Some "baby room questions"

[Wtbam]

Hi All!

I have a few questions I would like your opinions on please!

1) How important is it to have a thermometer in the babys room? (Thermostat?). I know that baby needs to stay at the right temperature - will it be easy to tell that the temperature is okay or should I invest in one?

2) Blankets in cots! I have done a lot of reading about this, and some people say it is fine to have a blanket in the babys cot from birth as long as it is tucked in at the bottom, some people say it is a big no-no and recommend sleep bags and suits. Please can I have some thoughts?

 

[sethsmummy]

hey hun..

no thermometer is not an essential unless you will be worried all the time? The general rule of thumb is baby needs one more layer than you are wearing. you will be able to feel baby and tell if they are warm/cool enough.. although a lot of babies have cold hands so dont judge by the temperature of their hands.

blankets.. i have used with both of my boys and ive never had a problem as long as they are put in their cot/bakset/crib feet to foot and the blanket is tucked in/swaddled then it should be fine. The Danger comes if baby can wriggle its way down under the blanket but since if their feet are at the bottom theres not much chance of this. Blankets should also only be put as high as under the armpits xx

 

[ThinkPositiv]

I stressed over temperature in my first borns room! But here was a electric baseboard heater and it was a little unpredictable at best! In the end we just set it low and as time went on I relaxed.... But I still worry a lot and she's 17 months! Some fancy monitors have a thermometer... Next time!

As for blankets...... I went with the current recommendation where I live ( bc Canada) which had just changed before i gave birth. So we put a flannel blanket tucked in securely on sides and bottom.... Man, I remember the stress of tucking it in securely while trying not to wake the baby I just rocked and settled and nursed! I personally for those reasons won't do it with this baby.... I will prob just onsie and sleeper until 3 months then sleep sack. Too much worry for me. We used a sleep
Bag with first at 3 months and came to love our gro bags! It wasn't till lo was 16 months that I felt comfortable with anything in her crib! But I'm over paranoid I'm sure. Now she goes to bed with her two favorite dolls and I don't blink and eye.

Gotta do what works for you.

Congrats!

 

[SoBlessedMama]

As far as temp, it really depends on your home. We have central heat and air, so I always knew the temp would stay comfortable throughout the house. We did (and still do) keep an oscillating fan in DS's room--this just helped circulate the air a bit, it supposedly reduces the risk of SIDS, and the white noise helps him sleep. We never aimed it directly on him--just near him in his room.

For blankets--we never used one with him until he was well over a year old. It was just easier to make sure he was dressed comfortably and warmly enough in a sleeper or sleep sack. We will do the same with this baby. : )

I totally understand the stress that comes with all of this, and wanting to do everything exactly right! : )

 

[ispeakinsongs]

Hey we didn't have a thermometer until LO was 8 months or so and then only as I got a free one with my gro bag. I don't think you need one as you can tell if a room is warm or too warm etc with some common sense

We never used blankets until LO was over a year.
We had swaddling blankets in the beginning until 2 months (they are great as make baby feel very safe) and then we used sleeping bags.

hope that helps

 

[Wtbam]

Thanks all, that's really helpful!

A few more questions! (Sorry) - I read you should avoid a hat on a sleeping baby, is this true?

Also, did you invest in a changing table, or was it a waste of money?

 

[ajlj1126]

Hi! I haven't heard anything about hats,but I never used them as DD wouldn't keep them on anyway.
As for the changing table, everyone told me I was wasting my money when I bought one for DD. But she is 11 months now and I use it every time I get her dressed or changed. There have been a couple of times I tried to get her dressed on my bed or somewhere like that, but she just wants to wriggle around and gets mad when I try to keep her still, but on the changing table she knows it's time to get changed or dressed... I think she is conditioned in that when she is on the changing table, she is getting changed, and anywhere else is play time!

 

[RaspberryK]

I used a thermometer and our monitor base unit glowed with the appropriate colour for the temperature.
It's proven that most people are actually pretty terrible at judging room temperature and a lot of people have it far to warm in the bedroom for a baby.
And therefor overdress/too many blankets.
Hats should always be removed indoors and sleeping.
We had a changing unit in our bathroom and I used it everyday for 18 months.
Xx

 

[sethsmummy]

Thanks all, that's really helpful!

A few more questions! (Sorry) - I read you should avoid a hat on a sleeping baby, is this true?

Also, did you invest in a changing table, or was it a waste of money?

Your supposed to avoid it hun (unless out in the cold) as the head is where they loose most of their body heat. So if they are too warm and have a hat on then they've no way of getting rid of the excess heat.

I had a change table for ds2. Used it for a couple months then stopped. From about 2 months I just changed him on a mat on the floor. So kind of a waste of money for me.

 

[Selaphyna]

I never had a thermometer in the room. He slept in the same room as me for 3 months and then moved to his own room (still didn't have one in there either).

As for blanket, early on I never used one, I tried to swaddle him, he was kind of defiant though and would always wiggle at least one arm out. I didn't start using blankets in crib until he was at least a year old. For the most part he wore sleepers with onesie underneath, and i put socks on him underneath. He was comfortable. I only used blankets before a year old when he was in his carrier.

I only used hats when I had him outside early on (he was born in Feb).

I never had a changing table. I used a changing pad and either used the floor or my bed to change him.
This time around we are getting a pack 'n play that has bassinet sleeper, napper and changing thing on it, but this is only because of our small space we have atm. It will be easier for me to change him on the changer or on our bed. We have hardwood floors, where as with DS1 we had carpets.

 

[SoBlessedMama]

I've never heard that about the hats, but it does make sense to NOT put one on a sleeping baby so that excess heat can escape.

We used a changing table with DS#1, and have a changing pad on top of a dresser this time around. To me, it is worth it to have something to keep diapers and wipes on (handy!) and also just to avoid having to kneel on the floor.