With the UK heatwave showing no signs of ending anytime soon, we thought we’d put together some great tips for keeping babies, toddlers and children a little cooler on hot days and warmer-than-usual evenings. Bedtime can be a particular challenge when children are already hot, so part of the solution is preventing them from overheating in the day. The rest of the battle is keeping temperatures down in their room – and we have some really clever hacks for doing both!
Iced Water:
☑ Freeze large bottles of water and place them in children’s bedrooms to help the room cool overnight as the ice starts to melt. Placing an icy bottle in front of an oscillating fan is even better – and many children and babies are helped to sleep by the ‘white noise’ effect of the fan. Icy bottles are also an essential item for your changing bag whilst you’re out and about with little people in the heat.
Night Time Attire:
☑ If room temperature is over25 degrees, babies will sleep best in a nappy, thin vest and no sleeping bag. Slight cooler rooms call for a short sleeved Babygro or pyjamas and a light, 1 tog sleeping bag. Remember, however, that the temperature will drop in the night - so don’t put a baby down in just a nappy if it will drop below 25 degrees in the night. Get hold of a room thermometer if your household doesn’t yet have one. Consider removing plastic sheets from beds while the weather is very hot, as these conduct heat.
Windows and Curtains:
☑ Keep bedrooms cool in the daytime by keeping all blinds and curtains shut. In other rooms, open windows on the same floor to create a channel of air running through the house. Pull curtains two thirds across to keep as much sun out as possible while allowing some breeze in.
Napping on the Move:
☑ Keep an eye on sleeping babies in prams and pushchairs, as these spaces can quickly become quite airless – especially prams with sunshades. Never leave a child sleeping in a parked car – even with windows open and if you have full sight at all times – for the same reasons.
Push Back Bedtime:
☑ Postponing bedtime – even by as little as 15 minutes - on a really hot day might be just enough time to help a little one become a little more tired, and allow the air temperature outside to drop off a little. Once the air cools outside, open bedroom windows if safe to do so, to allow some airflow before bedtime stories and lights out.
Nannies – share your wisdom with us! How do you keep littles cool on hot days? Advice from our overseas nannies would be especially handy. Join in the conversation on our Facebook page, and do share this article if you found it handy!