{"id":1656,"date":"2014-07-07T03:44:38","date_gmt":"2014-07-07T10:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/?p=1656"},"modified":"2014-07-07T03:44:38","modified_gmt":"2014-07-07T10:44:38","slug":"layering-with-love-how-to-keep-a-new-baby-warm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/2014\/07\/07\/layering-with-love-how-to-keep-a-new-baby-warm\/","title":{"rendered":"Layering With Love: How to Keep a New Baby Warm"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"hatgirlsummer\"<\/a>It would be so much easier if your newborn could tell you what she needs, right? Well, in many ways, she can. Babies fuss when hungry, when they are teething, when they are tired and even when they are not comfortable with the temperature.<\/p>\n

Keeping your child warm does not have to be a guessing game. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a>, there are many strategies you can use to ensure that she is safe and sound and comfortable with the temperatures in your home.<\/p>\n

Dressing for Warmth<\/b><\/p>\n

When deciding how to dress your baby, it\u2019s important for nannies and parents to think about their own comfort with the temperatures. \u201cThink about the weight of clothing that makes you comfortable in the environment you\u2019re in,\u201d says Dr. Sophie Balk, general pediatrician at The Children\u2019s Hospital at Montefiore<\/a> in New York. \u201cA good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in the same weight of clothing but add an additional layer of clothing. You want your baby to be comfortable and to avoid overheating him, especially if the temperature is hot (over 75 degrees Fahrenheit).\u201d<\/p>\n

Keeping your baby warm does not require an adjustment to the thermostat, says Balk. \u201cThere\u2019s no need to keep the temperature in the home super hot \u2013 if you\u2019re not comfortable, the baby probably isn\u2019t either,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

If the temperature is cold, your little one will need several layers of clothing to stay warm. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dressing a baby in an undershirt, diaper, pajamas or a dressing gown and then wrapping her in a receiving blanket. \u201cPremature babies may need an additional layer of clothing because their ability to regulate their temperature isn\u2019t as well developed as a full term baby\u2019s is,\u201d says Balk.<\/p>\n

When determining how to dress your baby, Balk says it is important to trust your instincts and use common sense. \u201cIf the weather is extremely hot or cold and adults are uncomfortable, chances are that it is not going to be comfortable for your baby,\u201d she says. \u201cMake sure to consult your local news channel or weather station for heat and cold advisories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bedtime Guidelines<\/b><\/p>\n

Since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against blankets and loose sheets in your baby\u2019s crib, you may be wondering how to keep your bundle of joy warm while he sleeps.<\/p>\n

Begin by warming your baby right before bedtime with skin to skin contact, says Theresa Kledzik<\/a>, infant developmental nurse specialist. \u201cThe surest, safest way to warm a baby is to put the baby skin to skin with a parent,\u201d she says. \u201cIt is inefficient to try to warm a cool baby by adding blankets and other layers. This will only insulate baby\u2019s temperature, so there is less loss of heat, but it is not actively warming the baby. To warm the baby, you need to introduce a heat source, such as the parent\u2019s body, which is at the perfect temperature.\u201d<\/p>\n

When preparing your little one for peaceful slumber in his crib, make sure that he is dressed in a onesie, diaper, a one-piece sleeper and socks before bed. \u201cSleep clothing, such as sleepers, sleeper sacks and wearable blankets are safer than blankets,\u201d says Balk. \u201cUse a fitted sheet and don\u2019t use loose bedding, such as sheets and blankets, since these can impair his ability to breathe if they are close to his face.\u201d<\/p>\n

Balk also warns parents and nannies that nothing else should be in the crib, such as a pillow, stuffed animal or bumper.<\/p>\n

How to Avoid Overheating<\/b><\/p>\n

Babies, especially young infants, are susceptible to getting overheated for several reasons, says Balk. \u201cThey require more fluid per unit of body weight compared to older children and adults,\u201d she says. \u201cSince they can\u2019t seek shade or a cooler environment like older children and adults can, they rely on adults to protect them from dehydration and heat illness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Balk recommends light weight cotton clothing that is cool and comfortable for your baby during the heat of the summer. Keeping your child out of the direct sunlight is also necessary since babies can get sunburned easily.<\/p>\n

In addition to light clothing, choose stylish accessories to ensure your child\u2019s comfort and safety. \u201cChoose a hat with a wide brim to protect your baby\u2019s cheeks, chin, ears and back of the neck,\u201d says Balk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It would be so much easier if your newborn could tell you what she needs, right? Well, in many ways, she can. Babies fuss when hungry, when they are teething, when they are tired and even when they are not … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1656"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1658,"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1656\/revisions\/1658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enannysource.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}