My 3 Month Old Sweats a Lot

My 4 month old son has clammy hands as well and is healthy as can be. He mainly gets sweaty if his crying really gets going, and then he hates to be hot, so he cries even more. We just strip his clothes off, and the silence is instant. I don't know if being a big baby has anything to do with it, but he was 9,4 when he was born and is 19,5 now.

I have a six month old son who was very sweaty/clammy for his first three months. He still has sweaty/clammy feet (can't wait for those stinky teenager shoes! lol) even when his feet are bare and feel cool, they are sweaty. His doctor said it's normal for some babies to do this and that you just try to dress them in whatever amount of clothes they seem comfortable in. My son frequently wore only onesies or even just a diaper until he was three months.

R.,
All three of my kids were sweaty when they were babies. I thought that it was strange, and my pediatrician said that it was uncommon for babies to sweat but not harmful. My mother in law is a midwife, though, and she said that mothers complain about it. She told me just to put some cornstarch in their socks and shoes if it started to smell or they got a rash. Oddly, the sweating ended for all of my kids at almost exactly 9 months. My oldest still sweats a lot at night, but none of them seemed to have carried the problem into their later years. Good luck!

R.

Sweaty hands and feet aren't anything to be concerned about at this point. Remember your baby was in water for nine months and then comes into a world that is mostly dry and it takes time for their little bodies to adjust. also be careful to not over dress him. My sister-in-law did that with my nephew and it took a lot to convince her not to put so much on him.

I hope this helps.

Infants cannot regulate their body temperature as well as adults and older children due to the immaturity of their brains. As time goes on and babies grow older, they start to regulate body temperature better. That is why most pediatricians tell you to dress your baby in something such as you would wear...such as if you are comfortable in a tank top and shorts (obviously it would be warm), then dress your baby accordingly. And of course if there are drafts, cover your baby with a light blanket, not a heavy one. Too often, we overdress our babies, and their skin becomes clammy or sweaty. My rule of thumb, if the core of their body is warm, not hot or cool to the touch, then he/she is dressed accordingly. I do this by touching my own daughter (almost 5 months old) on her bare tummy and chest area. If her tummy/chest area feels cool, I dress her warmer. And if she feels hot and her cheeks are pink and flushed, I dress her in cooler clothes. Of course, I am only trying to give helpful advice, if you think you have more serious questions, ask your pediatrician.

And about the sweaty hands during the day. Pay attention to your childs hands... are the hands closed up in little fists most of the time? And does your baby put those hands in the mouth? And then keeps those little hands tight into little fists? That can cause little sweaty palms... my daughter always has clammy hands because of this... and I don't worry about it one bit.

I don't think it's anything to be worried about. My son ALWAYS has clammy hands and feet. Even when they're cold, they're clammy! My niece had the same thing too. Is it mostly just his hands that you notice? My son doesn't sweat anywhere else unless he's overdressed.

R.

Both of my kids when they were babies sweated a lot.
The worst was their feet, just hours after a bath their feet sweated so much it smelled like feta cheese. I called them both Feta Feet. lol
Also both of my kids were quite chubby at 3 months old.
When I would lift them out of their carseats after being in the car for any period of time their backs were always wet with sweat.

When my son was a baby he used to sweat a lot during sleep, and still does sometimes (he's almost 3). I don't thinks it's a big deal.

My 6 month old also sweats a lot too, especially when she sleeps. I was unaware that it was uncommon for a baby to sweat. My oldest also used to sweat as a baby... and still does. It seems like it would be uncomfortable for them.

Some kids just sweat. My boy 3 1/2 sweats all the time. While I was pregnant with him he made me sweat. At night while my husband slept with quilt almost over his head, I had to sleep in tank top and shorts with my belly completely uncovered so that I could sleep without sweating. My boy while sleeping as an infant used to sweat and make a spot on his sheets often. I just made sure to check him often because he was born in the summer to make sure he wasn't too hot. He slept in an infant t-shirt and his diaper. In the winter just a sleeper with feet. Even now, I check that he's not sweating too much, but lately it seems that he's not sweating as often, however it is colder at night. He sleeps in his summer pj's (t-shirt and shorts). If he's curled up with his legs under him, then I put a light blanket over him. I guess I learned over time what temperature is most comfortable for him and keep his room relatively cool.

Babies do sweat. Their sweat glands aren't as large as ours are, but they do have them. Try not to wrap the baby in lots of clothing or blankets. I personally can not sleep if I am too warm. I was always like that. Babies are at the same temperature that we are. So if you are warm, so is the baby. At night let the baby sleep in just a onezy, or even in just a diaper. Good luck.

take him to your doctor and tell her what is happening so she can run tests.

Hi R.,

I have to say that I know nothing about this topic. I did however type in sweating and baby and I came up with this web site....
handsdry.com or call 1-800-230-1992 if you would like to contact them. The condition may be called hyperhidrosis.
I hope this helps a little.

Or it may be nothing to concerned with. It never hurts to get more info.

