The optimal room temperature for a newborn is between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintaining this range is crucial to prevent potential health issues that can occur if the room is too hot or too cold for your baby.

Welcoming a new baby home can be both exciting and challenging, particularly when setting up a safe and comfortable sleeping area. In addition to placing your baby on their back to sleep and removing any hazards from the crib, it’s essential to also ensure the room temperature is appropriate for your newborn.

A cold nursery can cause your baby to become fussy and lower their body temperature excessively. Conversely, an overly warm bedroom can raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), particularly if your baby is dressed in warm clothing or overly bundled.

Discover how to achieve the perfect room temperature for your newborn and get tips on dressing your baby to ensure a safe and cozy sleep.

What Room Temperature Is Just Right?

Pediatric sleep experts recommend keeping your newborn’s room between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 22 degrees Celsius). This range is generally comfortable for both children and adults, providing a balance that is neither too hot nor too cold.

Why Room Temperature Is Important for Newborns

Maintaining the right room temperature for your baby is crucial for preventing SIDS and ensuring a safe sleep environment.

If a Room Is Too Hot

Overheating is a significant risk factor for SIDS, with most SIDS deaths occurring in winter, indicating that indoor temperature regulation is crucial. Excessive warmth can stress a newborn’s immature thermal regulation system, affecting their breathing and heart rate, and making it harder for them to wake up and cry out if they are experiencing a health issue.

If a Room Is Too Cold

Excessively cold temperatures can put a baby at risk of hypothermia, a condition where body temperature falls to dangerously low levels, potentially damaging your baby’s organs. Newborns lose body heat four times faster than adults due to their higher ratio of skin surface to body mass and lower fat stores. Premature babies face additional challenges in regulating their body temperature, making them more susceptible to hypothermia. Therefore, it’s crucial to monitor the temperature of preemies’ rooms closely and dress them suitably.

Signs Your Baby Is Too Hot or Too Cold

Babies cannot regulate their body temperature as effectively as adults, so it’s vital to recognize and respond to signs that your baby may be overheating or experiencing hypothermia.

To check if your baby is too warm:

• Use two fingers to feel around the nape of their neck and their ears.
• If their ears are red or their neck is sweaty, your baby is likely too hot.

To determine if your baby is too cold:

• Feel their hands and feet.
• While extremities are generally cooler, very chilly hands and feet can be early signs that your baby is too cold.

Maintaining the Ideal Temperature for Sleep

Simply relying on the thermostat reading in the main area of the house, showing 68 to 72 degrees, doesn’t ensure that your baby’s room is within the ideal temperature range.

You can accurately monitor your baby’s room temperature using a phone app or an indoor thermometer. Generally, if the room feels comfortable for you while wearing normal indoor clothing, the temperature is likely safe for your baby as well. However, if you feel either too warm or chilly, the temperature may not be suitable for your baby.

To make temperature monitoring easier and reduce the risk of SIDS, consider room-sharing during the newborn period. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends placing a crib or bassinet with a firm mattress in your room, allowing your baby to sleep there until they reach at least 6 months old.

Keeping Your Newborn Safe in Warm Weather

Here are some ways to ensure your baby stays safe and comfortable during warmer weather, such as summer:

Utilize air conditioning if available: Maintain the room temperature where your baby sleeps between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Open windows and use fans: Allow fresh air and breezes to cool down the room if air conditioning isn’t available.

Position the crib or bassinet away from A/C units: Avoid placing your baby directly in the path of cold air from air conditioning units.

Dress your baby in light layers: Opt for lighter, breathable clothing to keep your baby comfortable in warmer temperatures.

Keeping Your Newborn Safe in Cold Weather

To ensure your baby’s safety and comfort during colder temperatures in the winter, consider the following tips:

Use indoor heating: Maintain the room temperature where your baby sleeps between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Avoid space heaters: These can create excessive heat and pose a fire hazard.

Dress your baby in light layers: Avoid over-bundling your baby and refrain from putting a winter hat on them indoors, as their head plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature.

Keep crib bedding minimal: Remove comforters, quilts, and blankets from the crib to prevent accidental entrapment and the risk of overheating or suffocation.

How to Dress Your Newborn for Bedtime

Keeping it simple and safe is key when dressing your baby for sleep. Always start with a base layer, such as a onesie, and add snug layers as needed. A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one more light layer than you would find comfortable.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against using loose blankets in cribs, prompting many parents to opt for sleep sacks or wearable blankets, especially in colder months. When choosing a sleep sack, consider its thermal overall grade (TOG), which indicates its warmth level compared to blankets.

• Sleep sacks with a TOG of 1.2 or lower are suitable for spring and summer, while those with ratings of 2 to 2.5 or higher are better for fall and winter.
• For most babies, dressing in a onesie and a sleep sack or appropriately fitting sleeper is sufficient.

After putting your baby to sleep, check on them periodically to ensure they’re not too hot or too cold. You may need to adjust their clothing until you find what works best for your baby and your home environment.