as your child grows, a danger.

Best,
T.

p.s.
Be careful not to go too crazy! You don't want her hot either! :)

The best thing is a down blanket or down comforter. The down feathers will keep anyone warm - I am living proof, I am Always cold (hands and feet all the time) and once I get under a down blanket, I am toasty in a matter of minutes. It works better than all the other blankets out there. The Company Store website has a ton to try, also I just ordered another one on sale at QVC Northern Nights down blanket. I don't know what size bed she has, but even if you can't find a smaller one, just get a bigger one, you can even fold it over and double it to make it extra warm.

One suggestion I have is to see how much she's really eating before bed. If she has enough fuel, this will sometimes promote better and deeper sleep. My daughter breast feed up till a week ago (and yeah, 18 months is a LONG time) and was waking a lot during the night and even when she was first born was not getting enough food. Now that I've stopped the breast feeding, she is eating like a hog and sleeping much better, only waking a couple times a night. Sometimes she eats two dinners within an hour of each other. She's a tiny thing and they grow like weeds. Just a thought.

Is there a draft in her room? We use cashmere socks on our guy along with a fleece sleep sack and pjs. You could always use a warm vaporizor (Take care not to let her near it)
When you go in the room at night does it feel warm?

I also used to feed our son mashed potatoes with cheese and warm milk or something really filling before bed.

Hope you get lots of good ideas

Does she have lots of energy through out the day? If not maybe she's anemic? Just some thoughts since I don't have the whole picture.
L

We thought the same thing about our daughter. Her poor hands and nose/face were so cold even though her body was warm. I don't sleep well with a cold nose, so how could she? So we got her one of those oil space heaters. We have the dial set low (between 1 and 2) and it keeps her room between 70 and 72 and enclosing that heat in her room has made a world of difference for her comfort level.

We got the oil based type because some of the other space heaters blow out air and fan it around the room and make noises all night. This one is silent and just radiates heat out vs blowing it out. This is the one we have:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&p...

Blankets work okay for older kids but not ones who don't stay under the covers. Our daughter is 2 now and still doesn't stay under covers, so the heater has been wonderful!

Same with my son - he gets cold and wakes repeatedly. We ended up putting a heater with a thermostat in his room, and he sleeps wearing two pairs of sweats plus an oversized sweater/jacket (and thick socks).

You could alsp put a second (larger) blanket sleeper over the first.

You should not worry about your baby getting cold with all the clothing you have on her. Those blanket sleepers are the best (a tee underneath) and a med. weight blanket should do it. (no down or feather bedding-great place for allergens)She is at the age where she will kick it off when she gets to hot. You need to keep the temp cool in her room at night about 68, you sleep better when it is cooler and helps keep the viruses from growing fast.
Mom to 6 kids (5 are adults) and 5 granddaughter, grandson due in March.