As any parent or caregiver can attest, babies are a round-the-clock job, especially newborns. You need to constantly check on them to ensure that everything is okay and they are comfortable. Checking on your baby at various times during the night is a given for any parent. So with this in mind, how do you know if the baby is cold at night? Here’s you can tell.

Newborn baby in comfortable pajamas sleeping on a beige blanket

Body Temperature

It is not unusual to find that your baby’s hands and face are slightly colder than the rest of their body. It is because these parts are mostly uncovered, thus the temperature difference. If you want to be sure that the baby is not cold, then their core is better placed to give you the best answer.

If their back and tummy are warm, they are fine despite their slightly less warm hands and face. When your baby sleeps in the right newborn baby clothes, they are likely to have the right core temperature that assures better sleep.

Fussiness

Crying is a baby’s best form of communication. They cry when they are hungry, tired and when a diaper change is due. That is why fussiness is a vital sign to tell if a baby is cold. If your baby is sleeping peacefully and you cannot see any fussiness, then they are not cold. A baby who is feeling cold will fuss until they feel warm enough to sleep.

Lethargy

You may not have a fussy baby, and they do not cry much at night. However, that is not to mean that they are not cold. You should be concerned if your baby is overly sleepy during their usual wake-up time. An overly tired baby indicates that they did not sleep the right hours during the night.

If they are not sick, well-fed and have regular diaper changes at night, then cold nights may be the cause of the lethargy. This means that if your baby is well rested and wakes up happy and bright-eyed, they are not cold at night and have the maximum benefits of a restful night’s sleep.

Shivers

Babies are sensitive to temperature changes, whether high or low. This can be attributed to their thinner skin that does not protect them enough against extreme weather conditions. The best way to combat this is by dressing them in the right newborn baby clothes. When they have on the right clothes and are not shivering during the night, they are not cold, and you can be rest assured that they are sleeping well. It is important to note that a few shakes now and then are almost expected for healthy babies. When the shivering becomes often, you should make the baby warmer; otherwise, they are good for the night.

Final Thoughts

When you pay enough attention to your baby, you will be able to tell when they are cold, hot or at optimal temperature. The information above can guide you in ascertaining when they are not cold.