Warmth, Wisdom, and Baby Feet: What Grandma Got Right

You know that voice—maybe it’s your mom, your auntie, or someone at the grocery store who peeks into your stroller and says it with love and just a bit of panic: "That baby needs socks!" Or "Where's the hat? That little head's going to get cold!"

It used to make me laugh, too. There was this reel I saw—moms giggling about how grandmas always insist on hats, socks, layers, and wraps, like it’s the 1940s and we’re in an unheated house. It was funny, because we all kind of roll our eyes and think they’re being dramatic or stuck in their ways. But I couldn’t help but keep my baby warm and in warm environments in the first year. 

I still put a little hat on my girl and kept her swaddled most of the day—not because I wanted to overdo it, but because I instinctually understood. And the science? It turns out grandma’s instincts were way ahead of the curve.

It got me curious enough to start digging into the research again. I had already written about the role of natural skincare in thermoregulation in a previous blog post focused on preemies—but here it was again, popping up in everyday conversations and casual reels.

So I decided to explore it more deeply. Let me walk you through why this matters, what I did with my own daughter, and how you can support your baby’s development in the simplest, most loving ways—starting with socks.

Your Baby Just Came From a 38°C Hot Tub

Picture this: your baby spent months inside you, floating in warmth like a little underwater astronaut. The womb averages a toasty 38–39°C (100.4–102.2°F)—basically the temperature of a luxurious bath. Then, just like that, they’re born into a room that feels 10 or more degrees cooler. For us, it’s comfortable. For them? It’s a shock.

And they’re not built to handle it yet.

In those early days, newborns:

• Have very little fat and super thin skin

• Lose heat quickly because their body surface is big compared to their weight

• Can’t sweat properly or shiver to warm up

• Don’t have a mature "thermostat" in the brain yet

All of this means they burn through precious energy just trying to keep warm. That energy could be going toward growing their brain, digesting milk, and building up immunity. So when you keep your baby warm, you’re not overdoing it. You’re helping their entire body do its job better.

Why Warmth = Better Development

Here’s the part that really got me: babies actually have to burn calories to stay warm. Their bodies kick into a process called brown fat thermogenesis, which sounds cute but is kind of a big deal. It pulls from their tiny energy stores just to maintain body temperature.

That energy is limited, and ideally, we want it to go to growing, not just surviving. Keeping your baby cozy helps them:

• Sleep more deeply

• Feed more easily

• Use calories for growth and brain development instead of heat production

And yes, something as simple as a pair of socks or a soft hat can make a big difference.

Skin-to-Skin Contact, Body Heat & Baby Carrying

One of the most beautiful and instinctual ways to help a baby stay warm is also one of the most ancient: body heat.

Skin-to-skin contact, especially in the first weeks, is powerful. Not only does it regulate your baby’s temperature better than an incubator in some cases—it also calms their nervous system, supports breastfeeding, and stabilizes heart rate and breathing.

And babywearing? It’s not just convenient—it’s a thermoregulatory tool. When you carry your baby close to your chest, your body responds by adjusting temperature in real time to keep them warm (or cool, if needed). You become their thermostat.

This kind of closeness isn’t just good for them—it’s soothing for you, too. It's a feedback loop of warmth, bonding, and emotional safety.

"But It’s Warm in Here..." — Not Always Enough

We’ve all been there—sweating postpartum, the heat turned up, thinking: Surely this baby doesn't need more layers, right?

Well, maybe they do. Here’s why:

• Babies can’t sweat well yet, so they don’t cool down the same way we do

• Their skin lets heat escape super easily

• What feels warm to you may still be work for your baby to maintain

Even in a room that's 28 or 30°C, a newborn who’s undressed can still lose heat. Especially when they’re still and not being held. That's why tiny clothing like socks and hats are more than cute — they're supportive.

The Power of Tiny Clothes

Let’s give socks and hats the respect they deserve:

• Babies can lose 25% of their body heat through their feet and hands

• And up to 40% of their heat through their head

It sounds dramatic, but that’s why hospitals put hats on newborns immediately after birth, even in climate-controlled rooms.

For the first 6–8 weeks (or longer for preemies or tiny babies), those little accessories aren’t optional. They're essential for helping your baby adjust from the womb to the world.

What Babies Need as They Grow

Here’s a cheat sheet for dressing by age and temperature:

Of course, you can always adjust based on your baby's cues.

