Really dumb question about swaddling/blankets etc...

[hopefully]

We are planning on swaddling in the early days, then moving on to baby sleeping bags.

However, it's literally just occured to me (bearing in mind I'm due in 10 days...) that swaddling alone might not be enough to keep it warm at night, and I should be tucking a cellular blanket or top sheet over it as well.

The swaddling fabric we have is kind of like jersey cotton, so not terribly thick, and our house isn't desperately warm (terrace, but old), although probably by the time very cold weather sets in we'll be moving on to a sleeping bag...

What should I be doing? Am so embarrassed to not have thought of this before.

[LoveMyGirls]

Can't you jsut get a couple of fleecy babygrows? You could get a celular blanket as well or instead?

[e14mum]

Keep in mind that when you swaddle, the baby has at least 3 layers of the swaddling blanket over it (as you wrap each side across and the bottom up) so you might find it's warm enough on its own. We have a warm-ish flat, so a sleepsuit and then light swaddle blanket was enough for DD.
However, you could always put a cellular blanket overtop of it all- just be careful not to overheat the baby!

[LoveMyGirls]

like this?

[isaidno]

It is best not to let baby be too hot, he will tell you if he's cold.

Dress baby appropriately under the swaddle. He might need a vest and babygro, or just the babygro.

You could pop a blanket over him, but I doubt it would be necessary and you would have to be sure it was tucked in and couldn't go over his head.

[thequietone]

I've always used just a cellular cotton blanket with my two. Then if the chill sets in I layer them up underneath with a babygro as well as a little vest, rather than more blankets. Remember, it's OK to have a cool house, it's much safer for them. Rather too cool than too hot. My little DS2 (6 months) went into the grobag at about 3 months.

[hopefully]

We've actually been donated a couple of fleecy babygrows in the massive bundle from DP's sis, good idea lovemygirls!

Think will start with that, and add blankets if it doesn't seem enough. Thanks for the advice, paranoia set in after seeing a photo of a baby swaddled and under a blanket and a top sheet!

[ajm200]

Dress baby in a babygrow and then swaddlle him/her. Check at intervals to see how warm LO by putting your fingers down the back of their neck. They should feel warm but not clammy. Don't go by the temperature of their hands and feet, it's the temperature of their torso you need to worry about.

A cold baby will just wake up. A baby that is too hot can't regulate its body heat and could seriously overheat so go for cool if anything.