When you’re sitting on the couch and feel a sudden chilly draft, your first instinct might be to grab your favorite fuzzy blanket and layer up—right?

But despite your baby’s growing abilities, they’re probably too young to grab their own blankets or extra socks to snuggle up with. Even if they could, the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends keeping blankets and other soft items out of their cribs and bassinets, as they pose an increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).¹

In lieu of blankets, the question remains—how to keep baby warm at night?

From wearable sleep sacks to setting the thermostat to a comfortable temperature, there are plenty of ways to keep the little one comfy. With these tips, you can feel confident that your sleeping baby will be warm and cozy while they slumber.

#1 Layer Your Baby’s Clothes Accordingly

One question many parents ask themselves when it’s time to put on their baby’s pajamas is, how many layers do they need? Are we talking double layers with a one-piece underneath the footie pajamas, or maybe a single layer with a zip-up footless jammie?

Both options could be right, depending on the temperature inside the house.

Consider these basic guidelines when choosing your baby’s jammies each night:

• Dress them in as many layers as you plan to wear – If you’re comfortable going to bed in a pair of pants and a tank top, then a single pair of footed pajamas is an excellent choice for your baby. However, if it’s chilly and you plan on doubling up with multiple layers, the odds are that your tiny tot should layer up, too. 

• Don’t forget their hands and feet – Cold hands and feet can cause discomfort. It’s important to consider those precious fingers and toes when choosing what to wear to bed. On colder nights, make sure they’re wearing socks (or footie jammies) to keep their tootsies warm. The same goes for their hands. Protective mittens or long-sleeve baby pajamas with the ever-convenient foldable mittens are excellent options to make sure their extremities stay toasty.

#2 Swaddle Them or Use a Wearable Sleep Bag

Wondering about the different types of baby blankets you can use for your sleeping baby? Many parents use swaddle blankets or wearable sleeping bags when their children are sleeping. They’re a useful extra layer to keep them warm on cold nights and they can double as a soothing mechanism for your little one:

• Swaddles – If you’re a parent to a newborn or baby who isn’t yet able to turn themselves from their backs to their tummies, a swaddling blanket is a fantastic way to keep them bundled up at night. They can keep your little ones from startling themselves awake and provide them with an extra layer of fabric to keep them warm on those cold nights.²

• Wearable sleep bags – A wearable sleep bag is similar to a swaddle, but many parents find it easier than the process of wrapping their wriggling baby in a swaddling blanket. To use it, you simply unzip the sleep sack, gently lay them inside, zip it back up, and use the convenient velcro straps to ensure they feel snug. Bada-bing-bada-boom—an efficient (and cozy) way to keep your little one warm at night.

#3 Maintain a Comfortable Nighttime Temperature

Do you ever feel the need to embrace the cold-weather spirit (especially in the middle of those hot summer days)? Maybe you turn down the thermostat as low as it’ll go and snuggle up in your flannel robe and multiple blankets to watch Elf.

As wonderful as that sounds, it’s important to keep your nighttime temperatures at a comfortable and safe level for your little one—ideally between 68 and 72 degrees.³ That way, your sleeping babe will feel cozy and secure in their pajamas and swaddle.

#4 Keep The Breeze at Bay

Your temperature might be set perfectly for your snoozing babe; however, your air conditioner or open windows still bring a pesky draft to their room, which can lead to a potential chill despite their snuggly swaddle and comfortable temperature.

If you notice that your little one’s bassinet or crib is near one of these common culprits of cold air drafts, consider moving their crib a few feet away to avoid receiving too much direct chilly air:

• Air vents
• Mobile fans
• Overhead fans
• Open windows

Keep Your Little One Warm Every Night with Monica + Andy

Not much compares to enjoying the coolness of the crisp night air when you’re enveloped in the warm embrace of your plush duvet—except maybe knowing that your little angel is sleeping just as snugly and comfortably in their crib.

Let Monica + Andy give you peace of mind with sleepwear that’ll keep them warm all night long. Made with 100% organic cotton, our pajamas + wearable sleep sacks are perfect for your baby, whether it’s the middle of winter or you just want to give them the highest-quality soft fabrics their sensitive skin deserves.

Browse our online selection today and stock up for year-round comfort (and warmth when it counts).

Sources:

1. AAP. Safe Sleep. https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/ 
2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Swaddling: Is it Safe for Your Baby? https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/diapers-clothing/Pages/Swaddling-Is-it-Safe.aspx 
3. NIH. Thermoregulatory effects of swaddling in Mongolia: a randomised controlled study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26515228/