Here - Health Promotion Agency

The first weeks
room is too hot.
• When you check your baby, if they
are sweating or their tummy
feels hot to the touch, take off
some of the bedding. Don’t worry if
baby’s hands or feet feel cool -
this is normal.
•
It is easier to adjust for the
temperature with changes of
lightweight blankets. Remember, a
folded blanket counts as two blankets.
In summer, if it is very warm, your
baby may not need any bedclothes
other than a sheet.
•
Babies do not need hot rooms; all
night heating is rarely necessary.
Keep the room at a temperature
that is comfortable for you. About
18º C (65º F) is comfortable.
•
Even in winter, most babies who
are unwell or feverish need fewer
clothes.
•
Babies lose excess heat from their
heads, so make sure their head
cannot be covered with bedclothes.
•
Babies should never sleep with a
hot water bottle or electric
blanket, next to a radiator, heater
or fire, or in direct sunshine.
•
Remove baby’s hat and extra
clothing as soon as you come
indoors or enter a warm car, bus or
train, even if it means waking your
baby.
BABIES WITH JAUNDICE
Sleeping position
Some babies develop a flattening of
their head on the area they tend to
lie on. This becomes less
noticeable as they grow. It is now
recommended that babies are
placed on their tummy to play
during the day. It is important that
you keep an eye on your baby
while placed on their tummy and
always place them on their backs to
sleep.
Clean air
Babies shouldn’t be exposed to
tobacco smoke either before birth
or afterwards. If you, or anyone
else who looks after your baby,
smoke, then don’t smoke anywhere
near the baby. It would be even
better if everyone could make an
effort to give up completely.
Smoke is present in the air that is
breathed out for a considerable
time after smoking has taken place.
Babies and young children who
breathe in cigarette smoke are
more likely to get coughs, asthma
attacks, and chest and ear
infections. For more on quitting
smoking see pages 123-4.
SLEEPING POSITION
Babies may get flattening of
whichever part of the head
they lie on. This will
become rounder again as
they grow. Babies should
sometimes lie on their
tummies to play during the
day, when they are awake.
Keep an eye on them atall
times and put them on their
back if they fall asleep.
At about five or six months
old, it is normal for babies
to roll overduring sleep and
they should not be prevented
from doing so. This is the
age at which the risk of cot
death falls rapidly, but still
put your baby on his or her
back to sleep. If you find
your baby on his or her front
before five or six months
old, gently turn your baby
over but do not feel you
should be checking for this
constantly through the
night.
Many babies get jaundiced – which
means they have yellow skin and
eyes – for up to two weeks following
birth. This is not a reason to stop
breastfeeding, but it is important to
ensure that all is well. If your baby is
still jaundiced after two weeks,
see your GP. Sometimes the jaundice
can get worse in the first few days
after birth and need treatment. If you
are concerned about your baby’s
jaundice, talk to your GP, midwife or
health visitor. They may suggest a
simple blood test to check the level
of the pigment that causes the
yellow skin colour. Sometimes
babies stay jaundiced for more than
two weeks. You should also tell
your midwife, doctor or health
visitor if your baby’s urine is
persistently yellow or the stools
(poo) are pale rather than yellow,
even if your baby does not look
jaundiced. know about this. The
health visitor can arrange any
further tests that might be needed.
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