Heatwave Sleep Tips Every Parent Needs to Know
The mercury is set to rise again this week, and getting babies to settle down for naptime or bedtime becomes increasingly difficult, not to mention that overheating can pose serious health risks.
Sleep is precious, especially for babies, but keeping your little one comfortable during hot summer nights can be challenging for many parents.
Here are six tips to help keep your nursery cool and to help babies sleep safe and sound in the heat.
Block out the sun during the day
Keep windows, blinds and curtains shut during the day, particularly in a south-facing nursery to avoid the room becoming too hot by the evening. Blackout blinds and thermal curtains are particularly effective to make a barrier against the sun’s rays and to create a dark, relaxing environment to help your baby drift off.
While closing blinds will keep the room cool, never place the cot near hanging cords, as these pose a hazard for your child. If possible, use cordless blinds in your nursery to avoid accidents.
Open windows at the right time to create a cool breeze
Opening the windows in the nursery helps fresh air circulate, regulating the rooms temperature and helping your baby sleep better. While this may seem like an obvious solution to help your child at naptime or bedtime, knowing when to open them and when to keep them closed is equally as important.
Steer clear of opening windows during the day when temperatures are hottest, as this will only let the warm air in. Only open windows once the sun has set and temperatures drop slightly to let in any evening breeze.
A good trick is to create a through draught by opening all windows and doors in your house to improve air flow.
Move the cot to a cooler room, even if it’s not the nursery
If your child’s nursery gets overly warm, particularly if it’s at the top of the house, consider moving the cot into a cooler room. This could be a shaded room downstairs, a hallway with better airflow, or even a bathroom with cool tiles. As long as the room is safe and quiet, with a firm, flat surface for the cot, your baby will sleep more soundly.
Use a fan with a frozen water bottle
Placing a fan in the nursery helps keep the air circulating efficiently. A great trick is to pop a bowl of icy water or even a frozen water bottle in front of the fan. This will mean that the fan is blowing cool air, which can offer some relief for your baby sleeping in a stuffy room.
Avoid placing the fan in front of the cot, as this might disturb them from getting a good night’s sleep. Also, don’t worry about the noise, your baby will adjust, and the white noise a fan creates can help gently soothe baby into a deep sleep.
Stick to a normal bedtime routine
In the heat, your baby might be more sleepy than usual, as the hot temperatures can cause the best of us to feel lethargic. However, it is important to try your best to stick to your usual sleep routine, this familiarity and signal to wind down for the evening will be comforting for your baby even in warmer than usual conditions.
Give your baby a cool bath before bed
Getting your kids into a bedtime routine early can make all the difference when it comes to their sleep. Bath time (in the evenings) is a perfect way to start, followed by pjs and downtime. When the temperatures are higher, a cool bath before bedtime will work wonders to help regulate your baby’s body temperature. It doesn’t have to be cold, in fact, lukewarm water works best. Just a couple of degrees cooler will offer relief before bedtime and give them a good window of opportunity to get them settled down for the evening.
After bath time, gently pat them dry and dress them in lightweight, breathable sleepwear. Material matters, as synthetic fabrics offer little breathability, look for outfits that are 100% cotton or linen to help them stay cool and comfortable throughout the night.
Written by Kirsty Carroll, Showroom Manager at Kiddies Kingdom