Our General Manager, Russ, and his wife, Jenn, just welcomed a new baby girl in to the world two weeks ago… which got us to thinking about having a newborn in the home and what is the best temperature for them?

Bringing a new baby home can be both joyful and stressful. Getting everything right can be a challenge, particularly for new parents, as you want your home to be both safe and comfortable.

One of the chief concerns is ensuring the ideal room temperature for a newborn. While a chilly nursery can make a baby fussy, an overheated one can be downright dangerous, increasing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

SIDS and the Problem With Overheating

SIDS is a terrifying and confusing concept to most parents. While there are number of factors associated with the syndrome, SIDS is largely associated with overheating since higher temperatures make it make difficult for a baby to wake up to external stimuli.

Broadly speaking, SIDS happens when a baby is unable to wake when something goes wrong physiologically. Instead of crying out in distress, the overheated child will more likely remain silent.

By the time parents arrive to rouse the baby, the problem may have already progressed irreparably. To avoid this, you need to maintain the baby’s room at lower temperatures.

Setting the Ideal Temperature

Most experts recommend that you keep your home at between 68 to 72 degrees F.

To deal with warmer temperatures in the summer:

Use lighter bedding and baby clothing.
Open the bedroom door and a window if it is safe to do so.
If you have air conditioning, do not place the baby directly in the air stream as it tends to extra-cold.
If you use a fan, do not aim it directly at the baby.
During the summer, you need to ensure the baby has sufficient fluids if he or she is bottle-fed. Full breastfed babies usually do not need extra fluids.
Temperatures of up to 75 F may be acceptable in very hot climates.

To deal with colder temperatures in the winter:

Unless it is extremely cold inside, it is usually unnecessary to keep the heat on all night. Leaving it on can steadily raise temperatures without you even knowing it.
Instead, dress the baby in one extra layer than what you are wearing yourself. Never over bundle the child.
Do not put a hat on your baby when indoors as the head is important in regulating body temperature.
If you need to heat the room, do not place a space heater near the baby or direct a blow heater in the baby’s direction.
Keep comforters, quilts, and blankets out of the crib as the baby may accidentally slip underneath one and become overheated.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be “lightly clothed for sleep” and that the room temperature is kept “comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.”

We want to always ensure that EVERYONE is SAFE and COMFORTABLE in your home. Aside from setting the ideal temperature for your babies, we want to make sure that your heating and cooling systems are operating safely and efficiently. Taking care of you, your family, and your home is what we are here for. Call us if you have any questions or if you would like to set up your annual Fall maintenance or a free consultation for a new or replacement system. “Your Comfort Is ALWAYS Our First Priority!”