Beware of Overheating the Baby

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Does your baby have little red pimples on the cheeks, forehead, head, neck, even on the arms and legs? Have you touched your baby hair and felt it damp? Does the baby sweat? Is it breathing rapidly? Is it restless? The reason might be that you are overheating the baby.

Overheating is not so innocent. I myself considered it a minor risk and thought that it is more risky to let the baby cough and get cold. It turned out that overheating is an important risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome.

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When overheats, the baby's heart, lungs and sweat glands must work harder to cool down.

Even though thermal stress has proven to be fatal for babies all around the world. There is a lack of information on the topic. Dr. Warren Guntheroth, with the department of pediatrics at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine, in Seattle, said that this is one of the important features of prevention aside from the "Back Sleep" program (an educational initiative which reduced SIDS deaths by about half).

Bundling up a child could be dangerous. You would think that there is more fatal case of overheating in the summer, but there are more in the winter. Parents heat the room and dress the babies in many layers. Too heavy bedding and too warm a room can increase the risk of thermal stress, especially if a baby already has a fever.

To avoid overheating, keep your baby's room at around 16^oC to 20^oC. It is best to use single sheets, or comfortably fitting baby sleeping bag for bedding. Avoid pillows or quilts. It is preferable not to swaddle the baby or if you do it to use light materials. Keep the baby's head uncovered.

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Watch for signs of overheating - sweating, heat rush, rapid breathing, agitation, a feverish brow. Check the baby's tummy to gauge temperature. Look for sweat or feel the baby. If the baby's hands or feet are cold, don't worry as this is normal in most cases. If the baby is too cool, add a blanket. If the baby is too hot, remove a blanket. Don't use a hot water bottle or electric blanket. Avoid placing the baby too close to a radiator in the room.

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Leave the baby's head uncovered. To avoid overheating babies lose excess heat. Babies lose excess heat mainly from their heads. Make sure that the baby does not wriggle down under sheets by tucking the sheets securely at the level of the shoulders.

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