As the temperature drops and the cold winds blow, you can finally pull out all those cute scarves, jackets, and boots that have been collecting dust in your closet for the past six months. Same goes for your little one. You finally get to dress her in all those adorable winter outfits you've been buying since summer. Bundling up baby for a trip to the store is simple, but what should your baby wear to nap in the winter? Because you don't want to risk overheating or make her so uncomfortable she can't get some good sleep.
As the season change, you'll need to make adjustments in how you dress your baby at nap time. Hitting the sweet spot for a comfortable and cozy sleeping temperature may take a little experimentation. Just remember that tossing on blankets is out of the question. As Baby Center pointed out, experts recommend you put your baby to sleep on his back without any coverings to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). To make sure your baby stays safe while getting warm, you're going to need to focus on clothing and products that check both those boxes.
Depending on the age of your little one, you have a few options for warmth inducing potential. If you have a newborn, you can continue to swaddle with a lightweight blanket, but may want to add an extra layer of clothing at nap time, as the Baby Sleep Site suggested. As long as your baby seems comfortable, you can dress her in a onesie before slipping some footed pajamas on top. The layering technique can be used for older babies as well, but once your kiddo has outgrown the swaddle, you can place her in a sleep sack to add some extra warmth, according to Parents magazine.
Even though you want to keep your bambino toasty, you don't need fleece and flannel to get the job done. As the website for CNN pointed out, lightweight fabrics, such as cotton, help keep baby comfortable — and the more comfortable baby is, the better baby will sleep. You can also create a maximum comfy sleep zone by regulating the room temperature. Just because it's cold out, don't overdo it on the heat setting indoors. As Parents reminded, the best sleeping temperature for a baby's room is between 65 and 70 degrees.
Helping your baby stay warm (but not overly warm) during winter naps is as simple as adding a layer or using a sleep sack. You may need to play around a bit with layering and materials before you find the combination that works best for you little one. Keeping your baby cozy, warm, and comfortable will have them snoozing like a champ all winter long.
