Obsessing over temperature - someone tell me I don't need to do this!

[katescarlett]

My DS is 3 weeks old and was born one month early at a low birth rate - but he is growing really well. Me and my DH are obsessed with room temperature, especially at night time. First time parents👀
We have three (yes three) room thermometers in our room, all of which tend to state a temperature of around 22 degrees. We have been told by midwives that the ideal room temp is between 16-20, but in our house it doesn’t seem possible to maintain this without keeping the windows wide open, which we’re scared to do in case it gives him a chill.
Is 22 degrees okay? DS normally has a vest, sleep suit and a blanket on him... are we overdressing him? Terrified of overheating. How do you find the balance?

You can test if he's hot by feeling his neck and torso. Don't stress x

Oh my goodness! Throw them all out! Trust me, he will soon shout if he's uncomfortable in his sleep

Just put a long sleeved suit on him and pop him in a grow bag or whatever they're caked these days. He'll be fine

It’s fine!! Step away from the thermometers!

If you feel his chest you’ll know if he’s too hot, just dress him sensibly and appropriately for the weather. Layers are better as you can easily remove them if necessary.

I would lose the vest. Sleep suit is probably warm enough for that temp. I was the same and I still give it a lot of consideration now too to be honest! Even though DS is one!
I can wholeheartedly recommend sleeping sacks/ gro bags. The tog rating gives a good guide and then no worries re blankets etc. The gro company sell them (but so do all the super markets for half the price!) and they have a guide on their website that is like a chart by temp showing what baby should be wearing etc.
Try to relax! And enjoy you’re little one!

It's normal to worry. I drove my ExDP crazy about my D'S temp. Agree with above, feel his chest or neck. My D'S was born in the summer and we had vest, sleep suit and a waffle cotton blanket. So I think your D'S should be fine

I was obsessed with room temperature when my DD was a baby. She's two soon and I still have a good look at her room thermometer before she goes to bed every night

I finally relaxed when my DD was big enough to wear gro bags and I'd follow their chart in terms of dressing her for the appropriate temperature. It felt like that took the pressure off a bit and I didn't have to guess / trial and error / second guess myself so much.

i felt exactly the same when i had my DD (she's 3 now) i brought her home in the middle of a heatwave and the first night our bedroom was nearly 30 degrees despite best efforts to cool the room down. i remember crying because i didn't know what to do!

ok so first off ditch two of the thermometers and keep the one you find most accurate. i liked our gro egg for this. then i would recommend getting a few different togs of gro bags (i only bought official ones, they can be expensive but cheaper in t k maxx) then i went off this guide...

gro.co.uk/what-to-wear/#EN

that gives you a guide as to what to put on them.

i'm guessing your little one will be too small for gro bags for a while being prem, i think my dd went in them at 7 weeks and she was 8lb 3 born.

and don't forget to trust your instinct, feel his chest/neck, (not hands and feet)

oh and don't let people make you feel bad about worrying about this! my mum used to be like 'why have you got a thermometer in the room?! we used to put you to bed in hat and gloves' etc...it's so drilled into us these days that overheating is a main contributor to SID that it's normal to care about this and be worried. you aren't alone!

I would lose the vest, and at least 2 of the thermometers. What do you wear to bed - if it's roughly the same as you then you'll be fine!

Oh I so remember being exactly the same last year when my daughter was born so don’t worry we all do it! Agree with other posters about grobags - made me reassured I was putting my daughter in the right number of layers as it gives precise descriptions by temp. Think they can go in those once they are over a certain weight.