The best baby sleep setup for winter

Our resident sleep expert, Annette Faamausili gives us her tips on the best sleep setup this winter.

 Photography Catherine smith for woolbabe + Bo & Ko Baby

With the shorter days and colder nights settling in, it’s time to think about how you approach sleep with your baby and setting up their sleep environment during the winter months. The good news is that during this season, your baby may naturally sleep for longer stretches. This is because the decrease in daylight and the longer periods of darkness stimulate an increase in melatonin (the hormone that regulates sleep) levels.

ROOM TEMPERATURE

Getting the temperature right in your baby’s room is key to ensuring they get a restful night’s sleep without being too hot or too cold.

If you have the luxury of central heating or use a heat pump, you are in the best position to control the temperature of your baby’s room.

18-20 degrees Celsius is the perfect temperature for your baby to sleep in and you won’t run the risk of them getting too hot.

If you are using a plug-in heater, such as an oil filled radiator, make sure you use a thermostat to keep the room at an even temperature. Not only will it prevent the room from getting too hot and stuffy, but you’ll also save money on your power bill too. Additionally, make sure the room is well ventilated by leaving the door open and keep the heater a safe distance away from the cot to prevent overheating. 

Babies who are too hot will find it harder to settle to sleep and stay asleep for longer.

WHY ARE MY BABY'S HANDS AND FEET ALWAYS COLD?

Did you know that your baby’s extremities will feel cold to touch even if baby is warm and cosy? Therefor this is not a reliable gauge on how hot or cold they are. This is because their circulatory system is still developing and won’t be fully developed until they are more mobile and active. Instead place your hand down the back of their neck to get a more accurate measurement of their core body temperature.

DRESS TO THE CONDITIONS

Sleeping bags or sleep sacks are the perfect choice when keeping your baby warm and cosy during the winter months. Not only will they stay warm and snug, but there are also no blankets to kick off as they move around the cot at night. Also, most sleeping bags come with a tog rating to help you choose the right bag for your baby and home environment. 

WHAT IS A TOG RATING?

Sleep bags or sacks with cotton or synthetic filling will be tog rated, which is a measure of how warm the bag is. Generally, the higher the tog rating, the warmer the bag. As an example, a 0.1 tog bag is the lightest bag and suitable for the hotter summer months and a 3.5 tog bag is the warmest and thickest and suitable for the colder months.

Sleep sacks that are made of merino, such as a Woolbabe sleep sack, are not tog rated, as the temperature regulating properties of natural merino wool means they can be used in a much wider temperature range and are therefore hard to measure and compare. Merino is also amazing at wicking moisture away from the skin, meaning babies that are sweaty won’t wake up from a cold clammy fabric. 

KEEP THE MATRESS WARM

Did you know your house will drop to its lowest temperature around 4-5am and this is when your baby is most likely to wake up if they are cold? If you’re up feeding in the night, it’s likely your baby’s mattress will get cold and make it harder for you to transfer them from your warm arms to a cold cot. 

Top tip

Place a wheat bag or hot water bottle on the mattress during a feed to help keep it warm and cosy. ALWAYS remove it before putting baby down to sleep. 

OTHER ESSENTIAL TOOLS TO AID A RESTFUL NIGHT'S SLEEP

White noise

Although white noise can be used any time of the year, it really is a fabulous tool to help babies settle to sleep and stay asleep for longer. Using white noise will help create a safe space for your baby to unwind and rest and help them to interpret the sound as a cue for sleep. 

It can also help to block out unwanted external sounds such as street traffic, noisy neighbours or older siblings in the house.

Comfort blankets

A comfort blanket is wonderful tool to provide your baby with a sense of security and attachment, especially during sleep times when they are sleeping away from you.

Cuski comforters are fully breathable, making them safe to use (with supervision before 7 months) and are designed at just the right size for little hands to grasp onto and easily locate within the cot. They are also made from a highly absorbent natural cotton making it easier for you to trap your comforting smells onto it.

Top tip

Place the comforter down your top one hour before every sleep time. If you’re breastfeeding, tuck it inside your bra to capture your unique ‘milky smell’. Not only will it become warm and cosy from being against your skin, but it will also bear your comforting smell, helping soothe your baby during sleep.

Annette Faamausili is a baby and child sleep expert and has been advising and supporting parents since 2001. She trained and qualified in the NHS, UK, and moved to New Zealand with her Samoan husband and family in 2011. Annette has three children (Matilda 17, Oscar 15, and Lola 9) and lives on the beautiful Whangaparaoa Peninsula in Auckland. Find her at serenesleep.co.nz.