My Baby Boy Sweats When He Sleeps Is This Normal?

Updated on November 12, 2008
K.P. asks from Valley Springs, CA
24 answers

He is a week old and when he wakes up his sheets are drenched with sweat. It almost looks like he wet the bed. But it isn't urine. Is this normal??? And does anybody have an idea how to help prevent this? He is dressed in usually a T-shirt when he goes to sleep. Either that or a light gown. Advice on this would be great thank you :]

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K.H.

answers from Modesto on

My daugther sweated from the beginning. Always worried me but I just dress her in lighter clothes and keep the room cooler than I like and this seems to help.

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N.C.

answers from Sacramento on

If it is only in his sleep, I would call his doctor and voice your concern. If he is that drenched I would be concerned about dehydration. Call his doctor.

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S.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi K.,

My youngest son used to sweat a lot as a baby also. I made sure to dress him lightly and just changed a lot of sheets. He grew out of it for the most part, but at 2yo he still has a bout of the sweats every now and again. He just runs a little warmer than most. You can ask your pediatrician about it, but I'm sure you'll get the same answer I did - it's just how he is.

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C.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I have been told it's normal both of my kids do this. I kind of like it cause it's my secret way of knowing my kids need a nap. They got it from daddy he has always been a hot and wet sleeper. The only thing I don't like is it very hard to cuddle with my family as they get to hot and sweaty. I do find that keeping the house a little cool helps.

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N.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi K.,

It sounds like your babies body is trying to balance himself out.

There is ways of helping his body do that so he will sweat like that.

If you are interested check out www.nikken.com/ninamarie

Check out Farinfared and magnetic energy.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

N. Marie
____@____.com

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K.N.

answers from San Francisco on

Are you sure it's not urine? We went through the same thing with our baby when he was about a week old. Thought it was sweat because it was odorless and colorless. We asked the nurse and she suggested he had grown out of the newborn size diaper. This happens very quickly with boys. She verified that at this age their urine is basically water. Try going up a size in diapers and see if that fixes the problem. Now every time my son starts leaking through his diapers, we go up a size. Our son is really tall for his age, so this happened very frequently when he was really little and now that he's a year it has slowed down; he's been in size 4's for about 6 months. Ignore the weight ranges they give on the diaper packages because they are very inaccurate.

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C.A.

answers from Sacramento on

My personal experience was with my daughter who also had some tummy issues and never slept. It took a ton of test etc to figure that the sweating part came from her digestion system working overtime. We would have to change her completely and her bedding. It was the last thing I ever thought.....but as soon as we addressed it, she was fine.
Hope you figure it out. :-)

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K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

My son did the same thing. Ironically I do it too especially when I am preggo. The funny thing is that my daughter who is his twin did not, nor did my third who is 18 months younger. Anyhow, the doc told me it was hormones and not to worry about it. Just make sure to not over dress him, but make sure he has enough on him that he doesn't get cold either. that is all they told me. I can't remeber, but I think it lasted for a couple of months after they came home from the hospital which was when they were 7 weeks old. They are now almost four!

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N.H.

answers from Sacramento on

My little guy is a super sweaty sleeper, too. I've been told there's nothing to worry about. I just started putting a cloth diaper under his head when he sleeps.

I do want to make sure you know NEVER to give your baby (under 6 months old) water under any circumstances! It can cause seizures from hyponatremia, which is an electrolyte imbalance. He doesn't need anything other than breastmilk, as it is made up of 94% water, to stay hydrated.

Good luck!

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G.D.

answers from Modesto on

It is a mechanism of detoxification... they pull out toxins through skin... and some even leave a yellow stain on the sheets!!! & it is NORMAL... Just make sure they drink enough water!!!

Love, G.. :0)
http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

"I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin." ~ Jerry Newport

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E.M.

answers from Sacramento on

While it may be nothing, I would definitely take him to see the doctor. That *can* be a sign of a heart problem. My daughter has a VSD and that was one of the things they told me to watch for. In any case, my daughter is a hot sleeper, and it's not her heart (since the VSD is teeny now). He's probably fine.

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T.S.

answers from Sacramento on

My son is 2 1/2 years old and has always been a sweaty sleeper! Contrary to what you would think though, he HATES to be to cold. I have noticed that the lighter I dressed him to sleep, the more he would sweat. Now, he sleeps in thermal pjs and has a nice comforter and doesn't really sweat as much at night as he does during naps when he frequently sleeps without blankets.

