How to Dress Your Baby for Sleep?

Dressing your baby for sleep is a common source of stress for parents, as finding the right balance is important for both comfort and safety. Uncertainties about preventing overheating or chilling during sleep add to the challenge. Safety is crucial, and experts advise dressing babies in layers suitable for room temperature to avoid risks of suffocation. Now, let's delve further into dressing your baby for sleep that ensures both comfort and safety.

Shop PurePetali's collection of Muslin Swaddle Blankets!! 

What is the ideal temperature for baby sleep?

Room temperatures ranging from 68℉ to 72℉ (20℃ - 22℃) is often recommended, however, it's important to acknowledge that homes vary in temperature, and different regions have different norms. It's important to consider that, even if the temperature falls outside the suggested range, babies can still be both comfortable and safe, provided they are dressed appropriately for the given conditions.

How to Know if Your Baby is Too Warm or Too Cold During Sleep?

Before troubleshooting, remember that a baby being too cold is safer than being too hot, as overheating poses a risk of SIDS(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). If your baby is uncomfortable or cold, they will likely cry to communicate their discomfort. Also, you'll notice that the core areas of their body, including the chest, neck, back, and tummy, feel cool to the touch. To see if your baby is too hot or cold during sleep, wait around 15 minutes after they've fallen asleep and gently touch your hand to their back or chest. Note that your baby's fingers and toes are not reliable indicators of warmth. Your baby should be comfortably warm and dry to the touch. If they feel cool or sweaty, consider making adjustments.

Here are a few signs that your baby might be too hot:

• Sweating
• Red or rash-prone skin
• Accelerated breathing
• Damp hair
• A notably hot chest

How to Dress Your Baby for Sleep?

Experts recommend dressing a baby for sleep in one or more layers of sleepwear to ensure sufficient warmth without the need for a blanket, while also emphasizing the importance of preventing overheating. It's important to keep blankets out of the infant's crib to reduce the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and SIDS(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Layering sleep clothing, such as a onesie, can effectively regulate the baby's temperature without the need for additional blankets. A general guideline is to dress the baby with only one more layer than an adult would need for warmth in the same bedroom, helping to avoid over-bundling and associated safety risks.

There are a few aspects to consider while choosing the right sleepwear for your baby:

1. Pay close attention to the fabric of the sleepwear, choose soft, breathable, and hypoallergenic materials like organic cotton and muslin. These natural fabrics promote air circulation, keeping your baby cool in warm weather and warm in cooler temperatures.
2. Choose sleepwear with practical features such as snap or zipper closures that allow easy diaper changes without disrupting your baby's sleep. Steer clear of sleepwear with loose buttons, strings, or embellishments that could pose choking hazards.
3. Consider snug-fitting sleepwear that prevents fabric gathering while allowing your baby to move comfortably. Always follow safe sleep guidelines to minimize the risk of SIDS(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and other sleep-related accidents.
4. Sleep sacks or swaddles are a great choice for a secure sleep environment for younger babies. These items provide the comfort of a blanket without the risk of covering the baby's face. Swaddling is especially helpful in calming newborns by replicating the sensation of the womb and preventing them from being startled awake.
5. However, if a sleep sack or wearable blanket limits your baby's movement, stop using it when they start trying to roll over, usually around 2 months old. Also, make sure nothing covers their head or face, as this could lead to overheating or affect their ability to breathe properly during sleep.

Should Parents Swaddle Babies and How to Swaddle?

Swaddling is a well-established technique for calming and comforting newborns, which entails wrapping a baby  in a lightweight blanket to replicate the sensation of being in the womb. Swaddling also serves the purpose of preventing infants from waking due to their startle reflex. Hence, parents frequently turn to swaddling to help their baby fall asleep, and stay asleep.

Here are the steps to swaddle a baby:

1. It's recommended to use a lightweight and thin blanket, such as a muslin blanket to swaddle a baby.
2. Take out the swaddle and fold it into a triangle by bringing back one corner. Position your baby in the center with the shoulders placed just below the folded corner.
3. Hold your baby's left arm against their side and bring the bottom point of the swaddle blanket up to their left shoulder. Tuck the blanket around the left arm, pull it straight out from the shoulder to remove loose space, and make sure the swaddle is loose around the baby's legs while keeping their arms straight.
4. Fold the bottom corner of the swaddle up and over your baby's feet, securing the fabric into the top of the swaddle near their shoulder.
5. Lastly, take the remaining corner, pull it across the baby's body while ensuring the arm remains straight, and tuck it securely. Make sure the swaddle is well-secured and won't come undone as the baby moves.

Keep a close eye on your baby's development and modify your sleep routine as needed to ensure their safety and comfort. If you have any concerns or questions, seek advice from your pediatrician.