keeping a baby warm this winter

lindseykim13

Trying to cut back on heating costs and worked well last winter but the kids were all over age 3 so could tell me if they got too cold/wrap up warm etc
This year we have a baby due and i want to obviously make sure she doesn't get cold has anyone any baby tips for me or am i just going to have to keep the heating on this year?
I am guessing day wont be too much of an issue but i remember night/evening time was a little uncomfortable for me and dh but managed as kids were tucked up in bed. Any advice from anyone whos been there?

nikflo

hi,

last year i found the fleece sleepsuits from primark (about £4) to be fantastic for my baby, i used to put a short sleeved body on her, then a long sleeved all in one and finally on really really cold nights the fleece suit over the top. that does sound alot but i switch the heating off when the kids go to bed and on the nights it snowed their room was freezing.

hth

OrkneyStar

Hi,
Dress him/her in layers.....vest (long sleeved if need be), babygro, cardi if needed, sleeping bag (or blankets). Layers are the best way to trap heat.

xLolahx

My son was born at the end of Jan this year and a few days after it snowed so our flat was freezing.

I found the best thing that kept him warm was layers like OrkneyStar said. He would wear a shortsleeved vest, sleepsuit, knitted cardi, then i'd swaddle him and then put a blanklet over the top if he was still cold.

Best way to check the temperature of a baby is to feel the back of their neck, if its too hot take a layer off.

space_rider

I remember the days when my eldest who is now 22 was a baby and it was very cold. Didn`t have that much money back then so heating was only on when necessary. She was dressed in babygro, cardigan, hat and then put in one of those quilted things I can`t remember the name of. Don`t know if it`s recommended now though. I think if you feel warm in bed then they should feel the same too.

valk_scot

Well, the rule of thumb for babies is one layer more that you're wearing. (If you're sitting still, not charging around keeping warm.) Layers are best, natural fibres are best at least on the base layers. They shouldn't need a hat indoors unless it's sub-arctic.

You can get little cardboard thermometers for using in kids rooms, btw. I used to have one for the kids' room when they were small...I didn't have the central heating on at night but I don't recall the thermometer going below the lower level. Most children's bedrooms are often far too hot for babies and toddlers anyway.

But finally, if you're concerned when she's very tiny, why not co-sleep? It's a great way for all of you to keep snug...babies make great hot water bottles!

tandraig

all- in one sleep suits - fleecy if your room is cold - as babies move around and can knock blankets etc off . my DIL was so grateful for me buying her some fleecy allinone pjs for her one year old . he does not like sleeping under blankets and she found these kept him warm!

msb5262

I'd strongly recommend getting a sheepskin for your baby to sleep on. They are proven to be warm in winter and cool in summer, research shows that they are safe to use if you are concerned re cot death & overheating, and I think they're incredibly cosy and nice for the baby. My second child (birthday in June) and third child (October birthday) both had these and they were great, pretty much from birth to the time when they stopped sleeping in a cot. I bought them from a company called Winganna - don't know if they still exist, but I chose the largest size and bought seconds in order to get the best value.
HTH.

ness_w

I second the sheepskin, they are a bit of an investment but will keep your little one toasty. Five of my babies were born in winter and we did have the heating on more at night because I would be sitting in bed feeding and it was freezing otherwise (with the twins it seemed like I was awake all night). It was still set at a fairly minimal level though and the baby would just snuggle up with me for feeding and have the sheepskin and those cellular blankets to keep warm.

esmf73

I had a November baby 3 years ago and had the same concerns. I kept him in layers, swaddled and with a hat on at all times - and because he was a restless baby and didn't settle I co-slept with him under a duvet, and a doubled up blanket - he was also wrapped in a blanket!

He settled and was fine. We did this for about 4 months. He's now an energetic 3 1/2 yr old and loves his bed ))

I used the free hats that I was given in the Bounty packs or on the front of magazines. My favourite was the FAIRY hat as it was plain white and he looked cute even when screaming!!

Bitsy_Beans

I used grobags with both mine (more room for growth compared to a fleecy sleepsuit). DS would wear a long sleeved vest (short sleeved aren't warm enough in winter I find), sleepsuit, go into the grobag and when we went to bed and house was cooling down I'd pop a cardi over the top of the grobag to keep his little arms warm.