What is the best temperature for a baby at night?
A normal body temperature range for babies is between 97.7°F to 100.4°F. It can be dangerous for babies to overheat. If your baby has a temperature over 100.4°F, this may indicate they are overheating or in need of medical attention.
First Candle US doesn’t recommend a specific room temperature for your baby. The recommendation is that babies should be kept warm, but they should not be allowed to get too warm. An overheated baby is more likely to go into a deep sleep from which it may be hard to wake up. Keep the temperature in the baby’s room at a level that feels comfortable to a lightly clothed adult and avoid overdressing the baby.
Why babies overheat or get cold more easily
In the early days, there is so much to learn about our little ones. Something that a lot of people may not know about babies, is that they’re not yet able to regulate their own body temperature. This is why it’s particularly important to keep a close eye on how comfortable your baby is.
Overheating for babies during sleep can be dangerous. It can cause dehydration and increases the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
When do babies learn to regulate their body temperature?
Babies can start to regulate their body temperature at around 9 - 12 months. By this age your little one should begin to adapt their own body temperature to suit external conditions. Even after this stage, it’s still important to check in with your baby regularly, to ensure they are at a comfortable temperature.
How do you check a baby’s temperature?
You can check your baby’s temperature at night in a couple of ways. Either:
- Feel baby’s back or stomach
- Use a thermometer, either infrared or digital
