Bundling up a baby to keep him warm through the night feels like such a natural thing to do. This may come as a shock to you to find out that such actions might be causing distress or discomfort to your baby. Many people assume that because they're so small, babies may be more sensitive to the cold than adults. This isn't true at all, baby sleepwear should be no heavier than what you would be wearing for the same conditions.
Selecting the best baby sleepwear for your baby can be a bewildering task. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Avoid drawstrings and ribbons. No matter how cute those little satin ribbons look, they and cotton drawstrings could potentially be a hazard. It's possible for a baby to get tangled up in ribbons and strings, and possibly be at risk of choking. No matter how adorable all the frills and laces can seem, for your child's safety it's always best to choose simple over stylish as far as sleepwear is concerned.
Another thing you might wish to avoid are clothes that fit too loosely or too tightly. Your baby's sleepwear should be comfortably snug, not overly constricting.
Body temperature: Pay attention to the body temperature of your baby. Are her feet and hands cold? If yes, then she may be need another layer of clothing. If her extremities are clammy from sweat, then you need to reduce some of her clothing.
It's necessary to constantly keep an eye on your baby's temperature, reason being, infants can overheat very quickly. At the blink of an eye, this can turn into a dangerous situation. A room temperature of 68 to 70 degrees is idea for child and parents both, but regardless of the temperature of the room, make sure your infant is dressed appropriately for the current conditions.
It might seem odd, but blankets and comforters should be avoided. As natural as it seems to use a blanket to cover your baby, comforters and blankets can be dangerous because of the potential for suffocation. So long as the room is maintained at an appropriate temperature, there shouldn't be a need for heavy comforters in the first place.
As lovely as some of the materials used for baby sleepwear can be, such as fancy silks and satins, try to avoid the temptation. Cotton is the best, being light, absorbent, and hypoallergenic.
A good sleepwear solution for newborns or small babies are sleep sacks. These can be worn over regular pajamas, and they fit snugly enough around the baby's feet, wrists, and neck.
Overall, these are the tips to keep in mind when deciding what your baby should wear to bed: Baby sleepwear should be snug and comfortable, and ideally made of cotton; it should be simple, without frills or ribbons. Avoid the temptation to overdress and don't use heavy comforters as a substitute for keeping the room at an appropriate temperature. Following these guidelines will keep your baby sleeping safely and comfortably.
Kat Goodman has been providing Just Baby Nursery Bedding (www.just-baby-nursery-bedding.com) with quality articles for the past year. For more information on baby sleepwear and other baby related topics, the children's resource section provides useful information to new parents.
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