5 tips for keeping your baby warm and safe on cold nights

Posted in Sleeping.
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Winter has well and truly arrived. And along with all the good things it brings (hot chocolate and babies in beanies), the colder weather often interrupts your baby’s sleep routines.

We asked mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue for the best tips on how to keep your baby warm and ensure everyone at your place gets a good night’s sleep.

Chris’ top five tips for keeping your baby cosy throughout the night:

Toddler asleep in cot with dummy and teddy - feature

1. Change your cotton sheets to flannelette or jersey

“If you have older children who use pillows, I also recommend you swap their pillowcases for flannelette too, as this will ensure they’re asleep longer.”

2. Dress your baby in heavier clothing

“Layers are important. Start with a long-sleeved cotton singlet underneath their pyjamas or an all-in-one suit and also put socks underneath.” 

3. Break out the woollens

“Swap the cotton sheet or blanket for a heavier wool blanket.”

4. Using a heater? Don’t forget the water

“If you are using a heater in the bedroom” says Chris “make sure you have a bowl of water somewhere in the room. This prevents the air from drying out too much.” 

5. Use a thicker all-in-one zippy suit

“Once baby is layered up with singlet, baby-gro and socks, try a thicker all-in-one zippy suit to lock in the warmth. These are particularly good for babies who kick off their blankets during the night.”

A note on TOG ratings

You may have noticed the letters “TOG” followed by a number rating on the tag of your little one’s sleeping bag, sleep suit or bedding such as blankets. 

TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade. It’s an industry measure of the thermal insulance (also called thermal resistance) a particular fabric offers against the room temperature. Basically it tells you how warm the item will keep your baby. 

Understanding TOG ratings can help you to figure out what to dress your baby in so she stays comfortable at night. The higher the TOG number, the warmer the sleeping bag, swaddle or garment. Check out this handy guide to TOG ratings for more info.

Also, we urge all parents to keep up to date with the latest Safe Sleep Guidelines outlined by Red Nose Australia.

Remember! The coldest times of the day are 4pm and 4am, so plan accordingly. 

 


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