As parents, you should always keep an eye on your baby's body temperature. You certainly don't want your little one to freeze. At the same time, your baby should not sweat excessively. If you notice cold sweat on your baby, you should identify the cause.
In this article, we provide you with helpful background information on sweating in babies. This includes various causes, tips and warning signs. We also introduce you to the swing2sleep bassinet, which offers your baby a well-tempered nest.
Babies start sweating from birth
Have you ever wondered when babies start to sweat? If the body heats up excessively, the body temperature can be lowered by sweating. But does this also work for babies?
In fact, your baby is born with functional sweat glands. These form from around the 22nd week of pregnancy. However, as the temperature in the womb is a constant 37 °C, the sweat glands only start working after birth.
Your baby can sweat for the first time just one week after birth. However, it is not yet able to fully regulate its body temperature like adults. In addition, the brain is not yet mature enough to cool your baby down if the temperature is too high. In fact, babies overheat five times faster than adults.
You notice overheating in the neck
You now know that babies can already sweat. You don't necessarily notice this through your baby's skin. Instead, it is advisable to check the back of the neck, as this is where babies sweat first. To make sure your baby doesn't overheat, you should regularly touch their neck.
If the neck feels pleasantly warm, all is well. Heavy sweating in the neck, on the other hand, can be a sign of overheating.
There are other signs of this:
- Your baby has a red head or red cheeks.
- Your baby seems restless and fussy.
- Sweat forms on the back of the neck and on the forehead.
- Your baby looks exhausted.
If you recognize one or more of these signs in your baby, you should cool him down. Dress him in thinner clothes, lower the room temperature or wipe him with a cool washcloth.
Of course, newborns need to be kept warm: However, as overheating can be very dangerous, babies should not be wrapped in thick blankets, overly warm sweaters or anything else.
Instead, you should adapt the clothing to the temperature and ensure that your baby can romp around at a comfortable body temperature.
Babies sweat when in direct contact with the skin
There are various situations in which your baby will sweat. These include close body and skin contact, for example. Many babies sweat when breastfeeding, for example. Especially in summer, the close contact between baby and mother causes the body temperature to rise.
Sucking at the breast is also strenuous for babies. This also applies if you feed your baby with a bottle. It is therefore not surprising that your baby gets warm from the effort and the closeness to you and may sweat.
If your little one often sweats while feeding, you can prevent this by dressing your baby thinner than usual. If it only wears a bodysuit, it can release heat when drinking and will sweat less. If possible, you can also check the room temperature before you feed your baby to ensure a comfortable atmosphere.
Sweaty hands and feet: also nothing to worry about
Another usually harmless situation is sweaty hands and feet in babies. Have you ever had the feeling that your baby's extremities are sweaty? Perhaps they are even sweaty and cool at the same time. Many parents are concerned about this and assume that the baby is cold and therefore has cold hands.
In most cases, however, there is a harmless reason behind this. Your baby still needs to train its temperature regulation: It is not yet fully developed at birth and only develops over time. Your baby may be warm and not too cold.
If your hands and feet are cold, you should check your baby's neck temperature again. If the neck and upper body are warm, then everything is fine and the cold extremities are not due to the body temperature being too low.
Be careful with sweating during sleep
Sweating while breastfeeding and on the extremities is not usually a cause for concern. However, the situation is different if your baby regularly sweats profusely at night. This is because overheating during sleep can be very dangerous for your little one and can lead to sudden infant death syndrome.
If your baby sweats at night, you should take action. Try to lower the room temperature - permanently. It should be around 18 °C. It is not necessary to turn up the heating to keep your baby warm. Quite the opposite, as this can be really dangerous.
Also make sure you don't dress your baby too warmly. If your baby often sweats during the night, you should put on thinner pyjamas. Thick sleeping bags or blankets can also lead to overheating.
Once you have implemented these measures, you should monitor your baby's body temperature at night. To do this, place your hand on the back of his neck again and check whether he is still sweating.
Cold sweat in the baby indicates a fever
If your baby's sweating is not due to the effort of breastfeeding or clothing that is too warm, they may have a fever. When babies have a fever, this can also cause them to sweat.
For babies up to three months of age, a body temperature of 38 °C or higher is considered a fever. Babies and children have a fever from a temperature of 39 °C. As a high fever can be very dangerous, you should be vigilant if the temperature rises.
If your baby is sweating, you should therefore check whether they have a high temperature. If this is the case, you should consult a pediatrician and have the cause clarified. It may be an infection or there may be another reason behind it.
The general condition of your baby is also crucial. If it seems lively, laughs at you and shows its usual behavior, then the increased temperature and sweating could possibly be caused by the room temperature being too high or clothing being too thick.
However, if your baby seems unresponsive, weak or even apathetic, you should see a pediatrician as soon as possible.
