How to tell if baby is too hot at night

As a parent, you know how crucial it is for both you and your baby to get a good night’s sleep. So, before your baby goes to bed, you check all the things that will help them rest well: Are they dry? Fed? In cozy pjs? One thing to add to your bedtime checklist: a peek at your baby’s room temperature. A room that’s not too hot and not too cold is another key factor in helping your little one fall asleep and stay asleep.

You do your best to keep your baby comfortable, but are there ways to help regulate your baby’s temperature? And how can you tell if your baby is too hot at night?

In this guide, we’ll give you tips to better understand your baby’s sleep environment, including how to create optimal sleep conditions and tell if your baby is too hot.

Understanding baby's sleep environment 

While you want your baby to be warm and comfortable throughout the night, it’s essential to find a temperature balance that keeps your little one from overheating. Being overheated is a SIDS risk, so it’s safer for your baby to sleep in an environment that is a little too cool than too warm.

To prevent overheating, pay attention to a few key factors that can impact your child’s sleep environment. These include:

• Ventilation and airflow. Make sure that the room where your baby sleeps has proper ventilation and enough airflow to circulate air throughout the space. Turn on fans or use an air conditioner (set to maintain a temperature between 68-72) during warmer months.
• Proper bedding and clothing. You may want to bundle your baby up at night (especially during cold months), but too many layers can cause babies to overheat or sweat in their sleep. So, it’s crucial to dress your baby appropriately for the temperature and conditions of the room they are sleeping in. Opt for sleep wear designed to maintain your baby’s ideal body temperature. Also, make sure not to leave loose bedding in the crib/bassinet, as it can increase the risk of SIDS.  
• External heat sources. Radiators and heaters will certainly impact the temperature of your baby’s sleep environment. To avoid a too-warm sleep environment, keep your baby’s room between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Humidity. Humidity plays another big role in helping your baby get a good night’s rest. Aim for humidity levels in your baby’s room around 40 to 55 percent. Nanit’s baby monitor can help, tracking and reporting humidity levels, so you can easily monitor your munchkin’s sleep environment all night long.

Consistency is key with all these factors, so you may want to avoid opening windows overnight, especially during the colder months.

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How to know if your baby is overheating

Ideal sleep environment for your little one? Check. But how can you monitor your baby’s temperature to ensure they don’t overheat? 

Here’s how to know if baby is too hot:

• They have rashes and red splotches on their skin, or a red face and flushed cheeks
• They may feel sweaty or clammy, especially on the tummy, neck, or back, and their hair may be damp
• They’re notably restless and irritable
• They feel hot to the touch, which may indicate a fever

As a parent, it’s important to recognize these signs. Fortunately, if you notice that your baby is overheated, there are plenty of adjustments you can make to help them feel more comfortable. 

Introducing Nanit Sleep and Breathing Wear

Whether you’re looking for a Swaddle or a Sleep Bag, Nanit has soft, high-quality Sleep Wear to help your baby stay perfectly temperate all night. Even better? Nanit Breathing Wear is made with custom-designed patterns that work alongside the Nanit Pro Camera to monitor your baby’s breathing motion. 

Whether you’re next door in your room or down in the kitchen, you’ll receive real-time notifications about your baby’s breathing motion through the Nanit app, providing enhanced peace of mind that can help you sleep better, too.

Create the perfect sleep environment for your baby with Nanit

As a parent, there’s a lot you can do to keep your baby cool and comfortable at night, from ensuring proper ventilation and temperatures in the nursery to tracking humidity levels and real-time breathing motion—and Nanit is here to help. 

For  a safe, temperate, and restful night’s sleep for you and your little one, trust Nanit.

Key takeaways:

• Your baby is too hot if you notice red splotches or rashes on their skin, sweaty, clammy skin, or restlessness. To prevent overheating, ensure your nursery has proper ventilation and airflow, no loose bedding, a room temperature of between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity levels around 40 to 55 percent. 

• Nanit’s Breathing Wear works alongside the Nanit Pro Camera to send real-time notifications about your baby’s breathing motion to your Nanit app, providing highly accurate monitoring and your own increased peace of mind.

Sources: 

WebMD. What’s the Right Room Temperature for a Baby? https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-is-the-right-room-temperature-for-a-baby 

Healthline. How to Tell If Your Baby Is Overheating. https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/baby-overheating