How To Keep Baby Hands Warm At Night

It is no secret that babies are susceptible to cold hands and fingers. It is especially true on winter nights when the temperature drops and they cannot move around as much to generate heat.

A baby’s circulation typically goes to their extremities last, resulting in cold hands and feet at night. A sleep sack and baby mittens will not only keep your baby toasty at night, but they could also help them sleep for longer stints, and baby mittens will also prevent your baby from scratching their face. In this blog, I’ll share my night routine of keeping my baby’s hands warm. I follow the same sleep routine every time I bring one of our babies home. Keep reading!

Should You Worry If Your Baby Has Cold Hands?

If your baby has cold hands, you should check their temperature by feeling their chest and tummy. If they are still cold, hold them close to your chest and wrap them in a blanket until their temperature returns to normal. Unless your baby’s cold hands are accompanied by other symptoms like a high fever, vomiting, or difficulty breathing, there is no cause for alarm. However, if you notice any of those symptoms, you should contact a doctor immediately, as it could signify a more serious condition.

Do Babies Need Mittens To Keep Their Hands Warm?

Most parents worry about their baby getting cold at night. It is essential to keep your baby warm, but you don’t want to overdress them and make them too hot. Mittens can help keep your baby’s hands warm and prevent them from scratching. Make sure your baby is not overheated if you choose to wear mittens. You can also use a hand warmer. A hand warmer is a small device in your baby’s crib that emits heat. You can keep your baby’s hands warm without overheating them.

Tips To Keep Your Baby’s Hands Warm At Night

Parents have frequently found it difficult to keep their infant’s hands warm during the night. I can attest from personal experience that babies are very good at wiggling out of swaddles and mittens.

But, numerous methods are effective that you can try to keep your baby comfortable and their hands and feet covered:

Use Mittens

The skin on a baby’s hands and feet can get cold quickly, so keeping them covered for safe sleep is essential. If a baby’s hands are cold, they may fuss and have difficulty sleeping. Baby Mittens are the best way to cover more of their hand than gloves. Mittens can also prevent babies to stop scratching their faces and eyes in their sleep. Keep an extra pair of mittens on hand at nighttime to replace those that get wet from thumb-sucking.

Sleep Sack

It is your responsibility to keep your baby comfortable since they cannot regulate their body temperature. Using a sleep sack is one way to accomplish this. A sleep sack is a wearable blanket that helps your baby sleep through the night by keeping them warm and cozy. They are typically made of cotton or flannel and lined with another type of fabric, but if you are looking for winter, polyester is a great option. The sleep sack should be snug but not too tight. It should also be breathable so your baby doesn’t get too hot.

Sleeping Bag

A baby comes with so lot of responsibilities. But what if there was one worry you could cross off your list – keeping their little hands warm at night? A sleeping bag can do the trick. Put their hand inside the sleeping bag while they sleep. Make sure you keep their hand close to their chest.

Swaddling

Swaddling is an ancient practice of wrapping infants in blankets or clothes to restrict their arms and legs. It is usually done soon after birth. The primary purpose of swaddling is to recreate the snug, warm feeling babies have in the womb and to keep their reflexive startle reflex from waking them.

Swaddling keeps your baby’s hands warm, but don’t swaddle your baby too tightly to avoid suffocation risks.

Pre-Warm The Crib

Before placing your baby in their crib, put a hot water bottle or heating pad on the mattress to warm the bed. Always test the bed temperature first to make sure it’s only warm to the touch, not hot.

Pre-warming the bed will help maintain your baby’s body temperature after you lay them down. It usually takes a while for their bodies to adjust to the colder air and generate enough warmth, which will help speed up that process

Warm Your Baby’s Room

Many parents use regulating the room temperature to keep their babies comfortable. A baby’s hand is an excellent way to gauge their body temperature. When babies are active and play, their hands will stay warm, but at night, when babies are sleeping, their hands will feel colder. If you have a digital thermometer, you should warm your baby’s room to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

What Methods Are Unsafe For Keeping A Baby’s Hands Warm?

Overheating and suffocating are both severe risks for a sleeping baby. Never compromise your child’s safety to keep them warm at night. The following methods are not recommended:

• Letting them sleep face down
• Use of an electric blanket
• Sleeping bag or heavy blankets in the crib
• Placing a heating pad or hot water bottle in your baby’s bed
• A lot of dressing layers

How Can I Stop My Baby From Getting Too Hot?

Taking a few simple steps can help prevent overheating in your baby.

• Use a thermometer in the room where your baby sleep.
• You can also open a window if you don’t have an air conditioner.
• You can cause your baby to sweat by covering him with a blanket or wearing extra layers.
• Invest in easy-to-wear mittens.

Things To Do When Putting Your Baby To Sleep

You should remember a few things when putting your baby to sleep.

• Back sleeping is more conducive to infants, so placing them in this position when they need a bedtime is essential. By doing this, the chances of SIDS will be reduced.
• You should have warm, cozy air in your home.
• Dress the baby in a comfy garment, such as a long sleeve cotton romper or footie pajamas, to keep the baby warm and comfortable.
• Your baby’s sleeping arrangement should follow all safety standards, whether a crib, bassinet, or firm mattress.
• Your baby should be sleeping without pillows, loose blankets, sheets, or comforters to limit the risk of SIDS.
• Additionally, the room should be kept at an ideal room temperature to reduce the chance of SIDS.
• You can use safe space heaters to keep your baby’s room warm and cozy.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should Babies Stop Wearing Mittens?

Mittens are necessary for babies in cooler weather to keep their hands warm. It usually occurs around six months of age, but it may depend on the baby’s environment and other factors. However, mittens should be removed when babies can independently handle things. They no longer require the additional warmth that mittens provide.Read More

Do Babies Need To Wear Mittens At Night?

It’s that time of year again when the weather starts to turn colder, and we begin to break out the winter gear. You may wonder whether you should wear mittens during the winter if you have a baby.

So, yes! Mittens are a necessity for babies during the colder months. In addition to keeping babies’ hands warm, they also prevent them from scratching their faces. In addition, mittens provide a protective barrier for the baby’s delicate skin.

Final Verdict

There are several ways to keep baby hands warm during the winter. Parents can dress their babies in warm clothing, use mittens or gloves, and apply lotion to prevent dryness. Additionally, parents can ensure that their babies are not in the cold for too long by bringing them inside regularly and avoiding exposure to cold wind. Parents should take the following precautions to keep their babies warm and comfortable all winter.