Q: Now that it's getting wintry, I'm worried that our baby won't be warm enough at night. We turn the heat down at bedtime to save energy and because we're more comfortable that way. Should we use a space heater in our baby's room?
A: We advise against space heaters for homes with a heating system. For instance, kerosene heaters are so dangerous they are against the law in many places. Even electric space heaters have started fires. They must be placed well away from such flammable materials as curtains or bedding and should be used only when an awake adult is in the room. The surfaces of space heaters tend to get quite hot. It won't be long until your baby's crawling and then walking.
With a sleeper on and blankets, your baby should be fine sleeping at any temperature that's comfortable for you. If you fTC find your baby kicks the covers off in the night, you might want to get a blanket-sleeper to go over footed pajamas. That combination, topped with several light blankets, should keep your baby cozy.
Dr. Wilson is director of general pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Children's Center; Dr. Joffe is director of adolescent medicine.