How do I know if bubs is warm enough?

Hi,

This might sound a bit daft, but it is one of the things that I'm most worried about once bubs arrives - given that it will be Mid-winter in Melbourne, how many clothing layers/blankets should I be putting on them to keep them warm enough but not overheated when they're asleep? We're in the process of organising ducted heating, so I'll be able to stabilise room temperature at around the 18-20 degree mark by the time they arrive (at least I hope so, otherwise I'll be looking at a temporary oil heater I guess). Taking them outside for walks & stuff is almost easier,because I know that they'll have to be well & truly rugged up, with beanies, multiple layers & a good solid blanket, but it's the overnight comfort level that I'm not sure about.

Its a tough one.. I probably can't help you as I am a QLD girl.. I did have a baby in July and it was cold.. I used to dress him in a singlet bonds suit and socks.. and then a blanket and the oil heater was on.. cold hands our biggest problems but we used mittens..

a tip though.. if baby is in bassinet or even the cot.. Hang a blanket or sheet across it to stop any draughts. when I had my last son the MW suggested it in the hosp and I did it at home as well and it made a difference

Good luck

I was told you add one extra layer to bubs clothing/blankets to what you have on.

Say for instance your in bed with pyjamas and a sheet plus doona on, put bubs in a singlet plus pyjamas, swaddle him/her, then add your sheet and 2 blankets.

HTH

Saw this recently:

Room temp 26 degrees plus - too hot - no covers
Room temp 24-26 degrees - hot - one sheet
Room temp 22-24 degrees - warm - one sheet, one blanket
Room temp 20-22 degrees - normal - one sheet, two blankets
Room temp 18-20 degrees - cool - (can't remember the recommendation here!)
Room temp below 18 degrees - cold - sleeping bag, sheet, 2 blankets.

Our bedroom is usually 18-20 degrees, DS has a sleeping bag at first then I cover him up with up to 2 sheets 2 blankets when I go to bed, depending on how cold the room is.

I sleep in PJs and under a 4 tog duvet and am sometimes a bit shivery, so I figure DS may be cold too. When it's warmer (underwear and sheets for me) he has a long-sleeved vest on and a sleeping bag, nothing else.

I know it is hard. I worry every night is she warm enough or is she too warm. We don't have ducted heating so her room does get cool. We dress her in singlet, body suit, flannelette PJ's then sleeping bag. Then on top of sleeping bag I add 2- 3 blankets depending on how cold its gonna be overnight.

Indah sleeps in a singlet & a sleeping bag (with feet) then with a cellular blanket & she's ALWAYS on her tummy kicked blankets off & fasty asleep, but my kids love the heat & are warm sleepers (if that makes sense)

They hate the cold (so you'd imagine they'd wnat to snuggle) But even Maddy now who is a summer kid, werars summer singlet & boxers to bed & has only half herself covered in the doona..

I wear trackies & a t-shirt & then snuggle in to the doona up to my neck...


For a new born I'd say singlet, growsuit, sleeping bag & the cellualr blanket is what we will be using!!

Im around the corner!!! Since bringing Izzy home we have had an oil column heater in her room and its been around 18.... shes in two jumpsuits a flannel wrap and fleecy blanket... last night we tried no oil heater (Im a bit paranoid about it) and just turned the ducted to around 15-16......she was fine, tummy was very warm... she pulls her hands out so they were cool..they say if they are too cold they willl let you know but if they are too hot they wont!! HtH!!!

With Annika, I always check her chest or belly, seems to be the fest spot to get a proper feel to what the temperature is. Since bubs have poor circulation, I don't bother checking her arms or legs, because they will always be a bit cooler - it's the central heat that matters. That being said, as it's been beyond chilly these past few weeks in Adelaide, I've been dressing her in a warm jumpsuit, and wrapping her in a cot sheet. Then putting a blanket over the top and a oil heater on just to take the chill off the room. We decided on this after much trial and error, practice makes perfect! Plus, bubs will soon let you know if he/she is too hot or cold!

With going out anywhere, I dress her in layers. To go out this morning, it was really cold, so I dressed Annika in a singlet, a warm velvet top, leggins with jeans over the top, socks and a beanie. I also packed a jacket and a spare T'shirt just in case. That way we would have been prepared for whatever weather decided to hit us next!

Hope this helps!

I was told one layer more than I need

so if I need a singlet and top jack needs that plus a jumper

we use a oil heater here and Jack has a singlet, all in one romper and a sleeping bag room is around 20c overnight without heater it drops too 13c or so so then he has 2 blankets on top

i was also told 1 more layer then what i had.

I also worry about this! expecially now since we are in tazmania on holidays... But i put Izzy in singlet 2growsuits, wrapped in blanket with 2blankets on top... and everything will be warm except her toes! (she's got cold toes like her mum :) ) also got heater on in the room... And i thinking that she's warm since she still settling into bed and sleeping a peaceful 7-8hours...

To check when bub is here, feel their neck at the very top of their spine. If it's warm then they are ok, if not rug them up a little bit more. Don't check hands or feet because some bubs (and adults as well, like me!) can be warm enough but have cold extremities.