Hello, My husband and I are about to bring a baby into the world during the middle of a Melbourne winter. We have never used heating ourselves, and just always seriously rug up in woolly clothing and lots of warm doonas on the bed etc. However we know that the same principle doesn't apply to babies, as soft bedding and many warm blankets can be dangerous. Our house is not well insulated at all, so if it is 1 degree outside it will be only slightly warmer inside. Therefore would you recommend that we purchase a heater, and use it at a distance from the cot to keep our baby warm enough? Or would it be better to not use heating, but some kind of very warm sleep bag for the baby, with a heavy TOG, and perhaps also a light blanket during mid winter with their head and arms exposed? Many thanks, Ella.

Red Nose does not recommend specific amount of bedding or room temperature range for individual babies.

Dress baby and use layers as you would dress or use layers yourself: to be comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold.
Research has shown that baby’s risk of dying suddenly and unexpectedly is increased if baby is sleeping on the tummy and that risk is even further increased if baby is sleeping on the tummy under heavy bedding or if baby’s head becomes covered by bedding in any position.
Babies manage heat loss very efficiently when placed on the back to sleep with the head uncovered. Sleep baby on the back and keep baby’s head uncovered during sleep to reduce baby’s risk of sudden unexpected death.

Dress baby for sleep and add/remove lightweight blankets to ensure baby’s back or tummy feels comfortably warm to the touch
https://rednose.org.au/article/bedding-amount-recommended-for-safe-sleep

Heating can be used, but baby would need to be dressed appropriately.
Never use electric blankets, wheat bags or hot water bottles for babies.

It is not necessary to monitor the room temperature or to leave the heating or cooling on all night, as long as the baby is dressed appropriately for the room temperature.

Ensure that baby’s head and face cannot become covered - do not use bedding such as duvets, pillows, bumpers, lambs’ wool, or have soft toys in the cot or where the baby is sleeping.
A good way to avoid face covering is to use a safe baby sleeping bag (one with fitted neck, armholes or sleeves and no hood).
https://rednose.org.au/article/room-temperature