Overheating vs Too Cold: The Real Signs and How to Prevent It

Temperature is one of the most important factors in newborn sleep — and one of the most misunderstood.

Most parents worry their baby is cold.

In reality, overheating is far more common at night — because babies cannot regulate their temperature the way adults can.

They cannot:

• take off layers

• move blankets away

• uncover themselves

This is why breathable, temperature-responsive fabric matters more than thickness or TOG alone.

Let’s break down how to identify temperature issues — and how to prevent them.

Why temperature matters more than most people realize

When newborns are too warm or too cold, the nervous system activates.

This increases:

• micro-wake events

• cortisol spikes

• night disruptions

Temperature isn’t just comfort.
Temperature affects the biology of sleep.

The signs of overheating

Look for:

• sweaty back of the neck

• flushed cheeks

• rapid breathing

• warm chest or stomach (surface heat)

Hands and feet are not a reliable indicator.
They can be cool even when a baby is perfectly warm.

If baby feels hot at the back of the neck → that is the most accurate signal.

The signs of being too cold

Look for:

• cool chest (not hands)

• mottling (speckled look on skin)

• fussing at night onset

• difficulty settling at nap onset

Again: hands do not indicate true core temperature.

Chest = correct check point.

What to wear under a swaddle matters more than parents expect

Base layers regulate comfort under the swaddle.

This is where most temperature issues start.

Cotton bodysuit or footless pajama sets are good baselines.

Fabric should always support heat balance — not trap it.

Breathability matters more than thickness

A thick swaddle can trap heat.
A breathable swaddle allows heat to ventilate.

Breathable fabric = safer nighttime environment.

This is why many performance fabrics outperform heavy cotton.

The goal is temperature balance, not maximum warmth

Warmer is not better.
Cooler is not better.

Stable is best.

A baby should feel comfortably warm at the torso — without trapped heat.

Why this is core to The Ollie Swaddle

The Ollie fabric was chosen because it supports temperature regulation — not because it is “cute” or “premium.”

Temperature responsiveness is a safety feature.

Sleep quality and safety are linked through body heat control.

Containment + balanced temperature = calmer nights and more consolidated sleep.

This is what the design was built to support.

Not just a swaddle, The Ollie Swaddle is a safer sleep tool.