Yes, newborns feel cold quickly because they lose heat fast; keep them dry, layered, and warm—especially the head, chest, hands, and feet.
New babies don’t control body heat like older kids. Thin skin, a big head, little body fat, and wet skin after birth all pull heat away. Cold stress can tire a baby, slow feeding, and disrupt sleep. The flip side matters too: too many layers can overheat a baby. This guide shows clear signs, safe ranges, and simple steps that work day and night.
Newborn Temperature Basics
Most term babies generally do best near the middle of the safe range. Use a digital thermometer, and check the chest or back for touch cues. Hands and feet can feel cool and still be fine.
| Reading (Axillary/Rectal) | What It Means | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| 36.5–37.5 °C (97.7–99.5 °F) | Normal range | Keep baby dry, fed, and dressed in light layers |
| 36.0–36.4 °C (96.8–97.5 °F) | Mild cold stress | Add a layer, start skin-to-skin, and recheck in 15–20 minutes |
| <36.0 °C (<96.8 °F) | Low temperature | Skin-to-skin with warm blanket; if not rising, call your care team |
| ≥38.0 °C (≥100.4 °F) | Fever | Remove extra layers and seek medical advice |
These cutoffs are standard in newborn care and reflect how small bodies react to cold or heat. If a reading concerns you, repeat the check within a few minutes and watch your baby, not just the number.
Why Babies Lose Heat Fast
Their surface area is large compared with weight, so they shed warmth to air and surfaces. Damp skin after a bath, a draft, or thin clothing speeds that loss. Premature or small babies lose heat even faster. Drying, layering, and close contact are simple, strong tools you can use right away.
Do Newborns Feel Cold At Night? Practical Signs
Yes. Night feeds, diaper changes, and thin pajamas can cool a baby. Here are signs of cold stress you can spot quickly:
- Cool chest or back on touch; cool hands alone don’t count.
- Mottled or pale skin, especially on the belly or thighs.
- Less active, sleepy at the breast or bottle, slow suck.
- Shallow breathing, or fussiness that eases when warmed.
To confirm, take a temperature. If it’s between 36.0–36.4 °C, add one light layer and hold your baby skin-to-skin. If it’s below 36.0 °C, start skin-to-skin right away and call your care team if the number stays low.
Skin-To-Skin: The Fastest Warm-Up
Skin-to-skin contact (often called kangaroo care) is one of the best ways to warm a baby. Place baby upright on your bare chest, place a warm blanket over both of you, and keep the room draft-free. This steadies breathing and heart rate and helps feeding. It also keeps babies in the normal range more of the time.
Simple Steps For Skin-To-Skin
- Sit back. Open your shirt. Keep a light wrap ready.
- Place baby upright on your chest, head turned to the side.
- Place the wrap on baby’s back. Keep the nose and mouth clear.
- Hold for at least 20–60 minutes, then dress in dry, warm layers.
Room Temperature And Layering
Most babies sleep well when the room feels like a light-sweater day for an adult. Many families find 20–22 °C (68–72 °F) comfortable. Dress your baby in one more thin layer than you would wear in that same room. A cotton base layer plus a footed sleeper or a sleep sack works for many homes.
| Room Temp | Suggested Sleep Wear | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 24–26 °C (75–79 °F) | Cotton short-sleeve bodysuit | No hat indoors; keep face and head bare |
| 20–23 °C (68–73 °F) | Bodysuit + lightweight sleeper or 0.5–1.0 TOG sleep sack | Check chest; add or remove one thin layer as needed |
| 18–19 °C (64–66 °F) | Bodysuit + sleeper + 1.0–2.0 TOG sleep sack | Use fitted layers; avoid loose blankets |
| ≤17 °C (≤62 °F) | Skin-to-skin first, then add layers once warm | Warm the room if you can before sleep |
A newborn’s head sheds a lot of heat. That tempts people to use hats at night, but indoor hats during sleep can overheat a baby. Keep the head and face bare once home from the hospital.
Safe Sleep While Keeping Warm
Good sleep safety can sit alongside warmth. Lay your baby on the back on a firm, flat sleep surface with a fitted sheet only. Keep the crib or bassinet free of pillows, quilts, soft toys, and loose blankets. Use a wearable blanket (sleep sack) instead of adding blankets on top. If your baby feels sweaty or the chest is hot on touch, take off a layer.
