Babies usually cry when they are cold or hot due to discomfort. Therefore, to know if the baby is cold or hot, you should feel the baby's body temperature under the clothes, in order to check if the skin is cold or hot.
This care is even more important in newborn babies, as they are not able to regulate their body temperature, and can become very cold or hot more quickly, which can cause hypothermia and dehydration.
To know if your baby is cold or hot, you should:
- Cold: feel the temperature in the baby's belly, chest and back and check if the skin is cold. Checking the temperature on the hands and feet is not recommended, as they are usually colder than the rest of the body. Other signs that may indicate that the baby is cold include tremors, pallor and apathy; Heat: feel the temperature in the baby's belly, chest and back and check that the skin, including the neck, is moist and the baby is sweaty.
Another great tip to prevent the baby from feeling cold or hot is to always wear a layer of clothing on the baby more than the one you have been wearing. For example, if the mother is short-sleeved, she should dress the baby in long-sleeved clothing, or if she is not in a coat, dress the baby with one.
What to do if your baby is cold or hot
If the baby has a cold stomach, chest or back, it is probably cold and therefore the baby should be dressed with another layer of clothing. For example: wear a coat or long-sleeved clothing if the baby is dressed in a short-sleeved clothing.
On the other hand, if the baby has a sweaty stomach, chest, back and neck, it is probably hot and, therefore, a layer of clothing should be removed. For example: remove the coat if the baby is wearing it, or if it is long-sleeved, wear a short-sleeved outfit.
Find out how to dress the baby in summer or winter at: How to dress the baby.
