Dressing a newborn for sleep
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Topic: Dressing a newborn for sleep
Posted By: denny25
Subject: Dressing a newborn for sleep
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 10:01am
| I've read alot of information about what to put in the cot and how to dress a newborn for sleep...grobags, swaddling, blankets. Which is best? If i swaddle the baby, what sheets/blankets will she need over the top in spring weather? Are grobags recommended for newborns? |
Replies:
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 10:05am
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You can use a sleeping bag on a newborn but chances are they'll startle themselves awake often. The best bet is to swaddle.
In spring I'd probably go with flannel or merino swaddles and move to muslin ones in the summer. Blankets over the top will depend on the temp and also what the baby is wearing. Probably go for an all in one footed sleepsuit and then ideally a thermal wool blanket for the top which you can fold over as required. Make sure you tuck it in securely under the mattress though. It's not an exact science though - depends on baby's room temp, personal temp and the weather. There's a bit of trial and error involved. -------------  
 
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Posted By: NeoshasMummy
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 10:08am
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We swaddled until about 6 months, there are a huge assortment of wraps these days the options are endless. We started using a sleeping bag thingy at 12 months.
Next time round we will use a gro bag from 6 months once we stop swaddling. Our baby was in winter and we swaddled and had one sheet and one woolen winter balnket over the top but she wore woolen singlets and stuff as well. (also the wrap thing was really thick)I guess a clothes then a wrap and a nice warm blanket will do in spring. They say a baby needs one more layer that an adult to feel comfortable. ------------- https://secure.fertilityfriend.com/home/30c4ec/" rel="nofollow">  Mrs Te Kani ❤️ Neosha 26/5/2007 |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 11:13am
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Also I highly recommend gowns for newborns regardless of sex as makes the middle of the night nappy changes so much simpler as you can just whip the gown up rather than fiddle with buttons! -------------  
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Posted By: Helen21
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 11:23am
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I agree I found gowns really good for my girls but now you can get blue ones with cars and trains on them for boys so they don't seem so girly.
I swaddled both my girls for the first 6mths, this really helped them sleep. It's been so long I'm not sure what blankets and sheets I used. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Chloe 12/7/03 Miya 5/11/05 |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 11:44am
| I think at AN class they said something about between 4-6 layers for a newborn (blankets wise). The swaddle is usually 2, then 1 for a sheet, so you should be looking at about 2-3 layers in spring at least. Our baby had a really warm body all of the time and we were lucky it was summer so most of the time he was just in his swaddle and a nappy and nothing else. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 7:24pm
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I like to use an all-in-one, usually with a singlet and socks underneath as well for a newborn (depending on time of year), then wrap them in a cotton/flannelette wrap (if you don't have one, use a spare cot sheet - the perfect size). Then some kind of duvet/blanket over top as well but not too close to the face. In summer, your newborn will not be able to regulate their temperature very well and a dome-under singlet and thin cotton wrap/sheet will be all that they need in the daytime. -------------  |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 7:29pm
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We put nighties on Jack and even DH was happy with that. As others said it was heaps easier to do a nappy change in the middle of the night.
We wrapped Jack until he moved into his cot at 5mths. I won't tell you how many blankets we used as he was a winter baby plus I am a cold fish so probably over did it anyway  ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 25 June 2008 at 10:06am
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In the summer Chloe often just had a swaddle and a nappy on... but now that it's winter in Dunedin she wears a woollen singlet and a onesie with feet, and she's in a fluffy polar-fleece lined sleepsack thingee and has a duvet, a cotton blanket and two woollen blankets. And sometimes she STILL gets cold. Lol. I think it just depends... see how many blankets that you are comfortable with and add one or two more layers... and if you are worried then stick a finger down the back of baby's neck and feel if it's hot or cold (should just feel warm, not hot or cold). That's the advice we were given at AN class anyway. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: emmakate
Date Posted: 25 June 2008 at 10:29am
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i always go with the one-two more layers/blankets on bubs than you have...
although i had a "parachuter" baby from a few months old ( arms out above her head no matter how tightly i wrapped her!!) so i knitted some mittens and started using a merino gogo bag...brilliant! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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