Because, in reality, you are putting your infant in more danger.

Don’t believe me, read the below quote,,,,,

AAP recommends all babies sleep on their back, on a flat, firm, separate sleep surface such as a bassinet, play yard or crib, and to keep the baby’s sleep space free of blankets, bumpers, toys or other objects.

It is also recommended to put the baby on its back on a flat surface [4] for safe sleep.

So, now the question is if you can’t place anything in the bassinet or crib, then how to keep baby warm in crib or bassinet.

Well, there are many other things that you can still do. But before I explain, How To Keep Bassinet Warm In Winter without a blanket?

I strongly recommend watching the below video to understand what a doctor does when a newborn baby is born & how they keep the newborn warm,

It gives you an idea of what I’m going to explain in this guide.

I hope you watched it.

Now, it is time to share the tips and tricks I tried and tested to keep my baby warm during cold, freezing nights in winter. So, let’s check them out.

How To Keep Baby Warm In Bassinet And In Crib?

There are 4 simple ways to keep a baby warm in a bassinet or crib without a blanket. The first is by maintaining the room temperature, the second is to preheat the nursery, the third is to Keep the nursery dry, and the last is by covering the infant’s head & foot.

Doing these things allows you to keep your newborn warm in the crib and bassinet without the risk of SIDS.

Now, let’s check all these points in depth and how we can do it in the real world.

1.) Keep The Room At The Right Temperature

Keeping the room at the right temperature is the best way to keep baby warm at night without swaddling them in warm clothes.

Paediatricians recommend keeping the baby’s room temperature around 70 to 72 degrees F [5]. Temperatures above or below that level will be uncomfortable for infants and can even put their lives at risk.

Read what stanfordchildrens.org[6] says about this:

….Babies can lose heat rapidly, nearly 4 times faster than an adult. Premature and low-birthweight babies don’t have much body fat. Their bodies may not be ready to control their own temperature, even in a warm environment. Even full-term and healthy newborns may not keep their body warm if the environment is too cold.

Let me explain how.

You are already well aware that babies get introduced to a much colder environment at birth when they come out of their mothers’ wombs.

This is why they need to be wrapped and swaddled during the first few months of their lives as they get slowly accustomed to the world around them.

Clearly, temperature control is significant, not just for making your baby comfortable but also for protecting them from harm.

Now the question is, how can I control the temperature of the bassinet or crib?

Vornado Infants Nursery Heater; is the safest bassinet and crib heater that helps keep the baby warm at night without a blanket by safely regulating the room temperature.

Watch the video below to understand how it warms the baby’s room and what makes it safe for the baby?

This nursery heater has advanced safety features like a cool-touch exterior, tip-over protection, and an automatic safety shut-off system. So, I can sleep without any worries.

You can use it as a baby crib heater or a baby bassinet heater to keep the baby warm throughout the night without blankets.

2.) Preheat the Baby’s Nursery

Putting a baby in a cold place means placing an alarm on the trigger. Once that alarm gets triggered, it becomes challenging to put it back in silent mode.

You can imagine how difficult it is to leave a warm, cosy bed. This is because we rely on our body heat to get comfortable. And this is also the case with your little one.

So, before putting your baby in a bassinet, ensure their sleeping space is warm. And the best way to do this is by using a bassinet warmer or a bassinet heating pad.

You can place the bassinet heating pad between the bassinet & its mattress. Whereas the bassinet warmer can just be a place to warm up.

But can a baby sleep on a heating pad?

No, the baby can’t sleep on the heating pad; you can just use it to warm the bassinet but don’t let the infant sleep on it.

As I explained above, before placing the newborn in a bassinet, remove the heating pad from it. And make sure there is nothing that increases the risk of SIDS for safe sleep.

a.) Heating Pad For Bassinet

Some heating bad or heating bottles can be used to preheat the baby. Remember, don’t let your baby sleep with it; They are just for preheating purposes.

b.) Heated Crib Mattress Pad

A bassinet’s heating pad is small, so what will you do in the case of a crib, which is quite large in size.

In the bassinet, we can warm up the whole bassinet, whereas, in the crib, there is only a mattress that you need to warm up. So, check your crib size, and buy a crib heating pad that covers most of your crib area.

These electric crib warmer mattress pad fit most cribs and provide the best & safe solution to preheat your crib. You can also try warm crib sheets rather than using a cotton sheet.

Also, unlike in a bassinet, we can place this crib mattress warmer below the mattress and let the infant sleep on it, but don’t overheat the baby.

To keep monitoring the infant’s body temperature, you can try Sense-U.

This auto-sense device also provides you some vital information such as Breathing Movement, Rollover, and Sleeping Position for Baby Safety.

As per the AAP, if your infant starts rolling in the bassinet, that means it is time to stop using the bassinet and move them from the bassinet to the crib for safety.

3.) Keep Bassinet Dry & Warm

A wet diaper can make your baby sick even in summer, then think about what it will do in winter.

Wet clothes quickly become cold in winter. Not only does the wetness ill your baby, but the moisture is also unsanitary. So, changing the diaper frequently is the best way to keep the crib warm & reduce leaks.

