[Kam]

I can't seem to keep Meg warm at night. Poor thing wakes, crying, and snuggles/nurses back to sleep several times a night.

We cosleep, Meg on one side, DH on the other, me in the middle. DH and I wear light clothing and use a warm comforter. Meg, on the other hand, WON'T allow anything covering her. I try to dress her as warmly as I can in long johns and pjs over that, and lay a wool blanket down under her, but she is always cool to the touch. She seems to wake less on warm evenings, so I am fairly certain she is feeling cold at night, and waking because of it.

Does anyone have a solution? I have used sleep sacks in the past, but they aren't available for toddlers, are they? Please spam me if anyone makes anything warm, or knows a good place to buy something. This has been a constant struggle for us, and I would LOVE to find something that would keep my girl toasty.

Thanks in advance,
Kam, mama to 17-month-old Meg

 

[mommyof2kids]

what about the Pj's with the footies built in? I have seen some in Wal Mart in toddler sizes, the seem to be made out of a heavy material, its all one piece, with the footies

 

[chrysgee]

we're in a similar situation. we're trying "blanket therapy." we pull blankets up over our legs when we are reading books to dd. hopefully she will catch on that blankets are comfy and copy us soon. then maybe the nighttime blanket will work out better.

right now we have had to use let blankets on our bed and more pjs for the adults so that we are dressed more like dd. then we crank up the heat. i hate spending the extra money on heat and miss our comfy down comforter. i wish extended breastfeeding and cosleeping didn't mean that momma was cold and cramped all night!

 

[Kim]

We're in the same boat! I try to pull the blankets over dd when I know she is asleep, but am constantly waking up at night to her kicking and squirming and frustrated at the blankets.

Right now we're doing the same as you -- dressing her in several layers, but it hasn't gotten really cold here yet. Not sure what I'll do when the snow and freezing temps arrive!

As for the footie pj's -- I like the idea, but they are so often made of either flame-retardant polyester or plain-old cotton (which we are already doing). I won't sleep next to polyester let alone let dd wear it.

Is there such a thing as cotton fleece? Or is it all poly? If it were cotton, that might be a nice (thick/warm) option.

 

[Kam]

Hmm, some good ideas! I like the blanket therapy idea, chrysgee. I have been doing the same thing, but I think Meg considers it sneaky. "What are you doing, pulling that THING up on my legs?!" :LOL She always kicks it off, even in the middle of a good story.

Kim, I think there is cotton fleece. I have some things made of 80% cotton that are fleecey. I wonder if a WHAM would be willing to sew something out of hemp/cotton fleece or that luscious terry fleece with extra layers and footies...? Or with a big sack at the feet that could be unsnapped for nighttime changes? anybody? anybody?

If only I could sew.

Well, I guess we'll be cranking up the heat tonight.

warmly,
Kam, mamamamamamama! to Meg

 

[gardenmom]

I was looking for the footie pajamas too as our daughter does not cosleep with us (long story, but basically nobody slept at all that way) and she always kicks the covers off, and her room is the coldest one in the house, without it's own thermostat!

I think they legally have to treat 100% cotton with the nasty fire retardant chemicals to allow it to be used for sleepwear--hence the tags on items that say 'this item not approved for children's sleepwear', and so much of it being poly...

But there's no stopping you making your own footie pajamas, and I'm sure you could find someone to make them for you out of a nice soft cotton flannel (maybe double layer for extra warmth) or terry or chenille maybe???

 

[StillForest]

We've been struggling with the same thing for the past couple years. DD is almost 2 and Michigan winters are very cold. DD absolutely loves to nurse to sleep bare chested. This skin-to-skin contact is very important to her.

I've ended up dressing her in soft cotton fleece-lined separates after she falls asleep. I find that fuzzy fleece-lined jackets with snaps up the front go on most easily---with a nice warm pair of sweatpants.

