How can you tell if your baby is too hot or too cold?
You place your hand on their foot. Cold.
You hesitate. Another blanket? A thicker sleep sack? Or are they actually perfectly comfortable, and will you wake them up with all the fussing?
Almost every parent I speak to knows this moment. And almost everyone starts checking in the same place: the hands and feet.
That is precisely the place that tells you the least.
Why hands and feet can mislead you
During the first few months, a baby's circulation is still maturing. The body prioritizes the organs in the torso—the heart, lungs, and liver. To do this, the blood vessels in the hands and feet constrict slightly.
The result: cool hands and feet are normal for babies, not a warning sign. A baby can be perfectly warm and still have cold toes. Slightly bluish hands can also occur in the first few weeks and are usually harmless.
I have seen countless parents hesitate by the incubator because their baby's feet felt cool, even though the measured temperature was exactly right. It is one of the most persistent misconceptions in baby care.
The neck check
There is one place that is reliable: the neck, between the shoulder blades.
Gently slide your hand into your baby's neckline, against their back. That is close to the body's core and far enough from the outside air.
Comfortably warm and dry—your baby is just right. Do nothing.
Clammy, damp, or sweaty—too warm. Remove one layer. Not two, and not the sleep sack. One.
Noticeably cool—add one layer. A thin wool bodysuit under the sleep sack is usually enough.
That is all it takes. Five seconds, and you know more than any chart could tell you—because you are checking your baby, in your room, at this moment.
Do it once each evening, just before you go to bed. That is also when the room is already starting to cool down.
Other signs that your baby is too warm
Alongside the neck check, there are things you can see rather than feel:
- Damp hair on the neck or forehead
- Flushed, red cheeks unrelated to crying
- Breathing faster than normal at rest
- Restlessness and tossing without hunger or a full diaper being involved
- Red spots in the neck crease or on the back—heat rash
Overheating is the risk that child health clinics in the Netherlands pay the most attention to. Not because babies are often too cold, but because they are too warm far more often than parents realize. An extra blanket, however well-intentioned, is the most common mistake.
And what if your baby is too cold?
You see this less often, but it does happen:
- A cool neck and back, not just cool hands and feet
- Pale or mottled skin on the torso and legs
- Unusual drowsiness—a baby who is difficult to wake for a feed
- Becoming restless early in the morning, around the coldest point of the night
A baby who is consistently cold uses energy to stay warm. Energy they actually need to grow. In the neonatal unit, that was why we monitored temperature so closely: it is never just about comfort.
Are you worried about your baby's temperature, or does something not feel right? Contact your midwife, maternity care provider, or child health clinic. This article is intended as practical guidance for dressing your baby—not as a substitute for medical advice.
Why the material makes a difference
The neck check tells you what is happening right now. But the night still lasts another eight hours.
A Dutch bedroom often cools by three to five degrees between bedtime and the early morning hours. A cotton or synthetic sleeping bag does not respond to this—it provides exactly as much insulation at four in the morning as it does at eight in the evening.
Merino wool works differently. The fiber absorbs moisture from the skin without feeling wet, then releases it into the air. This release uses heat, allowing the wool to adapt: it carries heat away as your baby warms up and retains air—and therefore insulation—as your baby cools down.
Cotton does the opposite. It absorbs moisture, becomes damp, and damp fabric against the skin cools down. That is why a sweaty baby in cotton may end up cold later in the night.
It is not a miracle cure, and it does not replace the neck check. But it makes the difference between one setting for the entire night and a material that breathes with your baby.
What I would tell parents
You do not have to be perfect at this. You only need to know where to feel.
Most babies whose parents come to me saying “they sleep so restlessly” do not have a sleep problem; they have a temperature problem. Often one that is solved by removing one layer.
Trust your hand on their neck. Not their feet, and not what your neighbor says about blankets.
Frequently asked questions
My baby always has cold feet. Should I put socks on them?
Usually, it is not necessary. Cool feet are normal in babies and reveal little about their core temperature. If the neck feels pleasantly warm, your baby is comfortable. Baby booties are useful during the day when your baby is outdoors or in a cool space.
What is the ideal room temperature for a baby’s room?
In the Netherlands, 16 to 18 degrees is generally recommended for nighttime. Warmer is not better. If you cannot reach that temperature in summer, adjust the layers rather than forcing the room temperature.
How often should I check that my baby is lying safely?
Once each evening, just before you go to sleep, is enough for most babies. In hot weather or if your baby is ill, check more often. Do not wake your baby to feel their temperature — you can check the neck without waking them.
My baby’s neck is sweaty but their hands are ice-cold. What should I do?
Check the neck. Damp means too warm, even if the hands feel cold. Remove one layer and check again half an hour later.
Can a baby get too warm in a wool sleeping bag?
Wool wicks away heat and moisture and helps prevent overheating, but it is no guarantee. On warm nights, dress your baby in lighter layers under the sleeping bag — sometimes just a diaper. The neck check remains the best guide.