How do you dress baby for sleep in a 70 degree room? While this may seem like a no-brainer, there are actually so many things to consider, which can be daunting for new parents.
Naturally, you want what’s best for your baby. You want to make sure that your little one is happy and comfortable, which will also give you peace in more ways than one.
Unfortunately, your little one may not be able to tell you exactly what they are feeling but may vocalize it or give you cues in other ways.
Do you take the old-school advice and pile on the layers regardless of the heat, or do you go with the modern and minimalist approach?
This article will help you debunk all things sleepwear for your baby in a 70-degree room.
What Room Temperature Is The Right One For Your Baby?
For your baby’s total comfort, the recommended room temperature is between 68-72 degrees. If the room is too hot, you risk your baby having heat-related illnesses like:
- Rashes
- Heat cramps
- Dehydration
- Heat exhaustion
- Heatstroke
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Are 70 Degrees Hot Or Cold?
Firstly, you need to determine what temperature feels hot or cold for the baby. The general guidelines for determining the real feel of temperature is as follows:
- Cold – lower than 55 degrees
- Cool – 55-69 degrees
- Warm – 70-84 degrees
- Hot – 84- 99 degrees
The above guidelines put 70 degrees in the warm range, making it an ideal room temperature.
If the room is too cold, your baby will be uncomfortable. They’ll end up waking up a million times throughout the night.
And we all know an unrested baby is a cranky one, which equals an exhausted and irritable mom.
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How Do You Determine Whether A Baby Is Too Hot Or Too Cold?
While babies can’t tell us how they are feeling, they can express themselves in other ways to show discomfort. There are also tell-tale signs to help up figure out whether the baby is feeling too hot or too cold.
For starters, a baby’s temperature reading is the easiest way to ascertain if the baby is ok or not. The normal rectal temperature reading for a baby will range between 98 and 100.3 degrees.
This way, you can get more accurate results to record your baby’s temperature.
Why use a rectal thermometer? Well, that’s because using an underarm thermometer will usually give a reading which is 1-2 degrees lower.
If you don’t have a thermometer at hand, it’s not a train smash. Other physical checks can help you evaluate whether a baby is warm enough or not.
Gently place your hand at the nape of the neck or on the chest to feel if your baby is sweaty or cold to the touch.
Ideally, your baby shouldn’t be too hot or cool to touch. Other easy to observe signs of overheating include flushed cheeks, fast breathing, and sweating.
While excessively cold hands and feet may be a sign that your baby is feeling cold, it isn’t really an accurate measure of temperature because babies naturally have poor circulation, which gradually improves as they grow.
The general rule to guide you is that if you feel warm, the chances are that your baby is feeling warm too.
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Take Into Consideration Your Baby’s Age
What is necessary for a newborn is not necessarily what your baby will require at 3 months, or 6 six months, or even 12 months.
Kids are not as adaptable to temperature changes as adults. Also, your baby can lose heat up to 4 times faster than you.
Babies born prematurely or with low birth weight normally have little body fat, making it even more difficult to regulate their body temperatures.
These highly sensitive bubs will need to be kept at optimal temperatures to avoid more weight loss while trying to keep themselves warm.
Even babies born at full-term may not be able to maintain body temperature. That’s why it’s important to factor in your child’s developmental stage when deciding on suitable sleepwear.
How To Dress Baby For Sleep
The most important thing is for your baby to be comfortable and safe. Advice from the professionals now warns against placing a blanket over your baby at sleep time as this may be hazardous to them.
This means putting on the right clothing is the only option to keep your baby snug throughout the night.
According to the professionals, your child’s temperature must dip for them to fall asleep. If your baby is overdressed, it won’t be easy to achieve that dip and ultimately prevent them from enjoying a good night’s sleep.
Your choice of material is crucial for the comfort of your baby. In a warm room, choose breathable fabrics. These absorb perspiration, allowing your baby to sweat properly, ensuring your baby is comfortable the entire night.
Cotton tops the list of lightweight and breathable fabrics. Avoid heavy materials like fleece. Selecting organic materials is also crucial for your baby’s well-being.
Babies have naturally sensitive skin and may react harshly to certain fabrics, resulting in discomfort or rashes.
By using natural fabrics, you protect your baby’s sensitive skin and save on money, as organic materials tend to be more durable. It’s also important to choose the right TOG for your baby’s clothing.
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What is TOG?
You may have come across the term TOG on clothing and blankets. Thermal Overall Grade is the SI unit for thermal insulation.
It is used to measure how warm the material is. If the material has a higher TOG, it will be much warmer.
Muslin material will usually have a TOG of 1.5, with cotton measuring about 2.5 and heavier winter fleece recorded at 3.5.
It should be noted that the TOG ratings are merely suggestions as there is currently no recommended ideal.
Choose Functionality Over Style
It is tempting to select elaborate designs with lots of buttons, strings, ties, or tags. However, keep in mind that you may need to do a couple of diaper changes per night, and numerous fastenings may make the job harder.
Also, take into consideration that strings and tags may be dangerous for your baby during sleep. Rather save the ornate outfits for daytime.
Bedtime clothing should not be too tight nor too loose to pose a suffocation risk to your baby. When dressing baby, think layers. Kids normally require one extra layer of clothing compared to you.
Layering helps to add or remove items of clothing when you need to.
Putting on socks or a hat on your baby is not recommended as these may needlessly increase your baby’s temperature.
Sleepsacks And Swaddles For Bedtime
Swaddles and sleep sacks serve a similar purpose but are not quite the same. Swaddling will keep your baby warm and snug as it closely resembles the womb environment.
While we may not all be gifted with the wrapping capabilities of nursery nurses, many brands on the market require little effort.
A swaddle is a large and thin blanket that you can snuggly wrap your baby for sleep. It is usually used in the first 3 months of a baby’s life and limits movement.
Ensure that you wrap your baby in a way that does not bring the swaddle above the baby’s chest, as this may pose a choking risk.
In a swaddle, your baby will be neatly wrapped up like a burrito and kept warm throughout the night.
However, once your baby starts rolling over, swaddling should be avoided as it can increase the risk of suffocation.
A sleepsack has a much thicker material and is normally used when the baby starts rolling over. Think of a sleep sack as a pair of pajamas without legs.
It allows for mobility while still keeping your baby contained. Sleepsacks can be used up to the time your infant is 36 months old.
When choosing a sleep sack for your little one, consider buying a woolsack as wool is great for regulating body temperature in both cold and warm conditions.
Although wool is pricier, it’s a worthwhile investment and will outlast a sleep sack made of cheaper material.
Summarized Guide On How To Dress A Baby For Sleep
Below is a table that will prove handy in determining how to dress your baby for sleep in a 70-degree room appropriately:
| Room temperature | How to dress baby for sleep |
| 62-65 degrees |
Swaddle or sleep sack (3.5 TOG) Long-sleeved onesie Long-sleeved pajamas |
| 68-70 degrees |
Swaddle or sleep sack (2.5 TOG) Short-sleeved onesie Long-sleeved pajamas |
| 70 degrees and above |
Swaddle or sleep sack (1.5 TOG) Onesie or pajamas |
Conclusion
You know your baby best, so learn to trust your instincts when figuring out how to dress baby for sleep in a 70 degree room. It’s normal to make mistakes at the beginning of your parenting journey, but it gets better with time and practice.
When you create a conducive environment for your baby, you are guaranteed a restful night for both you and the baby, waking up relaxed and rejuvenated. After all, a happy baby means a happier mama.
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