For detailed sleep safety and tips to avoid overheating, see the AAP safe sleep guidance. It explains why hats are not used indoors after discharge and how to check for a hot chest or flushed skin.
Baths, Diaper Changes, And Outings
Wet skin pulls heat away in minutes. Use warm rooms for baths, wash quickly, and dry fully—especially the head and back. During diaper changes at night, keep half the body warm with a blanket or the sleep sack while you switch the diaper. When heading outside, shield from wind and rain and add a thin layer you can remove once indoors.
Car Seats And Strollers
Bulky coats or thick buntings can leave a harness loose. Use thin layers, then place a blanket on top of the straps if you need more warmth. Never drape a stroller with a heavy cloth that blocks airflow. If you need shade, use a clip-on sunshade with open sides.
Feeding And Warmth
Cold babies feed poorly, and hungry babies cool faster. Offer feeds often. Skin-to-skin before a feed brings babies into a calm, ready state. If weight gain is a concern, ask your care team for a plan that protects both feeding and warmth.
Preterm, Small, Or Unwell Babies
Babies born early or with low birth weight cool faster and may need extra help. Skin-to-skin care for long periods can keep these babies warm and steady and helps milk supply. Your team may also use warmers, warmed wraps, or pre-heated rooms until the baby is stable. At home, use the same cues: warm chest, steady breathing, regular feeds, and a temperature in the safe range.
When To Seek Care
Seek care right away if your baby’s temperature is below 36.0 °C or at 38.0 °C or higher, or if your baby is hard to wake, breathing fast or labored, chilly to the touch after adding layers, or not feeding well. Trust your sense of change in tone or color. Babies can shift quickly, so early help matters.
Common Myths And Straight Facts
“Cold Hands Mean My Baby Is Cold.”
Not by themselves. Hands and feet can run cool while the core stays warm. Check the chest or back, and take a temperature if unsure.
“A Hat At Night Keeps My Baby Safe.”
Hats indoors during sleep can trap heat. Keep head and face free and use fitted sleep wear instead.
“More Blankets Fix Cold Stress.”
The quickest fix is skin-to-skin and one added thin layer. Loose blankets are not safe in the crib. Use a sleep sack over a sleeper once your baby is warm.
“A Warm Room Is Enough.”
Room warmth helps, but damp skin, drafts, or long changes can still cool a baby. Dry, layer, and cuddle close.
Your Quick Warmth Plan
- Check the chest or back for temperature cues; confirm with a thermometer.
- If cool (36.0–36.4 °C), start skin-to-skin and add one thin layer.
- Keep the head and face bare; use a wearable blanket for sleep.
- Feed often. Warmth and feeding run together.
- Recheck in 15–20 minutes. If still low, call your care team.
Want the clinical cutoffs used worldwide? See the WHO’s thermal protection guide for the normal range and hypothermia levels used in newborn care.
Thermometer Tips That Make Checks Easy
Use a digital thermometer. For underarm checks, keep the tip high in the armpit and hold the arm snug to the chest until the beep. For rectal checks, use a small amount of water-based lubricant and insert the tip gently about 1–2 cm. Clean the tip after each use. If your baby just had a warm bath or long skin-to-skin, wait a bit before taking a reading. Numbers swing with activity, so pair the reading with what you see and feel.
Cold Signs Versus Hot Signs
Cold stress shows up as a cool chest, pale or mottled skin, and slow, sleepy feeds. A hot baby may have a sweaty neck, flushed cheeks, or a chest that feels hot on touch. Both states can bring fussing. If hot, peel off one layer and give time to settle. If cool, add a layer and start skin-to-skin. Your baby should look pink, breathe easily, and wake for feeds once back in a comfy range.
Swaddling, Sleep Sacks, And Rolling
Swaddling can calm a newborn when used with care. Keep the wrap snug at the chest and loose at the hips. Lay a swaddled baby on the back only. Stop swaddling once rolling attempts start, then switch to a wearable blanket that adds warmth without loose bedding.