Why Chinese parents let baby sweat?

[meimeid]

Today I was on a longhaul flight to Europe and sitting next to a Chinese couple I noticed they really overdressed their bub. She was sweating like a pig and they kept wiping her sweat away. During the night they covered her with three blankets and put a thick coat over her head like a hat.
In the middle of the night they had to change her clothes because they were drenched... The girl didn't seem ill or anything.
I don't get it, why do they do this? I couldn't ask because I don't speak Mandarin. I thought maybe someone is able to satisfy my curiosity?

 

[carang]

they don't just do it on flights. they do it ALL THE TIME. every class, i have to ask parents to please remove 2-3 layers of clothing. at 22C, i have kids coming to classes with 5-7 layers, including thermal layers!

 

[shinan]

I think most Chinese believe that you get sick from being cold and exposed to the elements, but not from being hot.
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[thanka2]

My husband is Chinese and he believes that if a person sneezes that indicates that they are cold--in whatever temperature--even in the summer when it's hot. And the cure for sneezes is to add more layers of clothing. He tends to try to over-dress our children and he is slowly learning not to do that. For example, about three weeks ago our daughter was fussing and carrying on at bedtime. I said, "I think she is too hot...I'm going to take off a layer or two." He didn't believe me. But, sure enough, as soon as I removed the extra clothing she calmed down and was content. He did have to admit I was right. But, even though he has the tendency to over-dress our kids...at least it's not in 5-7 layers--maybe 1 or 2. I think Chinese grandparents are the ones that keep this tradition alive. My parents-in-law LOVE to overdress my son. It's like a past-time.

 

[carang]

i have the same problem with my chinese husband... i'm constantly saying, its 23C they don't need their winter jackets! LOL!

 

[Milne]

No, I don't agree with it. I'm a Chinese and I always dress the baby with only 1 more layer than myself. But my husband, who is an English, always asks me to put on more clothes for the baby.

 

[2010-NewDad]

It is not just a Chinese thing, may wife also puts on too many layers for our daughter - often 4 or 5 when I feel 3 would be fine.
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[bonita]

I'm Chinese and I tend to put 4 cotton layers on my daughter than one t-shirt and a down jacket. I believe that the 4 layers are more adjustable to the different temperatures outdoor, on buses/mtr, and indoor. My American husband used to believe in the "one shirt & jacket" until he realizes how malls in HK keeps their air-con blasting year round and there is no central heating, i.e. can't take jacket off indoor, but outdoor jacket is just too much.

 

[meimeid]

Actually, I am Chinese myself, I was not meaning to generalize all Chinese. That's why I asked, because as a Chinese I did not understand. Seems to me that when you sweat, you are actually more prone to catch a cold if the temperature suddenly drops.

 

[erina320]

Not to mention, studies show that infants that suffer from over-heating are more prone to SIDS.

Personally, I also think that's why you see so much ecxema in infants here.