What’s the Ideal Room Temperature for a Newborn?

The constant fear of doing something wrong when it comes to your newborn’s comfort and safety is overwhelming. I’ve recently been there—hovering over my sleeping son in his bassinet, wondering if he’s too hot or too cold. I mean, babies can’t speak, so how do you truly know what “just right” looks and feels like for them? (It’s enough to make you break a sweat!)

So how can you ensure you’ve found the right room temperature for your newborn? Take a deep breath and a chill pill. With the help of a pediatrician and a pediatric sleep consultant, we’re breaking down the right temp range, sharing signs baby might be too hot or too cold and helping you create the ideal sleep environment with peace of mind.

Key Takeaways

• Always program baby’s room temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your infant comfortable and sleeping safely.
• If you think baby is too warm, consider giving them a cool bath before bed, using fans for extra air circulation and dressing them in very light, breathable layers. Signs of a baby that’s too warm include flushed skin, sweating and dehydration.
• If you think baby is too cold, consider adding an extra layer of clothing, using sleep sacks and installing draft blockers around windows and doors. Signs of a cold baby include pale or blotchy skin, lethargy and being cold to the touch.

What’s the Ideal Temperature for Baby’s Room?

Ideally, a baby’s room should be kept around 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, according to pediatric experts. This range helps baby stay comfortable and reduces the risk of overheating or getting too cold.

According to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, babies lose heat around four times more quickly than adults and have a harder time regulating their body temperature. When babies are too cold, they use more energy and oxygen than they should to keep themselves warm. “In the early days of life, this could result in low blood glucose levels and could cause the infant to lose weight,” explains Robert Quillin, MD, a board-certified pediatrician in Fort Worth, Texas.

On the other hand, one the biggest and most commonly known risks of a too-hot room is sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). “It’s a risk factor for SIDS because overheating can impair baby’s ability to wake up, which is a protective reflex during sleep,” explains Sarah Bossio, a certified pediatric sleep expert in New Jersey. In fact, a 30-year study in Canada found there’s a 2.78 times greater chance of SIDS occurring in babies on days when overall temperatures are higher than 84.2 degrees Fahrenheit, versus days when the temp reaches only 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

This can sound scary, but it’s precisely why experts say keeping baby’s room temperature between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit is a good, safe medium.

What’s the Ideal Temperature for Baby’s Room in Summer?

Not to be too repetitive, but the ideal room temperature for a newborn remains between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit for safety, even in the summer. That said, sometimes, that isn’t always doable (think: power outages!). So how can you make sure baby stays cool in the summer? “Parents can use fans to circulate air, light breathable sleepwear and blackout curtains to block heat during the day. A cool bath before bed can also help lower body temperature,” Bossio says. Just make sure fans are at a safe distance and not pointed directly at baby.

Signs baby is too hot

If baby’s too hot, they’ll start showing higher temperature readings resembling a fever (a body temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), says Quillin. But if you don’t have a thermometer handy, he and Bossio note are other common overheating signs you can look out for, including:

• Flushed skin
• Sweating
• Damp hair
• Heat rash
• Chest or cheeks are hot to the touch
• Extreme fatigue
• Fewer wet diapers

To cool baby down, remove some layers of clothing and ensure they’re staying hydrated with breastmilk and formula, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says.

What’s the Ideal Temperature for Baby’s Room in Winter?

Yes, baby’s room temperature should stay between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit—even in the winter (shocker, right?!). Of course, that is easier said than done—especially if you live in colder parts of the world. To keep baby warm when the thermostat doesn’t keep up, Bossio suggests using layered clothing—one more layer than you’d wear as an adult—and sleep sacks to bundle baby up safely. (Remember, for safe sleep, babies shouldn’t have with blankets until after they’re one year old.) She also suggests installing draft blockers for windows and doors to help keep the winter breeze out of baby’s room.

Signs baby is cold

A baby’s chest should feel warm, not hot or cold, says Bossio. If baby’s skin feels cold when you touch them, that’s a tell-tale sign they need more warmth. Quillin and Bossio share other signs baby may be cold:

• Pale or blotchy skin
• Dusky color to their lips and extremities
• They’re acting unusually fussy or lethargic
• They’re shivering or trembling

The bottom line: Always try to keep baby’s room temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. If stabilizing the temperature is out of your control and their room is getting hot, take some layers off baby and use a fan to circulate air. Too cold? Dress baby in one more layer than you’d wear in the same room. For any questions around the best temperature for baby and how to manage it, reach out to your pediatrician.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.