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Ever touched your baby’s hands and feet, then thought, “Why are they cold?”. It's a canon experience, especially for first-time parents. Most of the time, it causes them to panic and start overthinking, but to be honest, it’s normal. With your baby’s underdeveloped body, things like this are bound to happen. In this article, we’ll talk about cold hands in newborns, why they happen, what’s normal (and what’s not), and how you can keep your baby feeling snug without stressing every time their fingers feel chilly.
Are Cold Baby Hands Normal?
It's not surprising to notice that your baby has cold hands compared to their warm body. As weird as it may be, this is a normal reaction. Your baby still hasn't developed their body enough to be able to properly control their temperature, not like adults do. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies have a prematurely developed circulation, which results in low blood flow in their fingertips and toes. This happens because your baby’s body prioritizes the vital parts more.
What Causes A Newborn To Have Cold Hands?
You may notice your babies’ hands and feet are cold, but their bodies are warm more often. But why does it happen, and what can cause these bizarre experiences?
Here are some of the reasons why cold newborn hands happen:
Immature Circulation
Newborns’ circulatory systems are still learning how to circulate blood in their bodies properly. Because of this, they often failed to evenly distribute blood through all parts of the body. To protect your baby, your baby’s body prioritizes delivering blood flow through vital organs first. This results in the hands and feet getting less blood flow, which results in cold hands.
Heat Loss Through Skin
Newborns’ skin is thinner compared to adults'. This causes their bodies to lose heat more than adults. Also, their thin skin results in a greater sensitivity to temperature fluctuations. More often, their hands and feet are less likely to be covered, so interactions with cold air can make them feel cold when touched.
Sudden Temperature Changes
Babies, especially newborns, are sensitive to temperature changes. Things like being put in another room, going outside and even diaper changes can cause their underdeveloped temperature control to react causing the coldness of their hands.
Acrocyanosis (Blue Hands or Feet)
Although it's a scary sight, blue hands and feet are a thing that usually happens. This can mostly be seen right after birth or when your baby is exposed to something cold, like cold objects or a cold room. It doesn’t always need medical attention –unless some symptoms are also present – and it will usually clear up once you warm your baby up.
Low-Fat Storage in Hands
Fats are your baby’s natural insulator. When your baby is young, they still don't have enough fat stored in their hands, which makes them lose heat fast compared to other parts of their body.
Your baby’s temperature control needs time to develop; cold hands in newborns are a part of it. As long as their body and core are warm, cold hands are not a concern unless there are other symptoms involved.
How To Check If Your Baby Is Warm Enough?
The best way to check your baby’s temperature is through their chest, tummy, and back. This place is the best spot to check your baby’s temperature, as your baby’s temperature is concentrated at this place.
Here are some tips to tell if your baby’s temperature is just right:
- Feel their chest or back. Put your hand on the back or chest of your baby after you lift their clothes. If it doesn’t feel sweaty or clammy, and also it's warm, your baby’s temperature should be just perfect.
- Look at their color and behaviour. If your baby behaves as usual and nothing seems different plus they have a pinkish tone, regular feeding, and calm as usual then they are cozy enough. If they become pale, sleepy, or crying, then they might feel cold or warm.
- Use a baby monitor. Some baby monitors, like the Momcozy smart baby monitor, have features that notify you about the temperature in your baby’s room and alert you if it becomes too cold or too warm.
- Skin-to-skin contact. Nothing beats the way that your baby’s skin feels; it can tell you more about whether they are warm or cold.
- Layer wisely. A good rule of thumb: dress your baby in one more layer than you're wearing.
Keeping your baby is all about balance. If you dress them too much then they can overheat, if it's too light then they might get cold. Check their temperature often, use tools like smart baby monitors, and as always trust your instincts.
How Can I Prevent My Newborn From Getting Cold Hands And Feet?
Keeping your baby comfortable is always the top priority. Although cold hands and feet are something that you shouldn’t be scared about, especially in newborns, it's completely understandable to keep your baby warm.
