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Keeping
Baby Warm at Night.
Article
brought to you by InfantsBabiesToddlers.com
There really is something about that old saying
"easier said than
done"! Someone once described our first born son as sleeping
like
a windmill in a hurricane. He would kick and spin and snort and roll,
so it was impossible to keep blankets on him at night. It was
not
a major problem on warm summer nights, but in winter when the
temperature in our house dropped to near freezing on occasions, we
needed a solution.
If
you can invent a machine that measures babies temperature
and puts on and removes blankets as required you will become a hero to
mums and
dads everywhere. Without climate control air conditioning or central
heating in your home, the temperature control issue is probably one of
the hardest to solve.
If
your baby is very young and still being wrapped or
swaddled, you just have to check baby frequently and add or remove
clothing or
blankets as necesary until his temperature is right. On very hot steamy
nights, you may need to have a fan in the room to keep things cool. It
is not recommended to face a fan directly on baby as this could be too
cold. The background noise from a fan can also help baby sleep more
soundly as the noise somewhat emulates the constant sounds within the
womb.
If the
temperature in your
home is fairly constant then just cover
baby with similar bedding to what you use for yourself. (remember
clothes are
better that blankets, because blankets can smother baby or be kicked
off as
baby moves around).
Our personal
experience found that baby sleeping bags worked very well. Make sure
you
get a sleeping bag that has the zipper that closes from the top(chest)
down to
the toes, so you can leave the bottom half open in warmer weather. We
found we
needed two bags, one light sleeveless bag for summer and a
padded/quilted one with
sleeves for cold winter nights. Fine adjustments were made with
clothing, singlets,
T-shirts, shorts, fleecy pants etc.
BE
CAREFULL NOT TO OVERHEAT YOUR BABY! Most babies will complain bitterly
if they are too hot and often sweat at the back of the neck. Be aware
that sweaty skin can feel cool to touch, so dont rely entirely on how
baby's skin feels.
Cold dry feet,
arms and
hands and are generally a sign of being a bit too cool, so add
a layer of clothing or a blanket etc
It
is generally advised NEVER to put
a hood or head covering on your baby while they are sleeping at night,
because then baby is less able to cool down if required, and the brain
may overheat.
Its
all a fine balancing act to allow baby to regulate their own
temperature with exposed head and some exposed skin while offering
enough cover to stay warm and prevent catching a cold etc.
This
article is of general nature and is based on moderate climactic
conditions. If you live in an area with temperature extremes, seek
medical or professional advice.
Best wishes
and Happy
Parenting
Article
brought to you by InfantsBabiesToddlers.com
Questions
and comments: info@sleepingbabyhappybaby.com
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