Most common cause of sweating: clothing that is too warm

Babies must always be dressed warmly – all parents know this advice. However, it comes from a time when houses did not yet have central heating and modern thermal insulation. Many parents tend in the early period to dress their baby too warmly even in well-heated rooms.

• Normal room temperature: At 20-21° C babies feel completely comfortable – just like most adults. As a rule, after the first weeks your baby will not need warmer clothing than you yourself wear.

• Several layers instead of thick clothing: A bodysuit, possibly tights and an undershirt, with a romper over it is perfectly sufficient. Several thin layers of clothing prevent heat from building up – that can prevent sweating.

• Natural materials: Cotton, linen and silk are breathable and nicer on the skin. Fleece jackets and plush rompers are indeed cozy, but they can often promote sweating.

• Avoid drafts: If your baby tends to sweat, you should try to avoid drafts in rooms or in the car. Otherwise your baby can catch a cold quickly even in summer.

How much sweating is normal for a baby?

It is quite common to hear that babies actually cannot sweat yet. That is not true – although it is true that they cannot regulate their body temperature as effectively as adults. A baby may therefore apparently start to sweat "at the slightest provocation", or it may not sweat enough at high temperatures. In any case, some babies tend to sweat more than others. As long as your baby sweats for a limited period and responds accordingly, for example when you take off the jacket, you do not need to worry. If your baby sweats continuously and for no apparent reason, you can make an appointment with the pediatrician to rule out possible medical causes.

Your baby sweats at night

Is your baby lying peacefully and just about to fall asleep in its cot and sweaty at the hairline and neck? Do you pick up your child at night and the back of the pyjamas is damp with sweat? Many parents worry when their baby sweats heavily at night. Basically the bedroom for babies does not need to be warmer than for adults – 16-18° C is considered optimal. But sweating is not necessarily linked to room temperature: many babies dream very intensely during the falling-asleep phase and therefore begin to sweat heavily. This usually subsides when the child enters deep sleep. Sometimes sleepwear or bedding made of synthetic material can also be the cause of sweating. If you are unsure, you can alternatively try textiles made of cotton or linen.

Out and about in summer – many babies sweat heavily in the car

Babies often begin to sweat even faster in the car during the warm season. They lie with their whole body in the infant car seat, which is usually covered with practical synthetic material.

• Plan car trips: Avoid long car trips in summer or schedule them for the cool morning hours. You can dress your baby slightly lighter in anticipation and plan regular breaks for cooling down and drinking.

• Be sparing with the air conditioning: Sweating and air conditioning do not go well together, many of us know that from painful experience. Even though the temptation is great – do not run the car's air conditioning at full blast when your baby is with you, to avoid a cold.

• Muslin cloth or terry cover: There are special fabric covers for infant car seats that can prevent heavy sweating. In a pinch, a cloth diaper placed at the head area and around the legs will also do.

Checklist – these are possible reasons for sweating

• Clothing that is too warm

• Too many items of clothing

• Room temperature too high (optimal is 20-21° C)

• Bedroom temperature too high (optimal is 16-18° C)

• Exertion (e.g. when crying)

• Close physical contact (in a baby sling, during breastfeeding)

• Excitement (vivid dreaming, stress)

Image credits

Baby sleeping and holding left arm up © Ekaterina Pokrovsky - stock.adobe.com

Baby is being buckled into the car seat by mom © EVERST - stock.adobe.com