room temp for newborn?

Dochas · August 2010

Good morning everyone! I've been worried about this because we love to have the room cold when we sleep so I wasn't sure what to do while the baby is in our room. I read that 68-72 is what the temp should be. I thought we'd shoot for 70 with a fan blowing just on us if that's too warm (I've been so hot and expect to be that way for a while after delivering). Does that sound about right? And I was thinking he would be sleeping in his diaper, maybe a light gown and be swaddled in a receiving blanket. So then do you just feel their little feet and hands when you change them to make sure their ok?

skoorbnibor · August 2010

infants can't control their body temp, so there feet and hands are generally cold. this doesn't mean they are cold.

Too cool is better than too warm for a baby (for both safety and comfort) Our house is cold at night, but summer and winter. Like 63 in the winter and 66 in the summer. As a newborn, E slept with a onesie, a gown and then swaddled. He was fine. If he seemed fussy, I dropped a layer.

cjsbdl · August 2010

Feeling the back of their neck is a better indicator of their body temp than their hands/feet.

Per the SIDS prevention guidelines we kept our house temp at about 69 degrees when Henry was <6 months old.

Dochas · August 2010

Thank you both. I'm sure I'm over-thinking, but I want a good starting point. 69 it is and we'll see if he likes it.

cjsbdl - I didn't realize you were pg again. Congrats!!!

Mouseygail · August 2010

we keep our bedroom very cold too..not sure what the temp is in there, but we put DS in full PJ's (often fleecy ones) and then a swaddleme. He has seemed comfortable.