Talk Of Temperatures: Ideal Climates for Newborns
August 19, 2020 | by katlyn jarrow, guest contributor
Newborns are born with sophisticated thermoregulation systems, but appropriate interventions are still necessary for their continued survival, according to Karsten Lunze and Davidson H. Hamer of Boston University. When you’ve got a newborn in your life, you need to pay careful attention to the temperatures they’re exposed to. It’s good to know what the ideal temperatures should be regarding their rooms, their clothing, and even during activities like swimming.
Regulate Room Temperature
Newborns sleep for about 8-9 hours during the day and about 8 hours at night, according to Stanford Children’s Health. In order for them to have better quality sleep, the temperature of their rooms should be somewhere between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in warmer climates, you can opt to install a fan in your child’s room to keep the temperature down. The trouble is that there is a risk that the room can become too cold. A good solution is that you can safely regulate room temperature through a convenient wi-fi thermostat, which can send you an auto alert should there be any sudden changes. That way, you can be fully assured that your child’s room is at its ideal temperature.
Clothing Temperatures For Different Seasons
Overheating is one of the causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), according to Dan Brennan, MD. To avoid this, dressing a newborn appropriately for different seasons is an absolute must. During the colder months, it’s best to dress them in layers that cover little hands and feet, too. Bringing a blanket helps keep them warm when you put them in their stroller or car seat (it's important to remove bulky winter coats before placing baby in their car seat, as the extra padding doesn't allow the straps to fit properly). For warmer months, a single cotton shirt and a lightweight hat will suffice. It’s best to avoid thick fabrics and too many layers when they sleep. It is important to remember that, no matter what the temperature is outside, a newborn’s body temperature must remain between 98-100 degrees Fahrenheit. To be 100% certain, using a temporal artery thermometer can get you accurate readings so you can adjust your child’s clothing accordingly.
Going For A Swim? Check That Water First!
Swimming has a host of benefits for newborns, like improving their cognitive functions. So you’ll be able to sign up your newborn for water safety classes at 6 weeks old. If your child is under 6 months old, the ideal pool temperature for them is between 86-89.6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Splash About. Dressing them in neoprene wetsuits can help keep them warm during their swimming lessons. It’s also recommended that you have short sessions and keep them in the water for only 10-15 minutes at a time. That way, your child can yield the benefits without being at risk for hypothermia.
Educating yourself about proper temperatures for young children will effectively raise your chances of producing a healthy environment. Thankfully, there are multiple online sources and helpful technologies that you can tap into that may further improve your understanding of safe childhood practices. Who knows, you just might pick up better methods to keep yourself in better health and safety as well.
