Q&A Forum
Marissa
My 4 week old baby no longer likes her hands being swaddled for sleep. I am now placing her in a safe sleep bag with her arms out or wrapping her torso with a muslin, leaving her arms free. She is always in a long sleeve to sleep and I use the built in hand covers so she cannot scratch herself and to keep her hands warm. She usually has her hands above her head to sleep. Her core is warm when I check her, but her hands, even though covered, are always cold to touch. Is this something I should be concerned about? If so, what recommendations do you have to keep them warm? I don’t put mittens on her because I worry they will come off and end up on/covering her mouth/nose.
Red Nose Education
It is not unusual for baby’s hands & feet to be cool.
The best way to check if baby is warm enough is her tummy or centre back, which you have done
.
A good way to check baby’s temperature is to feel the baby’s back or tummy, which should feel warm (don’t worry if baby’s hands and feet feel cool, this is normal). If baby is showing signs of heat stress, remove some bedding or clothing. This may be necessary if baby is unwell, in which case you should seek medical attention.
https://rednose.org.au/article/room-temperature