How to dress cot for newborn? Worried about being too hot/too cold

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We’ve got a newborn DS who is just under six pounds. He’s in a next to me cot and currently I put him down in a long sleeved vest, long sleeved body suit with feet and fold over scratch mitts and then I have a white company cellular blanket which I double up and put over him, tucked under all the way around the mattress and under his arms.

We have a gro-egg which says our room varies from 18-21 overnight and we followed the guide for the highest temp but found he was cold to touch which is why we added a long sleeved vest instead of a short sleeved vest.

My question is - the cellular blanket is very big so a lot needs to be tucked around the mattress, and it doesn’t seem to be very warm?

He prefers another blanket which is wool and acrylic and smaller, but still big enough to be doubled up and tucked in the same way but I wasn’t sure if this was safe? Does the cot have to use cellular blankets only?

I’m paranoid about him overheating or getting too cold as the house is old and although the egg says it’s warm enough it can be quite draughty.

Forgot to add, he didn’t really go down in the cot for long despite sleeping for longer chunks downstairs when he’s swaddled in the woollen/acrylic blanket and I’m worried he’s waking because he’s cold

We used a grosnug at that age. Removes all the worry about blankets.

Ah good to know @welshweasel ive got a light one on its way but we seem to fall between two temperature groups (one up to 20 and then we slip into 21 too) so wasn’t sure which one to get! I think we probably could have done with cosy not light

I used growbags with my first, their extremities sometimes feel cold when they are warm enough I believe. Is his chest warm?

Both ended up co-sleeping though, then didn’t need the bags to be honest!

I thought grosnugs are not recommended for s newborns. There is a weight guideline on them yes?
OP I was the same. I had DS in December, he was prem and less than 6lbs. I was paranoid at first as the hospital was really hot and he always had a hat on, so I kept my house hot and kept him in a hat. I got a groegg and relaxed a lot more. it's better to be a little chilly than too hot.
I had some giant muslin sheets which I used when it was really cold along side the cellular. Is the groegg positioned where the baby sleeps?

That sounds like an awful lot - could be too warm. My Some goes to sleep in a sleep suit and a swaddle. It’s hard to judge a baby by touch. If you yourself are overly warm your baby will feel cold to you. Also the advice isn’t to judge temperature by how their hands and feet feel. You are supposed to feel their stomach for temp.

It's better to be slightly cool rather than too hot. Babies hands and feet often feel cold but their bodies are warm, so check the temperature on the back of his neck rather than feeling is hands or arms.

Also babies vary in temp, both mine were like radiators and too hot in the recommended bags for how cold our house was!

Yes the gro egg is on the bedside cabinet which is right next to his cot. He’s on the other side of the room to the radiator, and the grobag guide says he should be in a short sleeved vest and sleepsuit for the room temp of 21 but when we put him down in that, when I picked him up the next morning he was very cool so we changed to longer sleeved vest.

The changing temp of the room confuses me with how many layers etc I need. And you’re right @Biancadelrioisback the hospital was MUCH warmer and he had a hat but they told us not to use the hat at home.

It’s really stressing me out!

Oh man. I remember this. My kids were 2lbs and 2.5lbs. Not twins. But sisters.

I remember worrying so much when I had my first. I remember falling asleep with her because I was so tired and freaking out. My second I Co slept with. Much better

Go with what you think. Don’t worry too much. If he sleeps better with the cosy blanket. The. Use it.

@Newsnat that’s what I thought but it was my midwife who recommended that we switch to a longer sleeved vest.
The cellular blanket just seems so thin.

Buy a digital thermometer that you put in his ear to take his temperature. They gave me huge peace of mind and took the guesswork out of everything

We found following the official guidelines exactly left both DSs too cold when they were newborns and a trifle too warm when they were toddlers. Which makes sense when you think about it, as a new born has less fat on them than a chunky toddler. Go with your instincts. If their chest or bacl feels cool then they probably are a little chilly.

