At what age does baby regulate their temperature?
As a new parent, it is hard not to worry about your baby. Are they warm enough? Or are they too hot? It is not uncommon to have a tendency to OVER-dress them, when these little ones are not SO fragile as all that.
To answer the initial question directly: baby truly regulates their temperature well from the age of 2 years according to most studies, and is therefore more sensitive to temperature changes before that age.
But to go further, let us try to look together at the normal temperature for baby, the signs to watch for, how to dress them and a few "general rules" to know.
Newborn temperature: capable of regulating their own temperature?
A newborn is capable of regulating their temperature, but this regulation is much less effective than that of an adult. That is to say that heat loss or gain occurs much more easily than for us.
A premature baby, however, is not capable of thermoregulating and requires even more attention to avoid hypothermia. Skin-to-skin is strongly recommended to help (both premature and full-term babies). Our No Knot Little Wrap is used in many maternity wards for skin-to-skin contact during the first days following birth, to facilitate constant contact and thus help the baby warm up.
Babywearing with a baby wrap or a baby carrier helps with your child's thermoregulation.
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| I DISCOVER THE WRAP FOR THERMOREGULATION |
Signs that baby is too hot or too cold: what should you look for?
Extremities such as feet or hands can be an indicator. But just because baby has cold feet does not necessarily mean they are cold.
To find out more, their neck can be a very good indicator:
- is it warm? Everything is fiiiine! (not burning though)
- is it damp? Clammy? Baby is hot — you should uncover them
- is it cold? You guessed it — baby is cold, it would be a good idea to add a layer of clothing to warm up this little one
Other signs can help you determine:
If your baby is too hot: red cheeks, warm forehead, tummy or thighs.
If your baby is too cold: very pale complexion, bluish lips...
Crying is also possible in both cases.
What is a baby's body temperature?
A baby's body temperature is between 36.5°C and 37.5°C. If you have any doubt, you can check with a thermometer :)
Hypothermia
Baby hypothermia is when your baby's temperature is below 36.5°C -> warm baby up (skin-to-skin, an extra layer of clothing, etc).
Hyperthermia: fever
Fever is considered for a temperature above approximately 38°C -> avoid letting them get too warm by uncovering them slightly (but not completely — leave a short-sleeved bodysuit on, for example)
Bedroom: what is the ideal temperature?
The ideal temperature is between 18°C and 20°C — not that warm, is it? We might tend to think the ideal temperature for baby is higher, right?
Depending on the temperature, you will need to dress them differently (logical). The bedroom temperature in summer will hardly be 20°C — that is for sure. We will come back to the subject a little further down :)
How to dress baby?
It all depends on the season. To avoid overdressing baby, we have already written several articles on the subject:
How do I know if my baby is cold at night?
Cold neck and tummy
As we saw earlier, these parts of the body are good indicators of your child's sense of cold. Cold extremities are not synonymous with being cold.
Pale skin
If your child's skin is paler than usual, that is also a sign to take into account.
Crying, grumpy baby
If your child is crying when they have been fed and their nappy is clean, it may be a sign that they are cold.
A baby who is a little too calm (when they are not sleeping) can also be a sign that your child is experiencing hypothermia. Have a doubt? Temperatuuuure!
Does a cold baby cry?
Yes, in addition to the signs to look for (cold neck, bluish lips, shivering...), crying can indicate that your child is cold. And conversely, it can indicate that baby is too hot.
Why doesn't a baby regulate their temperature?
Simply because they are not capable of it — it requires a great deal of energy from them.
How to dress baby at night?
It is better to layer clothing than to put on a single very thick layer. The key is to observe your child and how they feel. We have put together a complete guide for dressing baby at night here :)