Here are some gentle ways to keep your baby warm from head to toe:
- Dress in layers. Pick something that is breathable for your baby, one that is easy to remove. Avoid bulky clothes to prevent your baby from overheating.
- Cover extremities. Covering their hands and feet helps prevent them from getting cold. Use mittens and boots, but make sure not to tie them too tightly to keep the circulation healthy.
- Keep the room cozy. Aim for a room temperature around 68–72°F (20–22°C). You can check this with a room thermometer or with a smart monitor if you’re using one.
- Use a warm carrier. Babywearing is a good way of preventing babies from getting cold hands and feet. Using a baby carrier like the Momcozy PureHug Carrier is a good way of providing your baby with enough heat to keep them warm.
- Limit exposure to cold air. If heading outside, make sure your baby is dressed properly with a hat, mittens, and covered feet.
Keeping your baby warm doesn’t mean that you need to cover your baby like a burrito. It’s all about balance – careful layering, body contact, and keeping their environment comfortable is all that matters.
What Should You Do If Your Newborn Has Cold Hands?
Your baby’s cold hands are normal. Also, hands are usually not the best spot to touch to check your baby’s temperature. The best spot to check if they are warm enough is by feeling their chest or back. Additionally, if they still behave the same, they are eating enough, and their colors are just right, then those cold hands mean nothing.
If you’re uncomfortable with your baby having cold hands, you can layer their clothes or use mittens and footed pajamas. Just always remember not to overclothe your baby to prevent them from overheating.
Doing things while handling your baby is something that a parent can not avoid. Babywearing is one of the best solutions to keep your baby close and warm to you by applying skin-to-skin contact. Baby carriers, especially the Momcozy PureHug Baby Carrier, can help regulate their temperature by using your body heat.
Checking the temperature of the room of your baby is also essential in making them feel comfortable. The ideal room temperature for babies is between 20-22°C (68-72°F).
Most of the time, cold hands can be solved by simple body heat and additional layers of clothing. Nonetheless, it's always important to keep watch of the signs that may tell you your baby is cold. Signs to watch out for are blue lips, pale skin, poor feeding, and unusual sleepiness. Once you encounter one of these signs, it's best to call your doctor.
When To Seek Help From A Pediatrician?
While cold hands in babies are usually not a cause for concern, there are some situations in which they might be important. It's always best to watch your baby's overall condition, not necessarily their hands.
Call your doctor if you notice:
- Blue or grayish lips, tongue, or face. This may indicate poor oxygen circulation and should be addressed immediately.
- Persistent cold or bluish hands and feet. If the additional layers of clothing and warming techniques are not enough to make the bluish color go away, this might be a symptom of poor circulation or heart-related issues.
- Low body temperature (below 97°F or 36.1°C). If their core, chest, and back are cold to the touch, it may be a case of hypothermia.
- Unusual sleepiness or lethargy. Their behaviour is closely linked to the temperature as they are more sensitive to these changes. If your baby shows behaviours like being difficult to wake up and unusual quietness, they may have some kind of problem or illness.
- Poor feeding or refusing to eat. Your baby refusing to eat is always a sign of something serious, including feeling too cold or feeling ill.
- Extreme fussiness or weak crying. Inconsolable crying can be a sign of colic or something much more serious.
Conclusion
Cold baby fingers are usually a normal part of infancy. His little body is still learning to adjust to temperature and get blood flowing, so cold fingers don't mean anything to worry about. The true indicators of warmth and happiness are in your baby's chest, behavior, and overall complexion.
Wanting warmth for your baby’s cold hands is a priority. Products like the Momcozy Smart Baby Monitor can provide help in room temperature control, and the Momcozy PureHug Baby Carrier offers closeness and warmth through skin contact, one of the best solutions for cold hands and a great way for bonding as well.
Always watch out for other signs that can point to serious problems. These signs include blue lips, difficulty waking up, and difficulty feeding. The reason behind these signs varies; do not hesitate to ask your doctor if any of these symptoms appear. Nonetheless, cold hands mostly get warm by simple layering and cuddling.
