Overheating - how can you tell?

[akichan]

I know they say that when your babe is overheated they become at a higher risk for SIDS, but is there any way to tell if they are overheated or not? I live in Hawaii and it's relatively warm here, but the babe's feet, hands, and sometimes legs feel cool, so I've kept him in a sleeper and sometimes swaddled, even during the day. Is that too much? How would you know, since at 6 days old he doesn't sweat (although I'm sure he'll start sweating soon)?

[chase_mommy]

I always dress baby to match me. If I am wearing pants and a sweater so is the baby. If I am in shorts and a tank top then baby will be in a onesie and shorts or just a onesie. When my children were newborns I would dress them like me and then wrap up in a receiving blanket and maybe a hat in the in the first few weeks. My babies were all born in the spring and its not to warm here in March so a sleeper and a blanket wouldn't be to much. I would check you LO's temp on their belly. If its to warm take off some clothes or lose the blanket. As far as being overheated look for rapid breathing, sweating and baby being agitated. Follow your gut instinct, if you think baby is to hot you are probably right.

[Beauchamp]

I've heard to check the back of their neck with a finger or two. My LO is only 2 weeks old, though, so not a lot of experience here.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by Beauchamp

I've heard to check the back of their neck with a finger or two.

: And feel it regularly so you have a sense of what "normal" is for your your LO.

[anyalily]

Yeah, back of the neck is what I have always done. Also, if she seems sweaty, fussy... My LO won't sleep if she is too warm...

I think I overdressed her most of her early infancy... I think all mamas do that!

When I started 'dressing her down' she was happier!

In Hawaii I would probably not put her in much except on cool, drafty days. Probably a onsie only at home, and some pants when we went out. Footless sleepers at night.

[MangoMommy]

I'm in Hawaii too and my LO (4w) wears a onesie and lounge pants all the time. Plus she is wrapped w/a recieving blanket too. At night I put a little knit cap on her if the fan is on high, as it's really chilly in our room.

I have a/c on all the time. My LO would be very hot in a sleeper here.

[mamazee]

The general rule I've heard is to dress the baby how you are comfortable + one light layer. So if you wish you could run around naked, just a onesie. Or just a diaper. If you are just comfortable in t-shirt and long pants, then that plus a onesie. If you are a tad warm in a t-shirt and long pants, then just that and nothing else.

And I agree with checking the back of the neck rather than the feet and hands.

[Pinoikoi]

Glad I found this thread! I haven't had a summer newborn for over 6 years, and I fairly certain I overdressed him.. all my other kiddos were winter/spring babies in Alaska, so overdressing wasn't so much of a concern

Dp has picked out newborn dresses, though, and I am a bit concerned that that would be too early.. I am due mid June. I kind of think I can't go too wrong with cotton, though, right?

[DevaMajka]

I read that if their head is warm, they are warm enough. My midwife said that their hands and feel will be cold, but that doesn't mean they need more clothes.
I always dressed ds how I would be most comfortable, maybe possibly in an extra t-shirt depending.

[no5no5]

DD's feet & hands would turn bright red & feel hot to the touch if she got the least bit overheated. She was always (and still is, at 4) more comfortable when she had cool hands & feet. I'd heard the rule that babies should have one more layer than adults in the same environment, but from the time she was a newborn she always wanted less clothing rather than more. She spent most of her babyhood practically naked!

The advice my mother gave me is that babies cry when they are too cold, but not when they are too hot--so err on the cool side. Of course, my kiddo did cry when she was too hot, but maybe that's not the norm.

[akat]

I was taught to check the torso, that it's okay for hands and feet to be cool, too.

I tend to run very cold, so I don't add a layer to the baby. I just dress him about the same as me - maybe a little more because his sleeper has footies and long sleeves and I'm in a short sleeve t and not wearing socks.

[sunshynbaby]

Ds gets sweaty and red in the face. He tended to overheat in zippered pjs that don't breathe, so I got rid of those.