It’s officially September! The evenings are starting to get crisp, people can’t resist getting out their fall decor and all of the random people in the grocery stores are now going to start telling me to “It’s cold! Put a hat on that baby!!” or asking me “where are her socks?!” But how do you know if your baby is actually cold and what’s the best way to determine your baby’s body temperature?

I CANNOT tell you how many times a random stranger has told me how to dress my child. 🙃

However, if a baby is cold at night, it CAN contribute to night wakings. 😵

Let’s go over what to look for and how to tell if a baby is actually cold. You’ll be able to confidently tell your mother-in-law that she can keep her opinion to herself, while ensuring your baby’s body temperature is comfortable and not a cause of night wakings.

Assessing Baby’s Body Temperature

We most often see people checking baby’s hands or feet (cue the questioning of the missing socks) to determine if baby is hot or cold. However, did you know that baby’s circulatory system is still developing? So it is quite normal for baby’s hands and feet to feel cooler to the touch.

The most accurate place to assess baby’s body temperature is to feel there lower neck/upper back. Place two fingers on the back of baby’s neck or on their back, between their shoulder blades. You can even gently do this if baby is asleep.

If baby’s neck/back is hot or sweaty, then baby is too hot! 🥵

If it is cool or cold to the touch, then baby is too cold! 🥶

If it is ambient or warm, baby is perfectly fine. 🥰

Temperature for Baby Sleep

Studies have shown that the most comfortable room temperature for baby to sleep in is between 68℉ and 72℉. Before you jump to adjust your thermostat, be mindful that different regions and homes are different temperatures throughout the year. For example, I am in Ohio and my home is over 100 years. In the summer months our house can be a little warmer and in the winter months, our house is a little colder. As long as baby is dressed appropriately for the natural average temperature of your home, they should be a-ok!

When we brought Genevieve home, we noticed just how unequal the temperature distribution can be in a 100 year old home. While our bedroom was comfortable, Genevieve’s room could be 10° hotter or colder at any given time. We updated our thermostat system to the ecobee Smart Thermostat and placed the SmartSensors in every room. Now each room in our house feels comfortable and it’s saved us a little on our energy bill too! 😉

How to Comfortably Dress Baby

Babies don’t need ten extra layers or five pairs of socks (no matter what the woman in the grocery store is going to tell you). Usually dressing baby in one more layer than the amount of layers you are comfortably wearing is perfect. Are you wearing shorts and a t-shirt to bed and then sleeping under a sheet? Then baby would likely be comfortable wearing a onesie and a light sleep sack or swaddle. I personally love these bamboo jammies and sleep bags. They are breathable, so so soft and great for baby’s sensitive skin! If you want to learn more about utilizing sleep sacks appropriately, check out this blog post!