Holiday, hotel cot bedding help for 4m old!

[Margo34]

Staying in a resort, 27 degrees here but we've Aircon and a ceiling fan (both on, room temp more like 20degrees. Baby wearing our own 0.5tog sleeping bag and short sleeved vest.

Classic travel cot has been provided by the hotel but with a proper firm and deep mattress (so not just the thin mattress that wraps around the travel cot when folded) but the mattress protector is very plasticky and baby feels very warm and I'm worried about SIDS risk.

What should I do?!

Can you take off mattress protector?

I had our 6MO DD in the bed with us during the holiday as I didn't trust the cot tbh. Go out and buy a plug in fan too if you're worried. Xx

Take off sleeping bag.

I’m sure you’ve already checked OP but is the firm Mattress that wraps around not still underneath the deep one?

Yes I could but I wouldn't want my 4m old sleeping on a 'naked' mattress in case they (or others before them) leak bodily fluids into it!

Yes it is I might just remove the proper mattress and stick to the base of the travel cot. It'll still be pretty hot though I thin, as it's plastic still?

*I think

Just take off the mattress protector. Put a hand towel between the sheet and the mattress if you're worried about leaks.

If you have air con and the room is 20 degrees, it's absolutely fine. I remember the anxiety when DC1 was that age but try to let go of it if you can.

There's already a fan in the room and our mattress isn't appropriate for bed-sharing unfortunately otherwise I'd do this, it's a big bed too!

You don't need a plug-in fan.

When DC1 was about 2 or 3 months old we went to visit the in-laws and there was a heat wave, no air con in their house and we were so hot, it was super stressful but everyone survived.

FYI the SIDS risk decreases significantly from 4 months onwards.

It's not absolutely fine if baby is still sweating and overheating though, is it? It's not anxiety it's a valid concern, particularly for a 4mo.

if you're worried about leaks - I am concerned about hygiene, again valid, where small babies are concerned, and not leaving a mattress wet as a breeding ground for mould spores whilst trying to limit my child's expose or inhalation of any potentially already there.

Glad I'm not a FTM, your response reads to me as quite belittling, hopefully it wasn't intentional and thank you for taking the time to respond.

Actually it peaks around 4m.

You're concerned about your baby sweating and overheating - the room is a normal temperature so it's clearly caused by the plastic mattress protector. You don't want to remove the mattress protector. So what advice do you want?

I think @NameChange30 was not trying to be belittling with the post. If room is 20 degrees, which is an acceptable temperature for baby, but she is still very hot, put baby in a nappy and 0.5 tog sleeping bag, or in a vest with no sleeping bag. Or remove the mattress protector- is baby is prone to being sick a lot or big nappy leaks? If so I can see why you want to leave it on but otherwise I would remove and put a towel under the sheet.

Actually the peak is 2-4 months. At 4 months there is still a risk of course but you are past the highest risk stage.

(Source: https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/bereavement-support/babies-over-a-year/)

Take a large towel and wrap it around the mattress - go widthways if you need to to make it tuck further under.

this will create a layer between baby and plastic so stop the sweating, but is tucked in tightly just like a sheet.

Can you ask for the smallest sheet they have and fold it or wrap it round the mattress, making it tight?

Creative problem solving that doesn't pose a hygiene risk.

So still a valid concern at this age, and in the peak range!

Thank you for the suggestions and ideas, I've got a plan in mind for tonight now. 🙏