Q&A Forum

14/6/22

Amanda

Hi, my baby is just over a week old and I am struggling to dress him appropriately for the cooler temperatures at night. I currently have him in a body suit along with a cotton muslin wrap in his cot which is at the foot of our bed. The heating is not usually on. However, when the guides say, one more layer than you does that count the doona? If so, should he also be wearing a singlet?

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Posted a response on 15/6/22

Red Nose Education

Are you using a blanket(s) tucked in for baby?
The “one more layer” is a very general guide only.
in this colder weather at the moment, I think a singlet would be appropriate. A muslin wrap is not usually considered as part of clothing.

It can be difficult to work out what may be the most appropriate clothing/bedding for baby when sleeping.
Red Nose recommends dressing baby according to the room temperature, rather than trying to modify the room temperature with heating or cooling.
Use light weight bedding & clothing & lightweight muslin or cotton for wraps.

I wish I could give you some specific guidance for dressing a newborn, but every baby is different.
Red Nose has the following information.

Dress baby and use layers as you would dress or use layers yourself: to be comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold.

Dress baby for sleep and add/remove lightweight blankets to ensure baby’s back or tummy feels comfortably warm to the touch.
Remove hats, bonnets, beanies and hooded clothing from baby’s head as soon as baby is indoors.  - Always sleep baby with head & face uncovered.

A good way to check baby’s temperature is to feel baby’s back or tummy (don’t worry if baby’s hands and feet feel cool - this is normal).
Whether the baby has a cold or infection or another special need.
Consider how many layers that you as the baby’s carer are wearing comfortably.
https://rednose.org.au/article/bedding-amount-recommended-for-safe-sleep

A good way to check baby’s temperature is to feel baby’s chest or back of neck, which should feel warm (don’t worry if baby’s hands and feet feel cool, this is normal).
Ensure baby’s head is uncovered - no hats, bonnets, beanies or hooded clothing.
https://rednose.org.au/article/how-much-bedding-does-baby-need

As long as baby is put down to sleep on their back, and that baby is dressed appropriately for the room temperature – not overdressed or under dressed – with their head and face uncovered, you can feel reassured that you are protecting baby from overheating.

We don’t believe that it’s necessary to use a room temperature monitor, or to leave the heating or cooling on all night, as long as baby is dressed appropriately for the temperature of the room – not too hot, not too cold.
https://rednose.org.au/article/how-to-dress-baby-for-sleep
https://rednose.org.au/article/how-to-dress-baby-for-sleep
https://rednose.org.au/article/protecting-baby-from-overheating-during-sleep

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