How many times have you put a freshly bathed baby into the crib to sleep and found a sweat-soaked little guy after an hour or two? It is unbelievable how fast and how much these babies sweat sometimes. This worries many of the new parents but sweating is normal for babies, doesn’t matter if it is at night or in the daytime. If you want to know why your baby is sweating so much and whether you should worry about it, this article got you covered.
I am sure you have heard about the hot flashes that happen during menopause and you might have experienced hot flashes during your pregnancy also. Those hot flashes are possible to be experienced at any life stage of a human and your baby is simply experiencing one of those.
But if your baby has other symptoms mentioned below along with sweating, consult a doctor immediately.
- Snoring
- Gasping or wheezing in sleep
- Long pauses between breaths while sleeping
- Not gaining weight
- Eating problems
- Teeth grinding
CONTENT
1.  Why does my baby sweat so much?
2.  How to prevent excessive sweating?
1. Why does my baby sweat so much?
The babies are new to this world and their body is still developing. Their immature body systems are still learning to regulate their temperature.
Therefore, it is common for babies to sweat so much in the first few months of their life. Some babies will sweat all over their body and some will experience excessive sweating in specific areas such as the head, hands, or feet. Below are few common reasons why your baby might be sweating a lot.
- Being wrapped in too many layers of cloth.
We are often told that babies love to be warm as it mimics the womb environment. So we wrap and swaddle them to make them feel cozy. But your baby might find it too warm for him and start to sweat excessively. Babies cannot communicate to you the exact reason for the discomfort and they will do the only thing they can do, crying. If this seems like the reason, immediately unwrap him and help him to cool down as overheating is a risk factor for SIDS.
- Deep Sleep
A newborn will take you to a new level of tire and sleep deprivation. But the baby will be sleeping for most of the hours throughout the day. We feel like they never sleep because they sleep in short segments which are about 3 to 4 hours each.
They also experience different stages of sleep such as REM and NREM. In deep sleep, the babies are most likely to sweat a lot. If your baby wakes up soaked in sweat after a long nap, this can be the reason for his sweat.
- Crying/ Fussing
There is no need to explain that soothing a fussy baby burns energy. But so does crying and fussing. If your baby sweats a lot while being fussy and crying, it is very normal and there is nothing to worry about it.
- Cold and Fever
Cold and Fever can cause unusual sweating. If your baby does not sweat a lot usually but suddenly sweated today, it can be a sign of a cold/fever. Check the temperature of your baby to know if it is above normal. In case that your newborn is in any of the situations below, contact your pediatrician.
- The baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C)
- The baby is older than3 months old and have a fever of 102°F (38.9°F) or higher
- The baby is over 3 months old and has had a fever for longer than 2 days
For babies above six months of age, you can give infants Tylenol to ease the symptoms. Remember that fever can be a sign of an infection, so seek medical advice if the symptoms prevail or worsens.
- Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a condition where you will experience abnormally excessive sweating that is not necessarily related to the temperature around you or exercise. This can happen in specific areas of the body such as hands or feet and is called localized hyperhidrosis. General hyperhidrosis will cause sweating in a larger area of the body. Neither of these conditions is a serious health concern.
 Hyperhidrosis can happen while sleeping or even when awake. If you observe that your baby is in discomfort due to excessive sweating, consult your pediatrician so he can run some tests to confirm whether it is hyperhidrosis.Â
- Infant sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing repeatedly stops for about 20 seconds and starts back. If an adult snores loudly and feels fatigued even after a long sleep, it can be sleep apnea. Babies can also experience this sleeping disorder which can make them sweat much.Â
Gasping, snoring, and opened mouth while sleeping are few symptoms of sleep apnea. If you suspect that your baby has sleep apnea, get them checked by your pediatrician. But sleep apnea is not a risk factor for SIDS and it will go away when the baby grows up.
- Congenital heart disease
When a baby has congenital heart disease, his heart has to work harder than normal to pump blood throughout the body while compensating for the weakness. Therefore, the baby will be sweating more than usual. They will also face difficulties in eating and will sweat when eating. Short shallow breath and bluish skin are other signs of congenital heart diseases.
2. How to prevent excessive sweating?
- Observe your baby and identify the cause.
Look for the reason that makes your baby sweat so much. Observe when he sweats the most. If you find him all sweaty after being fussy, it is a temporary problem that does not need to be fixed. But if it seems like a health condition such as hyperhidrosis or your baby is already uncomfortable with excessive sweating, consult your pediatrician for medical advice.
- Room temperature
The temperature of an ideal sleep environment for a baby should stay between 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C). This will ensure that the room is warm enough for the baby to sleep comfortably but too hot. If the room is too hot for you, it is too hot for the baby too. You can purchase a thermometer to make your job easy but many baby monitors will also show the temperature in the room.
- Do not over bundle your baby.
Unless it is very cold, do not wrap your baby in many layers. Consider how many layers would make you feel warm and put the same on your baby.
