Keep a newborn’s sleep space about 20–22 °C (68–72 °F), or a temperature comfortable for a lightly clothed adult, to reduce overheating risk.
New parents juggle feeds, nappies, and sleep—plus the room reading. A chilly nursery can unsettle a baby; an overheated one raises risk. The sweet spot keeps a newborn calm, helps them settle, and keeps the sleep setup safe.
Health groups share two ways to think about it. Many clinicians advise keeping the room comfortable for a lightly clothed adult and dressing baby in one extra layer. Across the U.K., guidance often lists a number: 16–20 °C (61–68 °F). Either approach steers you to the same outcome—no shivers, no sweat, steady sleep. Read more in the AAP safe sleep guidance and the NHS Start for Life advice.
Newborn Room Temperature: How Cold Is Safe?
Babies lose heat faster than adults and can’t regulate as well yet. That’s why the target sits cooler than many expect. If the nursery stays near 18–20 °C, most full-term babies sleep well with light layers. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t publish a single figure; it stresses keeping the room comfy for an adult and avoiding overheating. In the U.K., the NHS often quotes 16–20 °C with light bedding or a properly sized sleep bag.
Use this quick guide as a starting point. Adjust based on your baby’s build, pajamas, and the season.
| Room Temp | Typical Layers* | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| < 16 °C (≤61 °F) | Vest + sleepsuit + warm sleep bag or two light blankets | Warm the room before bedtime; add one layer, then recheck in 10 min. |
| 16–18 °C (61–64 °F) | Vest + sleepsuit + light sleep bag | Good all-round setup for many homes in winter. |
| 18–20 °C (64–68 °F) | Vest + sleepsuit | Use a light sleep bag if baby tends to wake cool. |
| 20–22 °C (68–72 °F) | Single cotton layer or short-sleeve vest | Skip extra blankets if back feels warm and dry. |
| > 22 °C (≥72 °F) | Single thin layer | Cool the room with fan or air-con; keep baby hydrated during day. |
*Always keep loose blankets tucked below armpit level; a well-fitting sleep bag can replace blankets.
How Cold Is Too Cold For A Newborn’s Room?
If the room dips below 16 °C, hands and feet may feel icy and feeds can turn fussy. Below that point, add a layer and warm the space slowly with safe heating. Shivering, a cool chest, or mottled skin tell you the space needs a lift. On the flip side, if the room pushes much past 22 °C, scale layers down to keep sweat and flushing away.
Keeping The Nursery At A Steady, Safe Temperature
Heating And Cooling Tips
Warm a cold room with central heat or a thermostat-controlled radiator. Skip portable gas heaters and open flames. If you use a space heater, pick one with tip-over shutoff, keep it well away from the cot, and never run it while you sleep. In hot months, run a fan or air-con to hold a steady number. A fan helps air move; point it away from the crib so air isn’t blowing on baby.
Thermometers And Where To Place Them
Hang a simple room thermometer at eye level, away from windows and heaters. It should sit near the sleep area but out of reach. Smart sensors work too; just place them clear of drafts. Check the display during each feed at night until you learn how your home behaves.
Humidity And Airflow
Dry air can make little noses stuffy, while sweltering rooms feel sticky. A mid-range humidity helps many babies breathe easily. If air feels desert-dry, a cool-mist humidifier on a low setting can help; clean it often to prevent buildup. Keep cords and devices well away from the cot.
Dressing A Newborn For Sleep By The Room Reading
A handy rule: one more layer than you. Think vest plus sleepsuit for cooler rooms, or just a short-sleeve vest in warmer spells. A sleep bag rated for the season can replace blankets; pick the weight that matches the room reading. Skip hats and hoods indoors—they trap heat and raise risk. Make sure the neckline on a sleep bag sits snug under the shoulders so baby can’t slip down.
- 16–18 °C: vest + sleepsuit + light sleep bag, or a thin blanket tucked below armpit level.
- 18–20 °C: vest + sleepsuit, with or without a light sleep bag.
- 20–22 °C: single cotton layer or a short-sleeve vest; no extra blanket if baby runs warm.
