Am i over-heating my baby?

Question

hi, i was looking for some advice from mums who live in colder climates. i moved to victoria before having my daughter and am worried about over heating her, i put her to bed in a singlet or singlet suit, and then her coverall or p.j's over the top. she still gets wrapped up in a cotton (thinnish) baby sheet and then i put a blanket over the top to tuck her in. its really freezing where we are at the moment, (lakes entrance) so i try keep her warm but i think she's getting a heat rash so I'm thinking I'm going over board. tonight ive left out the singlet and am paranoid about her getting sick. this is my 4th bub but ive had all my others in q.l.d and they always slept I'm singlet, nappy and muslin wraps so this is all new to me, any advice would be REALLY appreciated. thanks so very much

Answer 1

That doesnt sound like a lot to me. I am in Melbourne and we co-sleep and have a heater on in the room as our house is so cold, but I still have him in a singlet, a spencer, a skivvy and maybe a thin bodysuit. He is a hot baby so I only have a nappy and a wool cover on his bottom half and no socks, but I get his top half really warm.

Is it heat rash or is she irritated by a fabric you are using? Try a few different things and check behind her neck and on her belly to see how warm she feels. That will tell you a lot.

Answer 2

slide a finger in the crease at the back of her neck, if it is wet she is sweating and too hot. nappy, singlet, grow suit,baby sleeping bag and then bunny rug blanket over the top suits my siblings.

Answer 3

I live in Victoria and I find it hard to know how many layers to dress my daughter in at night. Because the temperature drops overnight, I keep a an oil-filled column heater on low in her room all night.

A baby's extremities will often feel cool when they are asleep and this is okay. The best way to tell of your daughter is warm enough is to feel her chest underneath the clothing. It should feel warm, but not hot.

When my daughter started moving around, she stopped staying under blankets, so I dispensed with the sheets and blankets and bought some all-in-one 'blanket sleepers' from Best and Less. I put on as many layers as required underneath and she wears her blanket. With the heater on, she stays warm all night.

Good luck!

Answer 4

A growsuit, singlet, wrap and a blanket should be fine. Dont use polar fleece!!! OMG my little boy was born mid winter - i was so worried about him getting cold that i left the heater on overnight, put him in a polar fleece growsuit, wrapped him then put 2 or 3 blankets on him.

When he woke up later that night he was saturated from sweating! I nearly died - i felt so bad, but i was just trying to keep him warm!!

What your using sounds good! Keep the blanket light weight and add more if they are needed!

Answer 5

We are also in VIC and my daughter sleeps in a singlet, then a grow suit then a fleecey sleep suit. She has a blanket but I don't really rely on that as it only goes up to her waste so her chest is not covered by the blanket and she often wriggles out of it too.

I always prefer to have her colder rather than warmer as I feel that she will wake up if she is a bit cold... and it is cold but not cold enough for her to freeze if she has some clothing on but if she is too warm I feel like she would be too drowsy to wake up.

Hope that helps

Also... I've just started a facebook group for victorian mums so if your on facebook you shd join http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gi...

Answer 6

Yes! Just put her in one piece of clothing and the blakents. Put her in the thinnest piece of clothing though.

Answer 7

however much keeps you warm is just as much as the baby needs..its  a good rule of thumb. i was having the same problem.over componsating for the baby

Answer 8

if your house is heated then i would be putting in a singlet then an all in one fleece lined jumpsuit then a baby doona or blanket on top and thats it. feel her tummy when she's asleep and see if its hot or cold.

Answer 9

I live in Tassie, and at the moment my 6 month old sleeps in a singlet, short sleeved bodysuit, and all in one pj's.. And sometimes a cardi over the top because she kicks the covers off.. Then a doona & blanket.. Sounds extreme but we don't have heating, she never seems to be over heated though.. Still seems to be cold if anything!! =P

Answer 10

Is a singlet the same thing as a onsie?  If so I'd leave it off and make sure here pjs are too tight fitting.  It is probably friction more than heat.

Answer 11

Hi,

A good rule of thumb for down here (I live in the same general area as you do) is to dress them in one layer more than you'll wear yourself (getting used to dressing in layers is crucial for anyone who lives down here, adults, or children).

An example: dress baby in a nappy, singlet and an all in one growsuit (and start her off in a thin wrap...if she grizzles from being too hot, take it off).  Keep the blanket (and the discarded wrap) handy, just in case she needs it.  

They honestly don't need more than that.

Good luck!