Patient's question:
The temperature at home is between 20~23 degrees Celsius. At night, the child dislikes covering the blanket very much. Sometimes, when he wakes up at night, he gets extremely angry, pushing his arms and legs to one side of the blanket, turns over, and continues to sleep. If I cover him with the blanket, he gets extremely angry and cries loudly. Is the temperature at home not suitable? Please advise the experts, what should the child wear at home at this temperature? First question supplement: Regarding the temperature at home, what thickness of blanket is appropriate for the child at night?Doctor's answer:
A child may refuse to cover up while sleeping due to the following reasons:1. The blanket is too thick or not soft enough, making it uncomfortable to wear. When it gets cold at night and the child wets the bed, they are suddenly exposed to a cold stimulus, causing their skin to contract slightly. If an adult covers them with an uncomfortable blanket, they may push it off to seek comfort.
2. The child doesn’t sleep deeply and fully wakes up after urinating at night. They may want to engage in daytime activities, such as wearing clothes and moving around.
3. The room temperature is too high, and adding a thick blanket makes it even more uncomfortable.
4. It is recommended to check if the child has been experiencing signs of "internal heat" (), such as drinking less water, yellow urine, or thick.
To address the issue of a child constantly kicking off their blanket and getting cold, you can try the following solutions:
1. Consult a doctor to check for any physical discomfort.
2. Adjust the room temperature to be neither too hot nor too cold.
3. Replace the blanket with one that is neither too thin nor too thick, soft and comfortable, and slightly larger to make it easier for the child to wear. After covering them, gently press the blanket with your hand for a moment, then leave once they fall back asleep.
4. If the problem persists, consider purchasing a sleep robe or sleeping bag. There are many types of sleep robes and bags on the market that can meet a child’s needs. Some are just like robes with sleeves, leaving the lower part open, allowing infants to roll around freely. Others are pocket-style, with a thin cotton pocket extending from the neck to the feet (slightly longer). The front is zipped, and the child can be placed inside with the zipper closed. This way, even when they roll, they won’t kick off the sleeping bag. However, this type of sleeping bag is not breathable and makes it inconvenient to change diapers or potty train. It is best used only when the child is severely kicking off the blanket and should be stopped once improvement is seen or when the weather is not cold.