By KidsDirect Editorial Team
Clothing and Keeping Your Baby Warm
Newborns can’t regulate their body temperature the way you can. They lose heat fast, and they can overheat just as quickly. Your job is to keep them in the middle, warm enough to be comfortable and never hot. A few simple habits make that easy.
Dress Your Baby Like You, Plus One Layer
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests dressing your baby in one more layer than you’d need. If you’re comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts on a warm day, a bodysuit and maybe a thin undershirt will do for your baby. If you’d reach for a sweater, put one on your baby too. This rule works for the house, the yard, and the grocery store.
Layers beat one thick outfit. A bodysuit with an easy to remove top over it lets you adjust in seconds when you walk from a cold parking lot into a warm store. Choose soft clothes that open easily at the front or the neck, because you’ll be changing them often.
Keep the House Comfortable
A room temperature of about 68 to 72°F works well for most babies. That’s comfortable for you too, so nobody has to be bundled up all day. Go toward the cooler end for sleeping, since overheating is a bigger concern than a little chill. Keep your baby away from drafts, such as an open window, a door that keeps swinging open, or a vent blowing hot or cold air. A ceiling fan can also make a room feel cooler than the thermostat says, so check the breeze at baby level.
How to Tell if Your Baby Is Too Warm or Too Cold
Don’t go by your baby’s hands and feet. They’re often cool, even when the rest of the body is fine. Feel the back of the neck, the chest, or the tummy instead. The skin there should feel warm, not hot or sweaty, and not cool.
A baby who’s too warm may have flushed cheeks, damp hair, a heat rash, or fast breathing. Take off a layer if you see these signs. A baby who’s too cold may feel cool at the neck or tummy, seem fussy, or shiver. Add a thin layer and check again in a few minutes. If your baby is very sleepy, hard to wake, pale, or not feeding well, call your doctor.
Hats Help Outdoors but Not Indoors
A hat makes sense in cold weather, when your baby’s hair is wet after a bath, and in the sun. Take the hat off once you’re inside, though, and never leave a hat on your baby during sleep. Anything that covers the head or face can trap heat and raise the risk of overheating. For safe sleep, dress your baby in light sleepwear or a wearable blanket (sleep sack) in place of loose blankets.
Going Outside
Dress your baby for the weather, and don’t forget the extremities. In cold weather, cover the feet, hands, and head. In warm weather, skip the booties and socks if your baby is comfortable. Babies under 6 months should also be kept out of direct sun, so use a wide brimmed hat, light clothing, and shade.
Car Seats and Winter Coats
On cold days, warm up the car before you load your baby in. Don’t put your baby in the car seat wearing a puffy coat or snowsuit, though. In a crash, the padding flattens and leaves extra space under the harness. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests thin layers like a long sleeve bodysuit, a sweater, or a light fleece instead. Buckle the straps snugly, then lay a blanket or the coat over your baby on top of the harness. You should not be able to pinch any slack in the straps against your baby’s chest. Our guide to car safety for infants has more on installation, and the AAP has winter car seat safety tips too.
Worth knowing. Every baby is a little different, so your pediatrician can tell you what’s right for yours. HealthPartners has a helpful look at room temperature for babies. For more on everyday baby care, browse our BabiesDirect section.