How To Tell Your Baby Is Too Cold Or Too Warm
Touch the back of the neck or chest. That spot tracks core warmth better than hands or feet. Hands may feel cool even when the core is fine. Signs of too warm: sweaty back, damp hair, flushed skin, fast breathing, or fussing that eases once layers come off. Signs of too cold: cool chest, pale or blotchy skin, or unsettled feeds that improve after a layer goes on. Change one thing at a time—add or remove a single layer, then wait a few minutes.
Practical Ways To Warm A Chilly Nursery Safely
Seal drafts around windows and doors. Thick curtains help hold heat after sunset. A rolled towel at the door base can cut a cold breeze. Pre-warm the room to your target, then turn heaters down before you sleep so the number doesn’t climb overnight. Place the cot away from outside walls and clear of radiators. Never use electric blankets, hot water bottles, or heating pads in a crib.
Layer your baby’s sleepwear instead of chasing a perfect blanket. Soft cotton close to the skin, then a sleepsuit, then a sleep bag if needed works well for many families. If you swaddle, use a thin wrap and keep the face and head uncovered. Check the room and your baby again during a late feed; small houses cool fast after midnight.
Summer Heat: Keeping Cool Without Overdoing It
Shut blinds or curtains in daylight to block sun. Open windows on opposite sides of the home when it’s cooler outside to create gentle cross-breeze. A fan in the doorway can move air while pointing away from baby. Use light cotton sleepwear, drop extra layers, and offer feeds as usual. If your region runs humid, air-con dries the air and drops the room reading in one go.
Common Cold-Weather Scenarios And Fixes
Homes aren’t identical. Old windows leak, loft spaces trap heat, and power cuts happen. These fixes keep the nursery in range without going overboard.
| Scenario | What To Adjust | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Drafty window by the cot | Move the cot; add a draft stopper and lined curtains | Reduces cold air on baby while keeping the whole room steady |
| Room warms after midnight | Lower the thermostat by 1–2 °C before lights-out | Prevents late-night overheating when the heating cycle peaks |
| No central heat in one room | Use a thermostat-controlled space heater; set a safe distance | Gives a slow, even rise without hotspots near the crib |
| Power cut on a frosty night | Add one clothing layer; bring baby’s cot into your room | Your body heat keeps the shared space warmer and easier to watch |
| Road-trip or hotel stay | Pack a travel thermometer and a light sleep bag | Lets you tune layers in unfamiliar rooms |
Extra Safe Sleep Ground Rules Tied To Temperature
Room-sharing for the first six months helps you keep tabs on the reading and your baby’s cues. Lay baby on the back on a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet. Keep soft toys, bumpers, pods, pillows, sheepskins, and weighted blankets out of the crib. Swaddling can calm some young babies; stop once rolling starts and keep swaddles below the shoulders with plenty of hip room. A dummy at sleep time can help some families. Smoke-free homes lower risk. Keep cords, heaters, and chargers away from the cot.
What About Preterm Or Low-Birth-Weight Babies?
Some babies need closer watching, especially in the early weeks. Care teams often send you home with clear targets and a plan. Skin-to-skin time helps tiny babies stay warm while you hold them upright. Ask your midwife, health visitor, or pediatric team about room targets for your baby and how to layer at home. If your baby feels unwell, runs a fever, or is unusually sleepy, seek care without delay.
Short Checklist Before Each Nap
- Check the thermometer and your baby’s neck or chest.
- Pick layers for the room, not the date on the calendar.
- Keep the cot clear of loose blankets and pillows.
- Open the door a crack for airflow if the room feels stuffy.
- Re-check after feeds; tiny bodies warm up after a feed.
A Simple Way To Set Your Baseline
Pick one target—say 19 °C—and hold it steady for two nights. Use the table to choose layers, then do a quick neck check at the 20-minute mark and again at the next feed. If the back feels hot or damp, remove a layer on night two; if it feels cool, add a layer. Log what your baby wore and how the room behaved daily. Most homes settle into a repeatable pattern in a few days, and your notes make bedtime choices easy when the weather swings. Once you find the combo that gives warm neck, dry back, and settled sleep, stick with it.