Blanket or No Blanket on Cold Nights
Many new parents are justifiably concerned about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and do everything they can to prevent this terrible event from happening to their child.
The Risk of SIDS
The use of blankets in the beds of children under twelve months old has been linked to SIDS, because of the potential that blankets have to suffocate. So parents have been warned by experts not to place blankets in their children's beds if the child is under a year old. Because newborn babies are not dexterous enough to move things away from their faces if they can't breathe, it is easy for them to suffocate under a heavy blanket if they manage to get tangled up inside of it.
Blanket Options and Alternatives
So what are parents to do on cold winter nights when they want to keep their child warm and comfortable? There are several options. According to babycenter.com http://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-sleep-with-a-blanket_1368444.bc, a blanket can be used if it is thin and positioned in such a way that the baby can't become tangled in it. If the blanket is tucked in under the mattress and the baby's arms are exposed, this is a safer position than just draping a thick blanket over the infant's body.
Parents also have the option of placing their child in a wearable blanket, or a sleep sack, which cover the baby up but zip around the bottom and are not loose, so they cannot suffocate an infant. Using footed pajamas that zip up are a good idea as well.
How Warm Does My Baby Need to Be?
Many people assume that their babies need extra warmth when it is cold out, but this is not the case. You can judge whether your baby is too warm by evaluating your own tolerance of having the same amount of layers on. According to Judith Owens at babycenter.com http://www.babycenter.com/404_how-can-i-keep-my-baby-warm-at-night-without-blankets_7648.bc, you should feel your baby's skin to find out how warm he or she is. If the skin feels cool, you may need to add another layer. If the skin feels warm or even hot, or if your baby is sweating and their hair feels wet, then you need to take a layer off and reduce the moisture to which they are exposed.