Yes, Skincare Helps Regulate Heat Too

One thing I didn’t expect? Skincare helps with warmth.

Your baby's skin barrier isn’t fully developed at birth, which means they lose moisture—and heat—more easily. Using a safe, natural balm or oil after a bath or diaper change helps:

• Keep their skin hydrated

• Strengthen the skin’s protective barrier

• Prevent heat loss through evaporation

But there’s more: your touch matters. The warmth of your hands as you apply the balm, the rhythm of massage, and the gentle skin contact all help regulate both your baby's nervous system and your own. It becomes a calming ritual—not just for skin, but for connection and co-regulation.

How Do You Know If Baby Is Too Hot or Too Cold?  

You don’t need a thermometer in the crib. Just keep an eye (and hand) on your baby.

Too Cold?

• Cold hands, feet, or chest

• Mottled or pale skin

• Restless crying or hard to wake

What to do:

• Bring baby close to your chest for warmth—skin-to-skin is one of the fastest, most comforting ways to warm them up

• Dress them in an extra layer: add socks, a hat, or a cozy wrap

• Give them a warm (not hot) bath in a draft-free room, followed by a gentle massage with a natural balm or oil

• Swaddle in a breathable but insulating fabric to help retain heat

Too Hot?

• Sweaty back or neck

• Flushed cheeks

• Fast breathing or irritability

What to do:

• Unswaddle or remove a layer of clothing

• Offer a lukewarm bath to cool them gently

• Move them to a cooler, well-ventilated space

• Use a fan on a low setting (not directly on baby) or open a window if the room is stuffy

• If they’re older and eating solids, frozen teething toys or cool snacks can help bring their temperature down

• A gentle massage with our Baby Body or Bum Butters can also help: the high theobromine content naturally opens skin capillaries, creating a light cooling effect while soothing the nervous system through touch

The chest is the best place to check—hands and feet are often cooler, even when everything else is okay.

What I Did With My Daughter 

When I became a mom, I didn’t follow every trend. But I paid close attention. 

I used cloth diapers, because I wanted fewer synthetics near her skin. I made a gentle skincare balm myself, and it turned out to be one of the best choices I made. She never had diaper rash, even without powders or creams. I wrapped her close. I kept her warm. Most days, she wore a little hat and soft socks even indoors. I kept her swaddled unless she was doing tummy time or skin-to-skin with me.

And I swear, those moments of closeness—during babywearing, diaper changes, post-bath massages—helped both of us feel calm and connected. It was more than thermoregulation. It was nervous system support. It was love.

Yes, it meant a little more laundry. But it also meant fewer struggles, fewer cold cries, and more calm. And by the time she turned one in the hottest days of the Summer, she was well adjusted and loved exploring our garden in nothing more than a little onesie and her huge diaper.

Grandma Wasn’t Overreacting

So when someone says, "It’s not that cold!" or "You're overdoing it," just smile.

You’re not overdressing your baby.

You’re honoring their biology.

Because they’re not used to this world yet. 

Henrieta

Sources: 

Lunze & Hamer (2012)
Thermal protection of the newborn in resource-limited environments
→ Showed skin-to-skin contact significantly improves thermoregulation and reduces hypothermia.

Bauer et al. (1998), Pediatric Research Journal
→ Demonstrated that skin-to-skin contact stabilizes core temperature more effectively than incubators for preterm infants.

Gupta et al. (2023)
Consensus guidelines for neonatal skincare in India
→ Emphasized the use of natural emollients for thermoregulation and barrier protection.

M. Visscher (2003)
Neonatal Skin Structure and Function
→ Explained how immature skin leads to transepidermal water and heat loss.

Cronin de Chavez (2011), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Cultural Beliefs and Thermal Care of Infants
→ Identified risks of both overheating and underdressing, with cultural variations and misunderstandings around baby warmth.

Nimbalkar et al. (2014)
→ Studied early skin-to-skin contact and found it reduced postnatal hypothermia and promoted metabolic stability.

Delanaud et al. (2023)
→ Mathematical modeling showing skin-to-skin reduces heat loss more effectively than clothing alone.

Ludington-Hoe (2015), MCN Journal
→ Showed that a mother’s chest temperature increases in real time to warm the baby—proving that human body heat adapts to the baby’s needs.