She used to wake up in the middle of the night and impatiently say "NO COVERS" when I tried to put covers over her. She knows that I dress her every night after she falls asleep and seems to appreciate it. She's recently started picking out which jacket she wants to wear after she falls asleep.

I sleep right beside her with my sheet, blankets, and quilt ;-)

 

[bananasmom]

I love Carter's blanket sleepers (they have footies, but if your little one doesn't like them, you could cut them off). I've tried a lot of off brands, but keep going back to Carter's... the quality is fabulous.

 

[JuneMama]

I get the Lands End fleece jammies for my ds. I don't have a problem with polyester, and they keep him super warm. He also hated covers for a long while, but is now finally getting used to them. He'll even go so far as to fuss if I don't cover him with his blanket at nap time. Just keep trying, I'm sure your dd will get used to the covers at some point.

 

[Axis]

If you co-sleep I wouldn't worry that she is really getting cold. If she seems bothered by it and is snuggling up to you at night to get warm I would just put her in some footed pj's or put some socks on her. I have struggled with this with my own 2 "cover-kickers" and have found that *I* am more worried about them being warm then they are KWIM. They seem to be fine with no covers. I am the one who gets bothered that they *seem* cold. If she is visibly uncomfortable I would be searching for more ideas, but if *you* are the one more upset by it, then it is probably not bothering her

Respectfully,

 

[Kam]

Thanks for all the ideas and encouragement, mamas.

I think I've found something truly unique--Ruskovilla wool body suits! Here are some links, for you other worrywarts.

They come with footies up to 80cm, and without footies in toddler and little kid sizes. They are super pricey, but the second site is having a sale of 10% off, making the infant sizes only $45. Anybody tried these?

Organic Wool Underdungarees at Nordic Natural Wollens (good pictures)

Organic Wool Underdungarees at Lill-ing (good pictures)

Organic Wool Underdungarees at Morning Rose (this one has the sale, but no pictures)

I know what you mean about all those things we fuss about that don't bother our kids at all, Axis, and I wish you were right about this one, but I really think Meg is waking from being cold.

She has always been a totcicle.

off to check the totcicle herself,
Kam, mamamamama! to Meg

 

[Geofizz]

Just bumped into this thread. Whew. We're not the only ones struggling with this problem.

I've been putting her in a cozy sleeper and have even considered bundling her in a second sleeper for an extra layer. Unfortunately, she's often sweating in just the one sleeper by the time she falls asleep in the evening. After a few hours in our old drafty house, though, she cools off.

Karen literally throws a tantrum while sound asleep if I so much as put a comfy blanket over her. Then she wakes up freezing. I'm considering waking us all up at midnight to wrestle her into a second layer.

Cold hands on the boobies are *not* fun.

 

[WickidaWitch]

Normally I have this problem. Not so much now though. When ds and I watch tv we "cuddle" with a blanket. It's one of his many that he likes. Bob the builder or Thomas the train print on it.
Lately his Dad has been putting him to bed at night and they do a tent thing with the blanket. He likes that a lot!!
Tonight I put him to sleep and I could not get the boy to take the blanket off his head! He was sweating by the time he fell asleep and when I tried to pull it down some he moved it back up!
Maybe she'd like a sleeping bag? With a pretty print on it?

 

[Wendi]

Just blanket sleepers, or warm pj's and socks, I guess... although I certainly couldn't sleep with socks on... ew yuck!!! hahaha

Max can be in a dead sleep and I will pull the covers over him and immediately his leg is sticking straight up and it falls down and pulls the covers back off... he can't stand covers!!! LOL!!! In the summer it's too hot here to worry about it, but in the winter he's going to be wearing nice warm jammies.

 

[Beth-TX]

I just wanted to say that I think the wool body suits are a good idea. For those of you who don't use wool often, I'd like to point out that it lasts *forever* and is naturally anti-microbial, so you don't have to wash it often (unless you get a leaky poo diaper or something...).

peace, Beth