What is the best nursery temperature?
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The correct answer is between 61 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. That would not be any fun though if that was all I said so lets dig into it a little more on why the temperature of the nursery is so important for your new baby.
To reduce the risk of SIDS it is very important to not over-heat the baby. If the nursery is not able to be kept at the optimal temperature then a baby sleeping bag is preferred. These are good because it does not allow the blanket to come over the babies head and it also does not get kicked off the baby during the night. Increasing the chances of them getting cold and waking up. According to the European Journal of Pediatrics babies that slept with a baby sleep sack were less prone to SIDS. They found that babies that slept in a sleeping bag were less prone to turn in their sleep. It also helps that a blanket will not come up over its face and lead to increased temperatures and carbon dioxide re-breathing.
Some say if the room is too cold your baby will get a cold. As far as I can tell, this is a myth. They think that cases of SIDS is related to babies being over heated. If your baby is getting congested and a dry nose it may be good to get a humidifier in the room. It is not suggested to use a humidifier as the sole device to heat a room. An air purifier is also a good idea for your new baby’s room. It will remove a lot of the bad odor from diapers and the such and also will remove bacteria from the air that you don’t want your baby breathing in while it is sleeping. I have read that HEPA filters are the best to use for air purifiers and to stay away from the ionizer type because those could lead to asthma . Another good thing on a really nice day is to just open the windows and let the room air out for 20 to 30 minutes.
All in all you just don’t want your baby to get too hot. I know for me 68 degrees Fahrenheit would be a little cool but if I am ever in doubt I will just go check on my baby by putting my hand on its little belly and making sure it is not too cold or too hot. This is a good place to check since babies circulation isn’t the best so using their hands isn’t the best indication of if they are cool or too hot.
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