How to Keep Baby's Hands Warm at Night in Winter
One of the most common worries for parents is how to keep baby's hands warm at night. You might have noticed that a baby's body temperature is often warmer, but their hands and feet are cold. Is it normal? Or is it because of a medical condition? Can your baby catch a cold because of it? What should you do to keep your baby's hand warm at night? Should you use mittens?
These are common questions that may pop up in your mind. But fret not; here is a detailed guide on the reasons behind cold baby hands at night and how to keep them warm.
What are Baby’s Hands Often Cold?
Before moving to the solution, it is important to understand the causes behind the problem. Why are baby’s hands cold? Here are some common reasons.
1. Temperature Regulation
Babies often have colder hands and feet compared to their core body temperature. This is because of their small sizes which means they cannot regulate temperature as well as adults. Therefore, their arms, legs, and extremities can feel colder, even if their core body is warm.
Normal body temperature in babies ranges from 97°F to 100.4°F. On the other hand, adults normally have a body temperature of 98.6°F, but this can vary between 97°F and 99°F and still be considered normal. That is why babies’ hands might feel colder because an adult’s hands are warmer.
2. Low levels of Physical Activity
Babies spend much of their time sleeping, feeding, and digesting. That means they do not move around much. These activities reduce further at night and lack of activity can lead to colder hands and feet because of less blood flow to these areas.
3. Underdeveloped Blood Circulation System
Newborns and babies under three months have developing blood circulation systems, which means less blood and heat reach their hands and feet. This is why their hands and feet might look blue, a condition known as acrocyanosis. This usually resolves quickly after birth.
4. Fever and Other Causes
If your baby has a fever (over 100.4°F or 38°C), their hands and feet might feel cold because their body is concentrating heat on fighting the infection. Other signs of illness to watch for include a flushed face, hot, dry skin, yellow skin or eyes, reduced urine output, lack of interest in feeding, excessive sleepiness, diarrhea or constipation, or unusual crying.
Note: If you notice your baby’s hands, feet, or lips turning blue, this could indicate poor blood circulation or other health issues. Conditions affecting blood circulation, heart, lungs, or infections can cause these symptoms. If you see blue patches or lips, contact your doctor immediately.
How to Keep Baby’s Hands Warm at Night?
Parents often think that using warmer clothes can help keep baby’s hands warm at night. However, it is important to keep balance as excessively warm babies find it difficult to sleep. Here is how to keep baby’s hands warm at night.
1. Make Sure Your Baby’s Room is Warm
First things first, parents must know the difference between warm and hot. It is essential that your baby does not get too warm because overheating can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Keeping your baby’s room at a comfortable temperature can also help avoid cold hands. Experts often suggest a range of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20-22 Celsius) for a safe room temperature. While the AAP’s Safe Sleep guidelines do not give a specific temperature, they do advise against overdressing your baby to reduce SIDS risk.
You can dress your baby for bed just the way you would dress yourself for sleep, but add just one additional layer. This extra layer could be a sleep sack or swaddle.
2. Use a Sleep Sack
Another way to keep your baby’s hand warm at night is to use a sleep sack. If you have not heard of a baby sleep sack, it is worth checking out our collection. A sleep sack is like a blanket that your baby wears. It usually has a zipper that you can close to keep it snug and in place. Sleep sacks are helpful in keeping your baby warm and might help them sleep for longer periods.
Many sleep sacks with long sleeves have mitten cuffs to keep your baby’s hands warm. Sleep sacks made of polyester fleece are a great choice for winter nights.
3. Use Mittens
One of the most common ways to keep a baby's hands warm at night is to use mittens. Although babies often remove mittens, they are worth trying. If you think your baby might take off mittens, you can consider buying mittens with elastic so that they are hard to remove.
Still, if your baby’s hands keep coming out of the mittens at night, you can try tucking their hands under their long-sleeve pajamas or putting the mittens inside a swaddle.
However, the most important thing to consider is the fabric of the mittens; it should be according to the room temperature. For example, if your room temperature is between 68-72F’, it is better to use cotton mittens. Using woolen mittens in such a temperature will make their hands excessively warm and may cause discomfort.
4. Dress Your Baby in an Appropriate Way
One of the confusing things for the parents is how to dress the baby in an appropriate manner. In other words, how many layers of clothing are not too many. The answer is simple; you can dress your baby in a layer suitable for the season.
That said, a long-sleeve onesie or footie pajamas work well in winters while long sleeves are not needed for the summers unless the room is cold. Then, add an extra layer like a receiving blanket, wearable blanket, or swaddle to keep your baby warm. Lastly, consider adding mittens for their hands and socks for their feet in winters.
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5. Make Baby’s Bed Warm
Making your baby's bed warm is one of the oldest and most proven ways to keep your baby warm at night. You can warm up your baby's bed with a bottle of hot water or a sock filled with dry beans that you can heat in the microwave.
Before you put your baby down, place the hot water bottle or heated sock on the mattress to warm the bed. Make sure to remove it before laying your baby down. Always check the bed’s temperature first and make sure it is not hot, just warm. When you warm the bed, it helps your baby stay cozy while they adjust to the cooler air. It speeds up the process of getting them comfortable.
Note: Never leave a hot water bottle or any other item in the crib with your baby. It can be a suffocation hazard or cause burns or overheating.
Pro tip: if you want to make sure that your baby stays warm at night, consider using a crib room thermometer. This device measures the air temperature near your baby and helps you check if their sleeping environment is comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
Do babies wake up if they are feeling cold?
Yes, babies may wake up frequently if they are feeling cold or chilly at night. If you see that your baby is feeling fussy, waking up frequently, or is unable to sleep, check their body temperature immediately. Make sure their body, including the core, feet and hands are warm; it will help them sleep better.
Should baby hands be covered at night?
Yes, babies’ hands should be covered at night unless babies don’t need mittens to keep their hands warm at night. Pediatricians say that you should stop using mittens for the babies when they have better control of their hand movement and can soothe themselves without scratching their skin.
What methods are unsafe to keep the baby warm at night?
Where keeping your baby warm is vital, ensuring their safety is equally important. Therefore, avoid these methods to prevent overheating and suffocation:
- Do not use an electric blanket in the crib or bassinet.
- Do not let your baby sleep face down.
- Avoid using heavy blankets or sleeping bags in the crib.
- Do not dress your baby in too many layers.
- Avoid placing a bottle of hot water or heating pad in the crib with your baby.
Summing it up
Babies' hands can feel cold for multiple reasons, such as their small size, lower activity levels, and underdeveloped blood circulation mechanism. Even if their core body is warm, their hands and feet may still feel chilly, and even a fever can make their hands cold.
- However, you can do the following to keep your baby’s hands warm at night,
- Keep their room at a safe temperature (68-72°F) and avoid overheating.
- Use a sleep sack or mittens,
- Dress them appropriately for the season, and
- Warm the bed before placing them down.
Always ensure the bed is warm, not hot. You can also use a crib thermometer to help you monitor the room temperature.
