Importance of Regulating Baby’s Temperature

Setting the right temperatures and humidity for your baby
is important. Babies have much less body weight than adults, which makes it
harder for a baby’s body to regulate its temperature. Knowing the correct
temperature and humidity level will help keep you and your baby healthy and
happy.

Importance
of Regulating Baby’s Temperature

Image via Flickr by
Daquelle manera 
Research shows the chances of a baby having Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS) increases with their rising body temperature. Keeping
layers on your baby and swaddling them in improper temperatures can have
devastating effects. Just keeping a fan on in your nursery may reduce the likelihood of SIDS by around 70 percent.

Determining
the Correct Temperature

Most experts recommend that rooms where baby sleeps be kept
between 65 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Figuring out the perfect temperature for your infant is
tricky, though. A good way to find out if your baby is too hot or cold is the
“Tummy/Toes Test.” If your baby’s tummy and toes are warm, your baby
is likely too hot and may even be overheating. If baby’s tummy and toes
are both cool to the touch, your baby is probably too cold. When the
temperature is about right, a baby’s toes are cool and the tummy is slightly
warm.

Set the
Temperature

Keeping your home a few degrees cooler at night is one of
the most successful ways to help your
baby sleep through the night, which is something all parents can
appreciate. Using a programmable thermostat for your HVAC system is a
great way to make sure the temperature is just right. If it is difficult to
keep the temperature consistent throughout your home, consider installing an individual unit for your nursery.
Set the thermostat a few degrees higher during the day. At night, make sure the
AC system bumps the temperature down at least 2 to 3 degrees. Research shows
that is it safer for your baby to be a little too cold than it is for him or
her to be too hot.

Decreasing
Humidity

Humidity is another thing to consider while you’re creating
a nurturing environment for your bundle of joy. During the summer, humidity in
your home can cause unpleasant odors and lead to dangerous mold problems. If
you live in a hot and humid state, you need to be diligent in order to keep
your home’s humidity with in the EPA’s suggested range, between 30 and 50
percent. To reduce humidity, use a dehumidifier and/or humidity absorbing
plants, like the Boston Fern.

Increasing
Humidity

Low humidity can cause problems like dry eyes, sore
throats, cracked skin, and sinus infections. Viruses live longer and are more
easily passed at low humidity levels. Peeling wallpaper, dry plants, itching
skin, and static electricity are all indications of low humidity. Increasing
humidity is easy when you use a humidifier, but use only distilled water and
clean the humidifier after each use to prevent the spread of dangerous viruses
and bacteria.

Keeping
your baby happy makes life easier for you. Finding the right temperature and
humidity level for your baby takes a little work, but the benefits ar