6 tips to help you avoid sweating
If your baby sweats regularly, you should look into this issue and identify the cause. There are often external factors that promote sweating.
The following tips can help you to prevent your baby from overheating:
- Room temperature: If it is too warm, your baby's body will try to regulate its body temperature and it will sweat. Your baby can keep itself warm - so it is not necessary to turn up the heating to keep your baby cozy and warm. A normal room temperature of 21 to 22 °C is perfectly adequate.
- Sleeping temperature: Your baby should be much cooler when sleeping. A temperature of 18 to 20 °C is recommended . It is best to completely avoid heating the bedroom and instead put your baby to sleep at a pleasantly cool temperature.
- Ventilation: Air quality also plays an important role in preventing sweating. For newborns and toddlers, it is advisable to ventilate the room well before going to sleep and to provide the room with fresh air.
- Suitable clothing: Dress your baby appropriately for sleep. Adjust their pyjamas to the temperature and use airy materials where possible. If your baby sweats at night, they could be dressed too warmly and sweat through the regulation.
- Breastfeeding position: If breastfeeding makes your baby's forehead sweat, you should change the breastfeeding position. It should be as easy as possible for your baby to feed from the breast. However, an unsuitable position can cause a lot of effort and lead to sweating.
- Pediatrician: If your baby sweats frequently and you cannot identify a reason for this, you should visit your pediatrician and describe the situation. Your baby will then be thoroughly checked.
If your baby is too warm, it will sweat. The previous chapters have shown that sweating can be caused by a variety of things. Parents can often significantly improve the situation with simple measures such as lowering the temperature and wearing thinner clothing.
See a doctor if you have a fever and sweating for no reason
Many parents find it difficult to interpret their child's sweating correctly. Is it a fever or an infection? Or are the clothes too warm? It is important that you observe your baby closely and are able to classify their behavior.
We summarize for you the situations in which you should consult a doctor:
- Your baby is sweating profusely at a moderate room temperature, even though it is dressed in airy clothes and is not overly active.
- Your baby has a fever, seems weak and has no appetite.
- Your baby suddenly starts sweating profusely for no apparent reason.
- Your baby's sweating lasts longer and does not stop even with thinner clothing or lower temperatures.
Sweating is a sign that your baby's body seems to be regulating its temperature. An infection or illness could possibly be the cause, which is why you should consult a doctor if your baby is sweating regularly for no apparent reason.
Swing cradle from swing2sleep: Airy sleeping space for your baby
If you often notice cold sweat on your baby, the cause could be a sleeping area that is too warm. This is because many parents and grandparents want their baby to be comfortable and therefore place it on a fluffy comforter cover, cover it with cozy blankets and dress it thickly.
However, this is not at all necessary and has the opposite effect: instead of sleeping restfully, the baby sweats profusely.
A good alternative is the swing2sleep cradle. It not only serves as a sleeping aid for your baby, but also as a cozy place to sleep. To do this, you place your baby in the hammock, where it lies particularly comfortably. It will feel safe and secure as the tightness reminds it of its time in the womb. It is then rocked to sleep with gentle up and down movements.
The spring mat with its skin-friendly material ensures a pleasant temperature and good ventilation. This makes it easier for your baby to fall asleep and sleep restfully through the night.
Take a look at the innovative spring cradle from swing2sleep and be inspired!
Why is my baby cold and sweating?
Cold sweat often occurs when your baby first sweats and the damp skin then cools down. This can happen after crying, a lot of movement or if the sleeping environment is too warm.
Check layers of clothing, sleeping bag and room temperature and see if your baby otherwise seems awake and rosy.
If your baby seems very sleepy, unusually pale or you notice any other abnormalities, please get a medical assessment.
What does cold sweat mean in a baby?
There is often something common behind it, for example overheating, a warm sleeping bag or a rapid change between warm and cool.
Sometimes babies also sweat when they feel uncomfortable. The overall impression is decisive: breathing, skin color, drinking behavior and alertness.
If cold sweats occur repeatedly and you are unsure, a brief medical check-up is advisable.
What can cold sweat mean?
Common triggers are too much heat, clothing that is too thick or a warm room. A growth spurt or a very restless restless sleep can also increase sweating.
If your baby is also drinking poorly, seems noticeably tired, vomits or is generally "not as usual", please have it checked out by a doctor.
With babies, it is always the overall picture that counts, not a single symptom.
Why is my baby sweating but doesn't have a fever?
Babies do not yet regulate their body temperature reliably and therefore sweat more quickly, even without a fever. This is often noticeable on the back of the head, neck or back.
It is often enough to choose one layer less and ensure a comfortable room temperature.
If sweating is very heavy or your baby appears conspicuous, seek medical advice to be on the safe side.
