Baby and Small Child Body Temperature Regulation – What Every New Parent Should Know

Your baby or small child may be struggling to regulate their own body temperature without you even knowing!  If you're a new parent or an experienced parent in a new environment, you may not be ready to read the signs associated with body temperature regulation problems in your little boy or girl.

Why is winter harder on your little child's body temperature?

In the womb you did all the body temperature regulation for your baby.  A lovely, steady 37.7 for nine months of seasonal changes….  Once out though, your little one has only a limited capacity to regulate his own body temperature.  Babies are unable to shiver, which is our body's first defence against cold.

Brown Adipose Tissue

Your baby has special tissue called Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) that's similar to that found in a hibernating bear!  It's insulating tissue that is your baby's best defence against cold.  Unfortunately, there are two major problems with BAT.  Firstly, it's only added in the final weeks of pregnancy, so preemie babies often lack BAT at birth.  Secondly, it's a resource hound, that is, it takes up a lot of oxygen and glucose to keep your baby warm.  This can be stressful on your little one's system.

Signs of trouble with your baby or toddler's temperature regulation

In addition to fussing and crying, look for these signs that your baby or toddler's problems may relate to his body temperature:

·        Curling into the foetal position

·        Lethargy

·        Reluctance to feed

·        Cold feet and hands

·        Blotchy skin

·        A body temperature below 96.4F (35.8C)

Why "rugging up" isn't always the answer at night

Baby sweat glands aren't fully developed and only the head, neck, hands and feet can sweat.  Wrapping your baby in heavy blankets or synthetic blankets can cause your baby to overheat.  Too-hot body temperatures have been associated with cot death so it's vital to monitor this carefully.

If your home isn't heated, a radiant heater next to an open cot or bed is the best way to regulate your baby's temperature.  This should be coupled with warm, comfortable natural fibre pyjamas or baby sleep bags.

Why Natural Fibres for children's pyjamas and clothes?

Cotton, wool, hemp, bamboo and other natural fibres "breathe" if a child overheats, allowing heat to escape and "wicking" away moisture to prevent dermatitis and bed sores.  Natural fibres trap air in their layers which in winter, is warm.  This keeps your child warm in winter but not forcing him to overheat like a plastics based synthetic could.  They're also flame resistant where synthetic pyjamas may "melt" to your baby in the event of a fire.

Choose bamboo, hemp or cotton kid's pyjamas and blankets in cool to cold environments and heavier, woollen blankets in cold to very cold environments.  Couple these with a radiant heat source and monitor the room's temperature with a room thermometer.  If your baby or small child seems to be having trouble with temperature regulation, see your doctor as it could be a sign of an underlying problem.

So why are synthetic fibre kids clothes even on the market?

Synthetic fibres are cheap and often don't need ironing.  They last longer (plastic does) and are more likely to keep their shape.  This means that they're a cheap, easy option.  Choosing very well made, high quality cotton products will mean that they last the whole winter long and still look cute as a button at the end.  If cost is a concern, well made natural fibre clothes will return a surprisingly good resale value. 

Monitoring your baby's body temperature regulation is a vital part of being a new parent or moving your little boy or girl to a new, colder environment.  Don't forget that all children can feel cold more than adults, so it's vital to monitor this every winter.

Review writing tips and advice

New to product review? Check out this helpful article.

Review writing tips and advice

Happy reviewing!

6 Clothing Shopping Tips For Little Boys

Does your little boy enjoy putting clothes all by himself? With the current wide selection of  boys clothing styles as well as the wide range of prices, your little boy can be in style without hurting your budget. Each every year there are new lines of apparel for little boys. New advertisements market the newest styles for toddler boys clothes as well as teen and men's clothing.  Selecting carefully, your little boy can find fashionable clothes that suit his personality. 

1.Comfort should be one of the most important factors. 
While boys jeans that are skinny might be a new trend, if they are not comfortable your shutter little man will probably not wear them. It is tough to choose from on clothing that is comfortable and made with 100 percent cotton. In addition, it is helpful if you buy clothing that is adjustable. For instance some apparel has an adjustable waistband to provide adequate room for a growing little boy.

2.Another tip to consider when purchasing clothing for little dude is to make sure that it is appropriate for his age. Although a teddy bear might look cute on a baby it would look quite silly on a teenager. In contrast, some preteen child clothing is far too sexual and risqué to be considered a decent.

3.It is a good idea to include your little boys in the shopping experience. By allowing your son to have an opinion about what they will wear and to be actively involved in the decision making process to make sure that he will enjoy the clothes and understand any potential concerns you may have.

4.Next, make sure the clothing that you buy is suitable for your little boy's specific body type. For example clothes such as jeans and shirts that would not look good on a kid who is a bit chubby. Those clothes will accentuate or bring out these negative features. When buying pants make sure that the bottoms of the pants are not too long so they drag on the ground. At the same time it is important that the pants are not too short or look like what are known as floods.

5.It is also a good idea to choose clothing that will accentuate and Max or look good with your kids' specific hair color skin color and eye color. Although dark greens and oranges might look good on children who have medium hair and skin tones, they are less flattering to kids who have red hair and pale skin. Back to determining which shades look best on your son or daughter, try to find such closing with the same shades and colors.

6.Although you may not want  to buy all the most expensive clothing,  it is a good idea to purchase at least 1 or 2 more expensive items particularly if your little boys is keen on buying a specific brand. Although it is ultimately your decision, clothes do play a big role in a child's life, and they will likely experiencing significant pressure and criticism or even bullying if they wear clothes that are significantly out of style.