H. B.

Hi R.,

I'm not sure who said babies don't sweat, however Mine does from time to time. I have started putting her in cooler things, or giving cold water or juice. It has helped, and she seems much more comfortable. Hope this helps...

Blessings,

K

I have had HyperHydrosis (sweaty hands and feet) since birth. It is neurological. In the summer sweat will run down my arms from my hands -- ie if I am talking on the phone. I recommend COTTON -- avoid synthetic materials and keep cool when possible.

In the last 40 years I've had Dr.s prescribe acid to put on my hands -- it only burned off my skin so I had dry skin, but they still sweat. One told me to put antiperspirant on my hands. Foot powder helps some. the latest medical answers (short of nerve surgery to cut the nerve that makes you sweat), is botox. I've decided to just DEAL with it. I have to buy new shoes OFTEN and used to wear out my jeans wiping my hands on them all the time. Of course 30 yrs ago in circle time for girl scouts no one wanted to hold my hands so I told them to hold my wrists. Hope this doesn't upset you, but just wanted to let you know there are plenty of people w/ sweaty, clammy hands & feet.

Hi R. S.,
Babies typically run warmer than we do, especially if they're going through a growing spurt. Make sure you're not dressing him too warm. Also, there is a condition where the Ardenal Glands are in a constant stage of fright or flight mode. My son has suffered from this since he was a baby and has suffered with chronic sweaty hands & feet for 25 years now.

Have a great day..M.

I am a diabetic and excessive sweating is a sign of diabetes/high blood sugar. IF you are concerned you should always run your concerns by your pediatrician, of course. And, that is easily enough tested for. Maybe there is too much sugar in your child's diet/formula/extra things you may be feeding him... juice?... kool-aid?... fruit?...carbs (in baby foods)?...

I raised 5 kids and 1 of them was like you mention. He couldn't handle temps. above 70 degrees. I am the same way. That is a great clue for mothers...your baby feels much the same as you do!!! They spent 9 months inside of you with their comfort zone being what was comfortabl for YOU. Fuzzy booties and blankets and hats are "cute" but may NOT be necessary for YOUR baby. Heavy nightwear may not be necessary. Maybe your home is warm enough that your baby is comfy in just a t-shirt or thin night shirt. Dress your baby the way YOU would be comfortable. Do you sleep with your feet outside the covers? I do...and my child liked that too... Our hands, feet and heads are good indicators of our internal temperature... if they are cold, we are cold.

Disposable diapers/plastic pants (the plastic/rubber/elastic in them) can cause the generation of heat for the baby/child, too. I had to use corn starch in my kids' diapers (we lived in TX) to prevent excessive sweat and severe diaper rash/yeast infections... gently RUBBED onto DRY skin and NOT shaken in the air so as to get breathed into lungs! Desitin and other such ointments do not allow skin to breathe, either.

Another thing... the mattress on the crib (plastic?)...Do you have a cotton/quilted mattress pad between the mattress and the sheet? Without one this can be a HOT bed!

Sometimes, my kids got to run around (or in the case of one not walking...lay around) with no diaper so their skin could breathe.

Oh, and wet hands (from sucking) become clammy/cool when exposed to air. It may be just as simple as that :0) Make sure you keep them as clean as possible, though, so no bacteria causes infections etc.

Don't worry... more than likely what your gut tells you will be right for your child... listen to the "mommie" inside you and relax... it happens to us all on the 1st baby or whenever something new that we do not understand happens.

This is a great site for young/new mothers to get wise advise. I wish I had had this when I had mine... I had nobody to ask. :0)

Our oldest daughter used to sweat when she slept. It doesn't seem to happen as much now (She's 23 months old), so may be something she's growing out of. Our pediatrician thought it was perfectly normal.

My baby girl, 2 months, has always been sweaty! Sweaty hands, sweaty feet, sweaty head, and sweat always in her little skin folds! I was amazed that babies could sweat. She generates quite a bit of body heat when she sleeps, so I started to dress her in onesies at night. I also have a small fan on my nightstand that I can turn on and turn towards her crib, which helps if she seems to be really warm.

My son used to sweat with each nap he took. He always woke up drenched and it wasn't really hot. He's now almost four and extremely healthy! :)
L.

My son has sweaty feet ( and smelly like from birth , lol) You , I suspect have a plastic mattress cover in the bed like the rest of us . Those covers trap heat and make him sweaty. I wouldn't worry too much about it , babies do sweat a bit but it is moe noticeable when it all gets trapped by a plastic mattress cover.

I don't know why they say babies don't sweat! Both my kids sweat when they were babies (daughter now 2 always sweats in her sleep) and most babies I've been around did too. Something to keep in mind is whether you or daddy sweats. My husband sweats a lot in his sleep...which is why I think my daugther does.

I realize there are conditions out there that can cause excessive perspiration but don't let that frighten you into thinking something is wrong with your baby! If you are concerned about it then ask your pediatrician.