Keeping Your Winter Baby Warm
Keeping young babies warm during the winter months is important , but it ’ s just as important that your baby doesn ’ t get too hot . These guidelines should help you find the perfect temperature .
Newborn ( 0 – 6 weeks old ) Think of your baby as thermally-challenged . Although newborns have some natural protection against the cold , they ’ re fairly helpless to protect themselves , particularly against the hypothermic effects of inhaling low air temperatures .
What newborns needs is a consistently warm room temperature of between 25 ° - 27 ° for the first month or so until their body has started to fill out with improved levels of insulating fat – this is especially true within the first 48 – 72 hours after birth .
Non-mobile baby ( 7 weeks – 9 months old ) The golden rule is to always dress your baby in one extra layer than an adult . So , if you have on a t-shirt , jumper and jacket , your baby needs a singlet , t-shirt , jumper and jacket . colder rather than keep her warm . Mobile baby ( 10 – 12 months old ) Dress your crawling or walking baby similarly to an adult in winter , with the added precaution of a hat to maintain heat .
Going outdoors ? If you ’ re using the pram , for some extra warmth think about including a liner and a storm rain cover . Just keep in mind that while you ’ re working up a sweat walking around , your baby is just sitting still and will become cold
Similarly with bedding , so if you have one blanket on your bed , your baby needs two . Most body heat escapes through the head – so in winter always put a hat that covers the ears on your baby before going outdoors and remove it when you ’ re indoors . If their feet and hands are exposed make sure you put on booties or socks and mittens . If your baby sucks on her hands , keep an extra pair of mittens handy as once they get wet they ’ ll make her
Keep your baby warm , but make sure they don ’ t get too hot !
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