Being a new parent can only be described as a whirlwind. There is so much to learn, and the stakes are extremely high. There is little room for error because a small human life is counting on you.
Parents put so much pressure on themselves to get everything right. Sure, the stress and tension recede a bit after your first child, but it never goes away completely. It’s always lingering in your mind. Is their diaper clean? Are they hungry? How are they sleeping?
Sleep is a major concern for every baby and their parents. The better your child sleeps, the better it is for them and you!
A lot goes into getting your baby to sleep. Most parents learn exactly how long it takes and what conditions need to be in place for that lovely handoff between your arms and the baby’s bed. The smallest wrong movement or noise can ruin everything.
The sound of a baby screaming in the middle of the night is excruciating. Eventually, sleep training needs to happen, and then hopefully, your child will sleep more reliably.
To set the conditions for successful sleep through the night, though, you have to make sure your baby is comfortable.
Sometimes parents keep the temperatures too low. Babies lose a lot of body heat quickly. That’s why they’re always wearing pants with socks on them and long-sleeved onesies. Babies wear beanies and more layers than larger kids or adults.
If you think your baby is too cold, it could be disrupting their sleep at night. Look for these nine signs your baby is cold when you put them down for the night.
They Feel Cold
Your baby should feel cozy and warm to the touch. You might like feeling cold at night because you can lay underneath that fancy down comforter. Blankets are a suffocation risk for small babies, so they just have to lay there and sleep.
Make sure they’re not exposed to colder weather or even what you feel like is cool weather. Touch their hands, cheeks, feet, and other parts of their body. If they are cool or cold to the touch, then your baby is probably too cold at night.
Put some socks on them and get some warmer clothes on them to retain body heat through the night.
They Lose Their Color
Does your baby look pale in the morning or at night when you go in to check on them? People turn pale when they get cold. If you feel like your baby’s color is a bit off, then it could be because the temps drop too low when they’re asleep.
They Are Shivering
Obviously, shivering is a clear sign your baby is cold. It can sometimes be hard to tell whether your baby is shivering if you are standing next to their crib looking down on them. It’s even harder when they’re crying or visibly upset.
How do you determine if your baby is shaking because they’re mad or shivering because they are cold?
Whatever the case may be, a shivering baby could probably use some warmth. You can rest a hand on your baby’s back or tummy to see if they’re shivering. If they are, heat up the house until they stop.
They Are Crying
If you don’t see any clear signs that your baby is cold at night, crying could be a clue. It’s easy to get frustrated with a crying baby who won’t sleep when you are very tired, but how are they supposed to tell you they are feeling too cold? They can’t, so they cry.
If you feel like you’ve tried everything and still can’t get your baby to stop screaming, put thicker clothes on them, turn up the heat, and try other things to make them warmer and see if they work.
They Act Lethargic
If your baby is lower-energy than they usually are at night, it could be because they’re too cold. When your internal temperature drops, so do your energy levels. Your baby may not make as many sounds as they normally do or be as interactive as you expect them to be.
It could be that they are tired as well, so don’t become too alarmed that your baby doesn’t want to play during bedtime. If they are crying and lethargic, maybe it’s time to heat things up.
It’s Winter!
If you’re feeling cold, then your baby is probably feeling it even more. Depending on where you live, it can get cold at night during the winter months. Pay attention to the temperature outside and take appropriate action to guarantee your baby is warm enough.
Notice how your fingers and toes feel in the evenings and keep the thermostat at a reasonable temperature to avoid significant drops in temps at night.
They Have Snot
Does your baby have a snotty nose at night? Sometimes a snotty or runny nose can indicate that the baby is too cold, and you need to put some more clothes on them. Babies get plenty of runny noses, but when they happen at night, it makes it harder to breathe for them.
They feel uncomfortable and will cry, likely making it a long night for any parents in the house.
They Won’t Eat
In addition to lethargy, loss of appetite can be a sign your baby is too cold. A lot of parents’ first instinct is to feed a crying baby at night. That, however, doesn’t always work when a baby feels frigid.
They need to feel safe and comfortable to eat well, and that won’t happen in a chilly house.
Their Lips Are Blue
Are your baby’s lips blue, purple, or lighter in color than normal? This could be a sign of low body heat levels, and you should do something to raise their internal temperature. Put some socks on their feet or change them into thicker pajamas.
Remember, you don’t want to put anything like a beanie or a blanket in the crib because it could come off and end up on top of their face. Just get them some better PJs, and it should do the trick.