It’s easy to feel a little rush of joy every time your baby wraps their tiny hands around your fingers. When those hands are cold to the touch, though? Suddenly, it’s just as easy for the joy to shift to concern, especially if your little one is going to bed.
Before you crank up the heat and add on all the extra layers, learn what cold hands at night actually means, and the strategies that’ll keep your baby safe and cozy all night long.
Why babies get cold hands at night
Are your baby’s hands cold? Unless they’re clearly in distress (learn how to tell below), chances are good you don’t have to change anything about their sleep conditions.
Both babies and adults tend to experience cold hands more frequently than, say, a cold chest or stomach. That’s because the hands are farther away from the heart (which pumps warm blood) than other body parts.
Your baby’s hands might feel colder than they actually are, especially since your own hands (and adults’ hands in general) tend to be warmer. Babies naturally have slightly higher core body temperatures than adults, but their arms, hands, feet, and legs will often feel cooler. This is normal, as babies aren’t yet able to regulate their body temperature efficiently due to their small size.
While a baby’s cold hands at night don’t usually require action, it’s wise to know when your baby is indeed too chilly for comfort. Common signs your baby is cold include:
- Blotchy or pale skin
- Cold arms, legs, cheeks, chest, and/or back of the neck
- Fussiness or trouble sleeping
- Being overly sleepy
Fortunately, keeping your baby warm at night is simple. Adjust their sleep wear and nursery environment to keep them cozy. But what’s an ideal nursery environment? So glad you asked!
What’s the best sleep environment for your baby?
Maintaining optimal sleep conditions for your baby will keep them warm and well-rested. Keep these factors in mind when setting up your baby’s sleep space.
- Room Temperature. Aim to keep your baby’s nursery at a consistent temperature of around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature will also influence how you dress your baby for sleep. (See below.)
- Humidity. Maintain a consistent humidity level between 40 and 60 percent. This prevents mold growth as well as dry skin and nasal congestion, helping your baby to breathe easily throughout the night.
- Sleep wear. Pick PJs with the nursery’s temperature in mind. During warmer months (or if you keep the nursery warmer), your baby likely only needs lightweight footed pajamas. If it's colder (outside and/or in the nursery), they may need an additional layer like a swaddle (if they aren’t rolling yet) or a sleep sack. Layering sleep wear is a safer alternative to using loose sheets or blankets for babies under 1 year old.
Your baby may not be speaking yet, but they can communicate their discomfort in other ways. You learned above how to know if they’re too cold (and that your baby’s cold hands aren’t necessarily an indicator). To check if your baby’s edging into too-warm territory, check their head or neck. If those areas feel sweaty, it's actually a sign to remove a layer or two.
How Nanit’s Breathing Wear Helps Your Baby’s Sleep
What if your baby’s sleepwear could provide warmth and invaluable insight into their breathing motion patterns? With Nanit Sleep and Breathing Wear, you get both.
Nanit Sleep Wear includes cozy bodysuits, pajamas, and sleeping bags designed to keep your baby comfortable through the night. Breathing Wear goes a step further. Its custom-designed pattern works seamlessly with the Nanit Pro Baby Monitor, allowing the monitor to track breathing movements without any sensors, electronics, or radars—just the unique design of the Breathing Wear itself.
Our variety of Breathing Wear solutions accommodate different temperatures and your baby’s growth. For younger babies who tend to get cold at night, try the Breathing Wear Swaddle. For babies who have graduated from the swaddle, try the Nanit Breathing Wear Sleeping Bag. You can also wrap the Nanit Breathing Band around your baby’s favorite Nanit Sleep Wear Bodysuit or Pajamas for maximum flexibility (they likely won’t even realize they’re wearing the Band!).
LIMITED TIME OFFER! Save 70% on Nanit Breathing Wear Quilted Sleeping Bag BUY COZY, GIVE CARE: When you purchase this item, we’ll donate a Sleep Wear item to Baby2Baby's Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Program, which addresses the immediate needs of children living in poverty affected by natural disasters as well as other crisis situations Every breath, safely guarded. With our sensor-free Breathing Motion Monitoring, you’ll get every breath streamed directly to you. Great for post-swaddle babies, our premium-quality Breathing Wear Quilted Sleeping Bag (2.5 TOG) gives parents peace of mind and keeps little ones comfy all-year round. It’s the perfect next step for post-swaddle, active babies—giving you the confidence to rest assured all night long
Ensure cozy nights with Nanit
Transform your baby’s nursery into a safe sleep haven with Nanit’s cutting-edge sleep monitoring technology.
The Nanit Pro Baby Monitor provides key insights into your baby’s sleep habits, nursery environment conditions, and important milestones. With real-time notifications, you'll know if the nursery temperature or humidity shifts outside the ideal range, helping you keep your baby comfortable. Pair it with our sensor-free Breathing Wear to monitor your baby’s breathing motion in nearly every sleep position.
Give the gift of sound sleep to both you and your baby. Shop our monitor and breathing wear bundles to save today.
Key takeaways
- Your baby’s hands cold at night doesn’t always mean your baby’s body is cold. Since their circulatory system is still developing, their hands require less blood flow and heat to maintain a normal body temperature.
- Signs your baby is truly cold include pale skin, fussiness, and cool-to-the-touch arms, legs, or cheeks. Make sure your little one stays warm and cozy all night by keeping their nursery’s temperature at 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity at 40-60 percent.
- Proper sleep wear and sleep layers also ensure your baby stays comfortably warm during the night. Nanit offers smart sleep wear that helps your little one regulate their body temperature and helps you track their breathing motion when paired with the Nanit Pro Baby Monitor.
Sources:
Babycenter. How to keep your baby warm at night. https://www.babycenter.com/baby/sleep/how-can-i-keep-my-baby-warm-at-night-without-blankets_7648
Nanit. Nanit App Dashboard and Advanced Analytics. https://support.nanit.com/hc/en-us/articles/11634166144151-Nanit-App-Dashboard-and-Advanced-Analytics
Healthline. Why Does My Baby Have Cold Hands? https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/baby-cold-hands
Health. How To Treat Cold Hands and Feet. https://www.health.com/mind-body/why-your-hands-and-feet-are-always-cold-and-what-to-do-about-it
