Heating and New Born Babies

[Bellyrub1980]

Stupid question alert!!

Me and my DP are very stingey with heating. We avoid putting it on unless absolutely necessary (or once layering a few jumpers and cuddling under the duvet gets too cold). What can I say? We like to save money!!

However, I'm 38 weeks and everyone coming round today has said how freezing the house is. I have the benefit of being pregnant so that's keeping me warm... However... In 2 weeks (or maybe 4) there will be a new born baby in the house.

Normally, if we put the heating on it will be a one-off blast in the eves to take the chill off and then it quickly goes off again. However, I'm aware newborns are unable to regulate their own temperature and so we will have to keep the house a bit warmer.

So what do you do? Have the heating on a timer? Bearing in mind I'll be home with the baby all day. What sort of temperature do you aim to keep the house at? I understand too warm is just as dangerous.

Heating on a timer or on lower than average (we don't go above 15) will be fine as long as baby is appropriatly dressed in warm clothes. Wool vests and sleepsuits are ideal but can be expensive but you really will need good quality natural fiber clothes if you keep your house cold. Maybe a thin cotton or wool hat indoors too and warm socks.

We were like you extra jumpers and cosy blankets, since dd was born last Nov heating goes on a lot more. When she was tiny we tried to keep the house at 16-18 temp wise it's was a bit of a struggle we live in a old house she always had a cardigan on + blanket she was toasty.
Now she has a fleece dressing gown for mornings it's bloody freezing already but we are try to be sparing with the heating, if she feels cold it's goes on. Buy a groegg it really saved me worrying about what temp it was.

Great question Bellyrub - DH and I are exactly the same and I was wondering if we'd have to bump the heating up too (we'd absolutely BAKE if we had to have it around 18!). Really reassuring to know that others have just stuck extra layers on their babies . Will be following this post with interest!

All tips that you've just been given are good just remember no hats for baby's at night time !

We didn't have any central heating when DS was tiny (still don't in fact) but would just wrap him up warmly with an extra blanket if need be.

DD was born in January so house was cold. We used to keep her wrapped up all day and over night we had a small oil filled radiator on low in her room just to take the chill off. I slept in there with her for the first few months and appreciated it when up for night feeds.

I was like you but you'll probably feel differently once baby is out! You'll want it snug and warm and cosy and happy no matter the cost... I even bought a woodburner!