Helping Kids Sleep in the Heat

As the heat of the summer comes into action, it can be challenging for people to sleep. It gets more difficult for young children and babies since they often go to bed when the sun is still up, and the heat is still in full force.

Here are some tips that can help you ensure your little ones get the rest they need. 

Breeze

Depending on where you live, it might be possible to leave the window slightly open, so there is a little bit of a breeze. During the day, keep the curtains closed, a window open slightly, and a door open too. This will bring the temperature down in the room.

As the temperature rises outside, close the window, and the room will maintain some of that cooler temperature you have created.

Fan 

If you don’t have air-conditioning, then a simple fan in the room that is on an oscillating setting can help move the air around the room. It would be best if you didn’t point the fan directly after the child, no matter how tempting that might be.

However, if you choose to use a large bottle of frozen water to help, it is an excellent idea to stay in the room with your child to ensure that nothing happens between the water and the fan.

Mosquitoes

Quite often, as you leave the windows open in different home areas, you might get a few sneaky tiny mosquitoes. Even if you have the anti-insect netting outside your windows, they can often still get in the home. Book some mosquito control so that your chances of getting a mosquito in the room and having the child disturbed by that irritating buzzing noise are limited.

Temperature dressing 

It is not uncommon for people to have too many layers of clothing on their children even when the temperatures begin to rise. If the room is over 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 27 degrees Celsius, a child can be comfortable in just a nappy. They are typically fine wearing a onesie and sleeping bag between 71 and 74 Fahrenheit / 22 and 23 degrees Celsius.

Extra water

It is very likely for you and your children to become dehydrated during hot weather. Often it takes a little while to add more water to a daily routine as temperatures rise. 

Try to make sure that you are also drinking enough water. Bottle-fed babies over a certain age can also have cold water, and usually, fully breastfed babies don’t need any extra water as provided by the breast.

Calm bedtime 

A calm bedtime routine is an order of the day. Frustrated children will often get agitated and a bit sweaty. Keeping your child nice and calm will mean that they have less chance of becoming hot and sweaty.