If your baby was uncomfortably cold he would wake up is my logic when mine were small.

You can pick up a child's thermometer in any chemist or supermarket- you will need regularly as with any health concerns the first thing you should do is take their temperature. please buy one!

I think I read somewhere that the temperature range and tog recommendations given by the Gro Company really err on the side of caution re. overheating- makes sense from their point of view given the risks associated with it. Our house was the same sort of borderline temperature as yours during the evening (although would drop slightly during the night). We used the cosy snugs and now 2.5tog grobags, and DD never feels too hot when you stick your hand down her neck/chest. They're only guidelines and every baby is different. Basically I wouldn't get too bogged down so long as your wee one isn't too warm- a PP's suggestion of checking with a digital thermometer is a really good one.

The grosnugs are great though. Dd was bursting out of hers' by six weeks but you'll probably get longer out of them. If you've gone for the lightweight you could add one layer of the cellular blanket if/when you feel the need to, but as (army) DH always says "one layer below is worth ten above"- he'll probably be ok with just the grosnug. And if he isn't he'll soon let you know!

Does the cot have to use cellular blankets only? light weight blankets are recommended for use in cots/moses baskets, as bulky and heavy bedding increases the baby’s risk of over heating etc.. So, as long as the other blanket is light weight and is big enough that you can tuck it firmly under the mattress (and is not above baby’s shoulder height) it’s fine to use.

However, If you think he’s too cold and want to add an extra blanket you could double the cellular blanket up. The blanket is then classed as 2 blankets (as long as it will still tuck firmly underneath the mattress when it’s doubled up).

But to be honest the baby sleep bags are fab! there’s no messing around using blankets, and they’re also easier to wash and dry.

Also, there’s no need to have the heating on over night (not sure if you do). The best way to check your baby’s temperature is by putting your hand on the skin on their tummy or the back of their neck. Don’t use their hands or feet as a guide as they will always feel cooler than the rest of their body.

If your baby is too hot you will feel the skin is hot, slightly clammy or sweaty, and you will need to remove some layers. If your baby’s tummy/back of neck feels cool you just need to add and extra layer of clothes or a blanket.

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/baby-room-temperature/

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/mattresses-and-bedding/

Better too cold than too hot. Cold babies cry, hot babies die.

You can pick up a child's thermometer in any chemist or supermarket- you will need regularly as with any health concerns the first thing you should do is take their temperature. please buy one!

There’s absolutely no need to use a thermometer to check the temperature of a well baby every night. I would however get one in, so that you can check his temp when he’s poorly.

I don't know if its helpful but I had a baby motion sensor under the mattress with mine. An alarm went off if the baby stopped moving. If you're worried about your baby getting one might help with your anxiety. It helped enormously with mine.

Thank you @kendodd I think I might. Im petrified of causing baby to overheat or giving him hypothermia! Neurotic I know.

I think if the room was cooler I’d feel more confident, plus I’m terrible at being able to tell how warm he feels on tummy and neck as my hands are always cold

I’ve put him down in a bodysuit with a thin sleeveless vest and the cellular blanket doubled up (it’s really thin) and tucked in so it’s like two blankets.
The room is currently 19 so I’m hoping that will be okay for him tonight and he won’t feel too hot or too cold.

I have a 6-week old and I'm the same, OP. Our heating turns off at 10pm so by the early hours the room is 16-17C which feels very cool to me. But the advice is confusing; on the one hand it's "don't let the baby overheat" and on the other it's "dress the baby in one more layer than you have on". Well at 16C I'm in a t-shirt, jumper and thick winter duvet - so should the baby have all that plus an additional layer? (I know he shouldn't, so why do they advise "plus one layer"???

I know @jonnypocketrocket I’m currently lying watching him breathing and putting my hand on his stomach every time I think I can’t see it rise and fall 🤨 I’m hoping I calm down a bit in a few days!