Newborn: Is it safe to leave the window open tonight?

[discopisco]

Hi all, I'm a FTM and absolutely have no idea what I'm doing re: temperature control for my 14 day old baby. I find he's either too hot and fussy or too cold and fidgety. I've got a growegg which is forever glowing red to denote our room is too warm. We're in a new build so all the rooms are stiflingly warm. Had a visit from the HV today and she said to give baby plenty of fresh air (I've had him closeted indoors because I'm petrified he'll catch a cold) and to open a window or two when he's asleep. It's 18 degrees where we are tonight. Me and baby cosleep. He's currently wearing a vest and a babygrow and I've covered him with a cellular blanket. Would it be okay to leave the window open tonight? Or would it be too cold? Will he catch a cold? Please help. I come from a culture where babies are covered under heavy blankets and duvets and anything less than that (in any weather) is akin to child abuse!

He will be fine if you have the window open, if he gets too cold then you can always close it. It is far better to have a slightly cold baby than too hot. It is very dangerous to let a baby over heat, if the room is very warm he has too many layers on at the moment I would say.

Thanks for the prompt reply @ChocolateRaisin. I've opened the window and am keeping a close eye on baby. I'm so anxious atm, I'm struggling to make simple decisions :/

Hi Disco, have you looked at the grobag sleeping bags? They come in different thicknesses for different temperatures and their website gives some guidance on how to dress baby.

Try not to worry. Fresh air is a good thing! As pp said, too cold much better than too hot. Plus if he’s too cold he’ll wake and tell you about it!

I have one bit of advice:

TOSS THE EGG

All it does is create anxiety over an unfixable situation- if the room feels hot, and baby feels hot/sweaty on back of the neck, nappy or nappy and vest. If they feel cold, light layers. Sleeping bags are super. I obsessed over the warmth/coolness for AGES until I realised that my judgement was best and just tried to keep him comfy whatever the temperature.

Get rid of the egg. It isn't helping. You know if it is warm or cold. Fresh air is necessary and a cold does not start from actually getting cold. Please don't keep yourself or your baby cooped up inside. It won't do anyone any favours.

I have one bit of advice:

TOSS THE EGG

I agree

Vest, babygrow and a cellular blanket should be fine at this time of year even in a warm house. Stick a finger down your baby's neck/back and if you think it feels too hot and sweaty take the blanket off.

Babies are tougher than you think, they won't die if you take your eyes off them for a second or if they get a tiny little bit too hot, as terrifying as it all feels at the moment. I promise.

I second grobags!! I obsessed over getting the blankets all tucked in, what to dress baby in, etc until we got sleeping bags. Their website even has a page that you put in room temp, age and weight of baby and tells you which bag and what to put them in! So good.

For now, window open is fine. What temp is your bedroom? Why is it so warm? Is your heating on? Try not to obsess over the egg.

Get out and about during the day in his pram. He won't catch a cold from being outside in fresh air. Sounds like you need to get out too. Being cooped up is no good for your mental health.

I would leave the window open. If the baby seems too cool, you can always add an extra layer.

Generally, babies will wake up and let you know if they get too cold!

Yes leave window vents open all the time and window cracked open a couple of inches at night.

Fresh air is healthy for babies and helps promote sleep. A stuffy unventilated room can be dangerous.

Agree with PP who suggested Gro-bag sleeping bags as they are much safer than using blankets as they cant ride up over baby's face or head.

Room temp should be between 16-19 degrees.

I hope you feel reassured after posting here. It's all such a daunting experience first time round.

I do think it's impossible to keep the room temp between 16-20' btw so don't worry about that. Just change what the baby has in according to room temp. I find 16-17' really cool but don't think 21-22 is particularly uncomfortable. Honestly look at the gro website for safe sleeping advice.

Who told you that getting cold gives you a cold? This is scientifically debunked. It’s an old wives tale.

It will get easier to judge temp for yourself. I remember the days when my first was little stressing over it so much. Now we just know what to do temp/clothes/bedding wise.

I always keep in mind that too cold is better than too warm. Open the window and get some cool fresh air in. You can always add a blanket but you probs won't need to in the temp you've described.

A cold is a virus. You get chilly or uncomfortable from being too cold. You catch a cold from being in contact with someone else with a cold.

He won’t get a cold unless he gets sneezed on by someone with a cold!

If he feels toasty when you slip your finger down his best at the back, then he is fine, even
If his hands are cold.
There is nothing toele you anxious like being in charge of s new baby. Keep coming on here for support.
Congratulations on your little one.

I don’t know if this will help at all but thought I’d share it x

I agree op throw that egg in the bin. When I was pregnant with dd I was obsessed with blankets convincing myself she'd freeze to death (born in January and I'm a naturally cold person not a good mix).

The one piece of advice I took from my HV was to look at what you're wearing and if you're comfortable dress the baby similarly and the add one extra layer (vest etc). They'll let you know if they're uncomfortable x

Thanks lovely people- your replies have been reassuring. I'm exhausted trying to do the 'right thing' all the time. The temperature thing has me totally flummoxed- I've become obsessed with numbers and layers.It doesn't help that prior to pregnancy I was a coldie but during pregnancy and now, my body feels as if it's on fire. When I've done the chest check on baby, because my fingers are extra warm, he feels cool to the touch to me even though he might be fine. The groegg is showing the temperature in our room as being 25 degrees- it hasn't shifted all evening even with the window being open for a couple of hours :/

Baby sneezed on the first day we got him home and that set me on edge so I've kept him in a warm and stuffy flat until now- hoping I haven't caused him any harm. It's just so, so hard making sure baby is okay. Doesn't help seeing SID warnings everywhere online. That's my biggest fear atm :'( will try to relax a bit and take baby out for a short walk tomorrow.

We have a grobag equivalent- I'm not sure what tog it is though.

Firstly you need to speak to your GP or the HV as it’s not usual to be so anxious. Secondly, you can’t catch a cold from being cold. Get outside with your baby! You are far more likely to have a healthy baby if it has a strong immune system, which it won’t develop shut inside. Thirdly, being too hot is far more of a SIDS risk than being too cold. Gro egg do a chart that tells you how to dress your baby for the temperature - have a look at that.

Newborns sneeze to get the gunk out of their noses that they can get lodged there during birth. Definitely nothing to worry about. Fresh air is good for them and will actually help them keep healthy.

Mine always slept with window slightly open, as do I. Seems normal to me.

That bloody egg. It is the thing I regret buying the most. You know if it's hot or not - you've got this!

OP remember the human race originated in East Africa where it's a lot hotter.

I remember being confused by bedroom temps, bee clothes etc. “One more later than you” worked well with DS, although dd was much happier with less. The best advice I was given is that a cold baby will wake up, but a too-hot baby won’t. Much easier to start off a bit cold.

As for getting a cold - this is inevitable, and will help build the baby’s immune system. Fresh air us good for mums a d babies. Get out and blow away some cobwebs.

Hope you’ve managed to get a little sleep, OP. Newborns and babies will sneeze. And baby will have a cold sooner or later (5 days old for my second //stares at snotty big brother) but this is how they build their immunity. Take them outside and expose them to the world, it will be good for both of you.

Also, if the anxiety persists, (and i, too, found the initial time totally overwhelming) do talk to your doctor.