Dressing up a baby for the night may seem easy at first glance, but there are actually so many things to consider. It is important to choose the right onesie or pajamas, consider the fabric they are made of, and decide how far to cover the baby when putting him to sleep. After getting dressed, you also need to make sure that the bedding ensures a peaceful and safe sleep.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Dress the Child
Step 1. Choose a onesie or pajamas suitable for the season
The risk of covering children too much in winter is common, but also the risk of covering them too little in summer. Even in spring and autumn, sudden changes in temperature can lead to the mistake of covering them too much or too little.
- Try not to put too heavy clothes on him in the winter. If it's a baby and you're still wrapping it, you can put a long-sleeved cotton onesie with feet or socks under the swaddle. If it's a little bit older, a heavy cotton onesie with feet or a pair of socks is ideal.
- Cover it sufficiently in the summer. If it is a newborn, wrapping it in a light cotton blanket should be sufficient, but touch it to control the skin temperature. If it's not too hot, you can put a light, short-sleeved romper under it. Older children can wear one-piece pajamas with short sleeves.
- In spring and autumn, touch it often to check your skin temperature. In spring and autumn, due to sudden changes in temperature, it is necessary to touch the baby often to check that he is comfortable. Try dressing it in layers, which you can remove or add as needed.
Step 2. Choose rompers and pajamas made from natural fibers
They are generally more effective in both hot and cold weather. In hot weather, natural fibers absorb sweat better and keep the baby cool and dry. In cold weather they insulate better and are easier to stratify. They also accumulate less static electricity than artificial fabrics. Here is a list of the best natural fibers to dress your baby with:
- Cotton
- Silk
- Wool
- Cashmere
- Hemp
- Linen
Step 3. Touch the baby
The skin temperature allows you to understand if it is cold or if it is hot. To check if it's okay, tap it in several places. The baby's skin must be at the right temperature.
- For example, if your toes are cold, your baby is probably cold and you need to put on a pair of slippers. If the skin is too hot, it is probably hot and you need to peel off a covering layer.
- Anywhere on the body is fine, but the back of the neck is the ideal place to check. It must feel cool to the touch and must not be sweaty. If a baby is sweating, it means that he is excessively hot.
Step 4. Put him in a onesie or skinny pajamas
You can start putting him in a onesie or skinny pajamas as early as the third month or earlier if you don't wrap him in swaddling clothes. Choose one-piece pajamas and avoid ones with ribbons, laces, cords, and anything that your baby risks getting caught in.
Step 5. Dress it in layers
This system allows you to adapt the child's coverage to the needs of the moment. For example, you can remove a layer if it is hot or add one if it is cold.
Always put an extra layer on it than you would wear. Children are generally colder than adults, so a good rule of thumb is to put an extra layer on them than you would wear. For example, if you are comfortable with a short-sleeved shirt, the child will probably look good with a short-sleeved shirt and a light long-sleeved top on top
Step 6. Try to figure out if you should wear a hat or slippers
Young children get cold quickly starting from the head and feet. Check the skin temperature of the scalp and feet. If these areas are colder than the rest of the body, put on a hat or slippers.
- Make sure that the cap does not come down to cover his mouth or nose, hindering his breathing.
- Check their head and feet often. If your scalp is sweaty, take off the hat. If your feet are sweaty, take off your socks or slippers.
Method 2 of 2: Create a Comfortable Night Environment
Step 1. If necessary, cover it with a light blanket
If it's hot it may not be necessary, but it's usually ideal. Choose one that's made of natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, silk, or hemp. Heavy, soft blankets pose a choking hazard to young children - try to avoid them.
- Always tuck your baby in the blanket. Make it up to his chest (under the armpits) and tuck it into the sides and bottom of the mattress.
- Instead of under a blanket, try putting him in a light sleeping bag. This reduces the risk of suffocation and, at the same time, makes him feel comfortable.
Step 2. Decide if you should wrap him up
It involves wrapping the baby in a blanket, making sure that only the head remains outside. A bandage can help a newborn sleep well as it simulates the environment of the mother's womb. You can continue swaddling up to the age of 3-4 months or, in some cases, for even longer. To know when it's time to stop the bandage, try leaving one arm out. If he sleeps well even with one arm out, it's probably time to stop.
- To wrap it, spread a light blanket, made of natural fiber, on a flat surface, so that it takes the shape of a diamond. Fold down the corner furthest away from you.
- Then place the baby in the center of the blanket, with the head resting on the folded corner.
- Pull one side of the blanket up to cover his chest.
- Fold the underside of the blanket up to cover his feet. Then tuck the flap over the baby's shoulder.
- Finally, pull the other side of the blanket diagonally, so that it crosses the baby's chest. Make sure the bandage is snug, but not too tight.
Step 3. Keep the room temperature around 18 ° C
This is the ideal temperature for sleep, so try to keep it around this value. If you have a thermostat, set it to 18 ° C.
- If you don't have a thermostat, get an indoor thermometer to put in the baby's room. This will help you figure out if you need to close or open the window, turn on the heat or turn on the air conditioning.
- Keep your child away from air conditioning vents and drafts.
