If there’s one question every parent finds themselves asking when the temperature soars, it’s ‘what should baby wear to bed in summer?’ When the air-con’s cranked up, they worry their little one will get cold, so they layer them up in blankets and layers. If they don’t have AC, they worry bub will overheat.
We’re here to dispel the myths and make it easier for you to decide what your little one should be dressed in at night during the warmer months. Tip: It’s probably less than you think.
What should a newborn wear in summer?
Keep them cool
We all know the obsession many parents have with keeping their baby warm. From the moment they’re born we’re wrapping them up in a blanket. Not long after we’ve got them in a cosy onesie, beanie and booties.
But what many parents don’t realise when they're wondering 'how should I dress my baby in hot weather?' is that babies have a limited ability to regulate their own temperature, so it’s equally as significant to keep them cool in summer as it is to keep them warm in winter.
And we all know how hot an Aussie summer gets. So it’s no surprise, really, that the season leaves first-time mums and dads fretting over what they should or shouldn’t be dressing their little one in.
Less is more
Heather Turgeon, co-author of The Happy Sleeper: The Science-backed Guide to Helping Your Baby Get a Good Night's Sleep-newborn to School Age, wrote for Babble that, "One of the most common missteps we see in sleep consultations is people overdressing their babies. There’s a misconception that warmer equals sleepier, but the opposite tends to be true..."
So, on those hot and sticky summer nights, we’d suggest simply dressing bub in a lightweight onesie made from bamboo for breathability. Lose the blanket — a baby doesn’t have the expectation of needing their legs and feet covered the way we do (although, many of us don’t actually mind the cover getting kicked off when nighttime stays up in the 30s!).
If it’s a cooler night, or when autumn starts to draw closer, add a Stretch Jersey Wrap to keep bub warm and cosy.
Let them breathe
Beanies and booties are adorable accessories for bub, and are perfect for cooler days. But professional advice recommends hats coming off at night, no matter the season, for safety reasons — headwear on babies in bed can be a choking hazard. In summer, you’ll also want to lose the booties so their feet can breathe.
When asking yourself ‘what should baby wear to bed in summer?’, breathability should be top of mind. Materials like bamboo are ideal, as it provides ventilation and pulls moisture away from the body, allowing the skin to breathe. Happy baby, happy family! Baby summer clothes and newborn summer clothes are key here.
Checking bub’s temperature
Just because your baby’s hands and feet feel cold, this isn’t always a good indication of his or her temperature. To really find out how hot or cold bub is, feel his or her back or tummy. If you use a sling or carrier, remember your baby will be warmed by your body heat as well as the wraps or clothing he or she is wearing.
So what about the temperature in your baby’s room? There’s no need to monitor it. A good rule of thumb is to look at the amount of clothing you’re wearing, then add another layer. If your baby’s room is too hot, use a plug-in fan to keep them comfy. Just make sure to keep it on the opposite side of the room.
When asking ourselves ‘what should baby wear to bed in summer?’, many of us are rightfully left in a bit of a muddle. There’s so much information out there about what’s right and wrong that we end up feeling more confused once we start reading.
Just remember, your baby probably needs to wear less to bed than you thought when the temperature climbs. If you’re too hot for layers and dooners, chances are bub feels the same.
Disclaimer: Although our advice comes from research and professional sources, we always recommend checking with a baby professional when in doubt to get a second opinion.
Baby wrapping
Can’t get bub to settle? Wrapping is a great way to help calm your little one for sleep, as well as ensuring they’re kept in the safe sleeping position on their back.
When wrapping baby for sleep in the summer months, make sure to use a lightweight fabric such as bamboo. Our muslin wraps are perfect for settling bub for sleep in both the warmer and cooler months — just make sure the wrap doesn't go above bub’s shoulders or cover their head, ears or chin.
It’s also important to ensure the wrap’s not too tight and that there’s enough room for your little one to stretch.
Important note: Babies can be wrapped from birth until they begin to show signs they’re able to roll onto their tummies. This is usually around four months but does differ.
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Nadine Richardson, She Births® founder and doula, offers some hot holiday tips for pregnancy and parenting this festive season. Over to you, Nadine... The summer holidays are here, and this year you might have to do things a bit differently, especially if you’re living in Australia. Bushfires and higher temperatures mean that our time outside will most likely be limited. Time indoors combined with your in-laws and extended family, extra cooking and cleaning and the kids getting cabin fever could result in your holiday not being the downtime you planned on. So, here’s our top parenting and pregnancy tips for a healthy and happy holiday. We hope it helps to make your time together joyful. Pregnant over the holidays? There is one thing you really need if you are pregnant over the holidays: oxytocin, oxytocin, oxytocin. Oxytocin is the hormone for connection and the hormone of labour, so if it’s been a busy year, reconnect to your partner. 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One of the most common times people argue is when they are on holiday because as we relax stress releases from the nervous system, just the same principle in a very busy mind during meditation. Parenting over the holidays? The summer holiday period can come as a massive release for children. The built-up exhaustion from school and daycare or the daily routine (or lack thereof) with baby can wear us all down. And for adults, by the time we get the gifts bought and wrapped and the celebration meal cooked and the family over, it can feel like a marathon that we only just survived. So, when we finally sit down and shift into holiday mode, the lack of structure can be so freeing. There are more hands to tend to children and every day is filled with possibility for doing something or doing nothing. 5. Get lots of family time Family time has to be one of our number one top tips to parenting over the festive period. It seems obvious, but there is actually a lot going on when we spend time together, especially for children. Quality time is the first step to raising happy children – it bonds us together and gives children a sense of identity and belonging. The memories that we make are formative sacred moments, little pearls that string together and can be called on throughout life to reconnect, anchor and bring us joy. Family time can be spent in nature swimming or exploring rock platforms, playing games or watching cricket. It doesn’t matter too much what it is and if you think back to your childhood it’s usually the long lazy feel of holidays, the unremarkable moments and memories that are the ones we treasure. 6. Create your own traditions Many of us approach the holidays with traditions that stem from our own upbringing. Whether it’s the food we look forward to every year, the present opening or the influx of family in the house, it’s a time where it works best to meld the old with the new. Traditions can be very emotional and it is a time to ask what traditions you want to create for your children while respecting the traditions that have meaning for partners and their family. 7. Let yourself get bored You’ve been busy all year so don’t just let yourself do nothing, let yourself get bored. Boredom has been shown to boost creativity in adults and kids. This doesn’t mean you should ignore your children, just tolerate a bit of flopping and moaning and nudge them in the right direction. Allowing the mind to wander off develops initiative and helps to problem solve. It also lets the nervous system recover and take the foot off the accelerator. From our family to yours over this holiday period, we hope you have a wonderful and relaxing time with your nearest and dearest. May this pause be bonding and enriching, filled with experiences and moments of connection, rest and joy. --- Nadine Richardson, mother, yoga teacher, doula, Director of The Birthing Institute and Creator and Founder of the world’s only scientifically verified childbirth education program, She Births® and host of The She Births® Show (Podcast & YouTube). Nadine is an inspiration to all parents, female entrepreneurs and people passionate about making birth better. We are delighted to have her as an ambassador for Boody. Start your preparation for birth today by downloading the She Births® App, access lots of free resources and enjoy listening to The She Births® Show Podcast. We have a special gift for the Boody community – 10% off the Full Online Program with the code boody10. Follow She Births® on Instagram now!
