Babies should not sleep in ‘nappy solely’ as midwife manufacturers it a heatwave mistake

A registered midwife has warned parents against a common mistake made during hot weather — leaving babies to sleep in just a nappy — as temperatures soar during the heatwave

When the mercury rises, it can be challenging to know exactly how to dress your baby for bedtime to ensure they remain comfortable throughout the night. Striking the right balance is no mean feat – too many layers and they could become too hot, but too few and they might not be cosy enough.

Now, a registered midwife is cautioning parents against making one typical error when it comes to their child or baby’s sleep during bouts of warm weather.

The optimal room temperature for a sleeping baby lies between 16–20°C, and organisations like The Lullaby Trust advise keeping the nursery within this range to minimise the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

However, as temperatures soar, it can be tough to maintain cool bedrooms – meaning parents have to adapt by removing layers of clothing from their children, reducing the number of blankets or even decreasing the tog of a sleeping bag, reports the Mirror.

Registered midwife Lily Foggan is now urging parents to avoid making one mistake when dressing their children for sleep during a heatwave.

Lily stated: “In hot weather, babies obviously need fewer layers than normal. Lightweight sleepwear and lower-tog sleep bags are usually preferable to blankets, which can be kicked off or accidentally cover a baby’s face.

“However, a common mistake I see is parents leaving their baby in a nappy overnight, with nothing else, in fear of them getting too hot.

“Remember, usually we’re sleeping with a duvet and pyjamas, so they will need something similar.”

She continued: “Check their chest or the back of their neck for a more accurate indication of temperature, or can also check their temperature.

“The Tommee Tippee No Touch Digital Thermometer is great at eliminating the risk of waking them up, which no one wants, especially during a heatwave.”

How to keep a baby cool during a heatwave.

The Lullaby Trust suggests several ways parents can help their little ones stay cool while sleeping through a heatwave.

Methods include:

• Use lighter bedding and clothing, with fewer layers.
• Open the bedroom door and a window, if it’s safe to do so, to allow the air to flow.
• Check baby sleep bag guidance for which tog to use for each season.
• Use a fan to cool the room, but don’t aim it directly towards the baby.
• Keep curtains closed in the daytime so the room doesn’t heat up as much.
• Use a thermometer to check the room is the right temperature – as it’s hard to guess.