HTH,
T.

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

No real advice..my daughter is almost 6 and she still sweats when she sleeps. She knows how hot she gets and most nights (even in the cold winter, she sleeps in just her underwear. She has always felt warm when sleeping, I used to go in and check on her before I went to bed and she would be so warm, I would take her temp! she was fine of course! Good luck!

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S.H.

answers from Modesto on

I think some babies are just hot blooded, like mine. My son who is 14 months has always been really hot blooded and I have never bundled him up because of it. If he wears pj's he wakes up in a puddle of sweat too. I mostly let him wear just a diaper to bed, lately it has been so cold in my house that he has been able to wear a blanket sleeper and not be sweaty, but I did shave his head to give him some relief.

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K.I.

answers from San Francisco on

Very normal. My now 2 year old did the same thing. He still does but now to a little lesser extent. Dr said it is normal for some kids.

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K.W.

answers from San Francisco on

My 9 mth old has been sweating from day one too. I think he's just hot blooded, his body eventually adjusted to the temp of our house and his bed, and to even being able to wear jammies. It just took a while.

I would check with his dr., but I'm sure (as with mine), it's nothing.

-K.

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J.H.

answers from Bakersfield on

Hi K.,
That's pretty young for a baby to be so sweaty. Is he having any other problems like not feeding well, having difficulty breathing, making grunting sounds when he's just lying there or having color changes? I would suggest getting him in to his ped ASAP because that can be a sign of serious cardiac conditions. Don't wait. Get in to see them today and have them listen to his heart and possible get an ultrasound of it. And keep a close eye on him. If any of those symptoms I mentioned appear at any time, get him either to his ped or to the ER fast. My daughter was born with congenital heart disease and that was one of her symptoms. Good luck!
OH, and just a quick add-on. I have to disagree with the room temp being in the 60's for a newborn. That's just too cold. They don't have enough fat to stay warm or the ability to compensate by shivering. Room temps in the 70's are much more realistic and reasonable.

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L.H.

answers from Redding on

My son is a sweater too. His usual attire is nothing but a diaper, so, it's just how he is. His dad sweats too. Maybe it's just genetic..... I don't know that there is much you can do about it, just accept that your little man is a sweaty guy! Just make sure that the room he sleeps in isn't too hot, which may only make him sweatier, or too cold, since he may get cold if he's wet. Since he's only a week old I'm sure he's getting plenty of fluids, but when he gets older you may want to keep an eye on his fluids so he doesn't become dehydrated...

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D.K.

answers from San Francisco on

What worries me is how young he is to be sweeting like this. I would take him to the doctor and have his heart checked. Also when you kiss him does he taste like salt? Hopefully all is ok, but you would likely feel better getting things checked out.

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M.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Do call the pediatrician on this one, and keep the room cool, 64-66 F is about right for a baby. It is just possible his room is too hot. Normally little ones can be dressed in a onesy for sleep, plus a light "sleeping bag" and if the room is the right temp it should be okay. Mine always sweated - now age 4. He sweats a lot in the first part of the night, even if the room is cool, but much more if it's hot. Still, at such a young age be careful about him becoming dehydrated.

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R.A.

answers from San Francisco on

Hey K....my little guy ALWAYS sweats when he sleeps!!! He's now 19 months and I'm finding he's growing out of it a bit. When I voiced my concern in his first couple months I was assured that my husband was a sweater as a baby too and that it's totally normal.
R.

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S.E.

answers from San Francisco on

My daughter was sweater during sleep too. She would wake up soaking wet from head to toe and her sheets as well. Doctor thought nothing of it.

In fact, she sleeps most night in undies and she's 7. She just gets so hot. I'm under a sheet, duvet, down comforter, and a heavy winter spread and she's on top of the covers nearly naked.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

Dear K.,
My son was a sweaty little baby too. It went against everything in me not to keep him all bundled up, but he was just too warm. He'd sleep in a t-shirt, diaper and socks and do just fine. My mom always said he was sleeping so hard he worked up a sweat. He never grew out of it either. He is 13 now and still just sleeps in underwear, even in the winter, when I've got sweatpants, a tee-shirt, a nightgown, socks, AND my robe on. Check with your pediatrician, but I'm sure he's okay.

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S.S.

answers from San Francisco on

He is a week old?? Call your pedi and ask. Do you have ventilation? Crack a window?

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