You can try some great brands in the market that offer dryness of up to 12 hours due to their high absorption ability, like Huggies Little Snugglers Baby and Pampers for Baby dry.

Another thing, just like preheating the baby nursery.

You can also warm up the wipes during cold weather using a Wipes dispenser holder.

This prevents your baby from feeling cold and wet during a diaper change. What I additionally recommend is to buy another set of bassinet mattresses & Bassinet Sheets.

The reason is that warm and moist places are the most suitable for all kinds of bacteria. You do not want your baby’s bassinet to become a hotbed for bacteria.

Also, keeping the bassinet warm with one sheet is not possible. You need at least 3 sets of sheets and 2 sets of mattresses to ensure your baby always sleeps in a hygienic and clean environment.

Want to know why you need an extra sheet and how it is helpful for you? Read this guide: How many sheets do I need for the bassinet?

4.) Cover Baby’s Head, Hands

You may have taken all the precautions and ensured that your baby’s room and the bassinet bed are warm and dry. However, these still do not cover up your baby entirely.

Hands, feet & head are the body parts that directly come in contact with cold air, where 70% of your body loses heat.

This is why baby hand mittens and baby caps for sleeping are so necessary.

See what Dr. Mike Petric has to say!

Even if babies move around and fidget, you can be assured that their hands are covered with mittens and do not come in contact with the cold air.

You can always get hand mittens made of cotton or similar thin material for summers and a warmer material for winters. And the same goes for the nightcap.

It is better that you have your baby wear these then depend upon wrapping them.

Babies can get out of their wrapping sheets, and it can be a real hassle for you and very uncomfortable for your baby to get wrapped up again.

With mittens and caps, you can be saved from wrapping your baby repeatedly because they remain covered.

Here are some of the best options that I was using for my newborn.

So, covering the body parts is another best way to keep baby warm in winter without a blanket.

These are the 4 best ways to keep your baby warm in winter. Now let me know how you are going to warm your baby warm in this winter.

What Should I Do On Freezing Night?

Doing the above things may not be enough to keep the baby warm during the freezing night.

Sometimes you have to swaddle your baby in a thick blanket to keep him warm in these cases. And swaddling is safe [7] if you are following the guideline.

But, we have already mentioned paediatricians discourage using blankets or extra padding because it increases SIDS risk.

Let me first explain why and how blanket make is unsafe, in a quick way.

Suppose you place the blanket, and this loose blanket falls near the face or comes in contact with the infant’s face or even the infant roll in it or the infant push it with his hand.

Whatever the reason, it blocks the airflow.

Watch this quick demonstration of how it blocks airflow.

Newborns don’t have enough strength to roll back, and safe to remove the blanket, whch increases the risk of suffocation.

Watch this video to understand how Dr Jagruti Anadkat helps you safely wrap the baby in a blanket.

There are some special warm bassinet blankets too, which are safe to use. These are large enough to quickly wrap them around your baby’s body and safely tuck them in, like swaddling.

Here are some of the best safe and warm blankets for cribs and bassinet.

Apart from this, most parents prefer co-sleeping with an infant in winter to get heat from the mom’s body. But pediatricians don’t recommend this because it is not entirely safe.

But if you follow the safe co-sleeping guidelines, there is a lot of in-bed co-sleeper available in the market to use.

I hope you like our guide “How to keep bassinet warm in winter?” and found this helpful information.

Final Thoughts

Keeping a baby warm at night in winter is very important. Your baby spends 9 months in the womb, where it gets all the necessary things.

However, they are thrust into a totally different environment upon birth, so you must keep them safe and protected.

You can use a bassinet heater, a baby crib warmer, a nursery heater, a swaddle blanket, etc. As I mentioned above, there is no need to buy all the stuff.

Here are some handy guides that even help you more.

1. How To Get Newborn To Sleep in Bassinet?
2. How To Make Bassinet More Comfortable?

No one knows your current situation better than you, so choose wisely based on your baby’s specific needs.

Some FAQ

——-

Q1.) Do Babies Need To Be Kept Warm?

Yes, Babies need to be kept warm for their safety. They are born used to being in a warm environment, the womb, and their bodies are not yet accustomed to regulating temperature. It is crucial to ensure babies are not too cold or hot, as both can be dangerous.

Q2.) Can I Use A Heater In My Baby’s Room?

Yes, You can use a heater to keep your baby’s room warm, but you must take some safety precautions. For example, ensure the heater is out of your baby’s reach, and never leave your baby alone in the room with the heater on. Always check the room temperature, so it doesn’t get too hot.

Q3.) How Do I Know The Baby Is Warm Enough At Night?

You can use a baby nursery room or infant body temperature monitor to track the temperature. There are some digital monitors available in the market that notify your phone if the temperature exceeds the prescribed limit.

Now it is your turn. Let us know what you are doing to keep the crib warm in winter? Your decision will help other moms make an informed decision.

And finally, don’t forget to share this article because sharing is caring.