If you aren’t sure how to help your baby sleep safely during the hot weather that’s arrived in Ireland this week, then we have some tips.
The long, sunny days are so glorious but I think we can all agree the heat does make for unsettled nights…
Between worrying about your baby getting too hot, wearing too little and possibly getting cold, or simply just being fussy about anything on them whatsoever, it can be a sleepless battle for all the family.
One of the first skills in life that your baby is developing is the ability to regulate its own temperature. This can take a while to develop and may take longer if your baby was born premature. During this phase of learning, you may find that your baby is very hot one minute and then very cold the next.
If you are concerned about the temperature of your baby’s room throughout the night, you may find it beneficial to have a thermometer in their room.
The optimal temperature for your baby’s room is 16˚C to 20˚C.
What should they wear while sleeping?
For young babies, we are big fans of baby sleeping bags. They come in different sizes to suit babies from six months (usually when baby is able to roll over) all the way up to 36 months, and are available in the following tog warmth ratings: 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 3.5 so you can choose the lightest to suit these high temperatures.
Make sure to check your baby
While it’s still important to keep the bedroom in the safe temperature range, you do need to check your little one regularly to see if they are too cold or hot. Sweating and damp hair are both signs that your baby is too hot.
It’s recommended that you feel your baby’s chest or the back of their neck (your baby’s hands and feet will normally be cooler). If your baby’s skin feels quite hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of their bedclothes or blankets.
Older children
Consider a lukewarm bath before bedtime, or making milk popsicles; to cool things down before bed. Make sure that bedding and pyjamas are in a light breathable fabric like cotton or bamboo, and use a lower tog duvet if you have one.
Bedroom
If it’s very warm in your child’s bedroom, you may want to use a fan. However, try to keep the direct stream of cold air away from your child’s bed/cot, as this could make them too chilly during the night.
Keeping the curtains/blinds closed during the day can help to keep the room cool. Make sure your baby’s cot isn’t placed in a shaft of direct sunlight. It’s also good to open the windows as much as possible to get some cool air in, even if you prefer to close them at night.
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