Skip to main content Skip to main content Sleeping When it is Blistering HotThe UK is rejoicing as we finally get some nice weather after all those months of broken promises. But while most are enjoying the heatwave, the increase in temperature can be a real worry for parents concerned about their children's health. It's important to keep our babies cool in the sweltering heat - read on for more information and for 14 tips on how to help your little ones this summer from The Sleep Nanny, Lucy Shrimpton. Your baby is likely to become restless if feeling too hot or too cold so he may let you know. He may be more difficult to settle to sleep than usual or wake more frequently due to the discomfort of the temperature. Newborns are at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) if they overheat so check your newborn does not have a moist head or neck which are signs of sweating. If the face is redder than usual or he has a rash or you notice rapid breathing, these could be signs of overheating.
If the room is very hot, for example over 25 degrees for most of the night, just a nappy and thin cotton vest may suffice. If the room is between 20-23 degrees a shortie baby grow or shorts and t-shirt pyjamas perhaps with socks or just a nappy and a 1 tog sleep sack. If your baby is too young for any kind of bedding and it is too hot for a sleep sack, simply dress them in suitable clothing for the room temperature so that no covering is required. During the day, open all windows on the same floor to create a blow-through and pull curtain two thirds of the way across to block out hot sun but still allow the breeze through. Open your loft hatch if you have one to allow heat to escape up through the roof. Use only cotton bed sheets and avoid any waterproof mattress covering as this will hold heat and make your baby sweat. A luke-warm bath or slightly cooler bath than usual might help to refresh your baby before bedtime and relieve any clamminess. Make it a quick bath so that she doesn't get too chilly.
...so that you know what temperature you are dealing with. This will take away the guesswork and give you peace of mind that you have dressed your baby suitably. Large bottles of frozen water (1litre plus), placed in the baby's room may help to cool the air as they melt overnight. Electric fans will often just blow the warm air around but place a large bowl of ice or some frozen water bottles in front of the fan to cool the air that circulates the room. A calm baby will remain cooler than a frustrated baby so try to maintain a calming bedtime routine and offer reassurance and comfort if he is agitated. A cool flannel or cold compress dabbed gentle on your baby may help to cool and calm him. Your baby may need to drink more than usual. Cold water is great so for young babies it is worth cooling some billed water and refrigerating it for night time use. Breastfed babies will stay hydrated on breastmilk. If you cannot keep your baby cool in her own room, consider moving her to a cooler room in the house temporarily.
Remember, no matter how hot it is at bedtime, the temperature will drop in the night so don't put your baby in his cot in just a nappy if it will drop below 25 degrees in the night. You might like to check on him before you go to bed to see how the temperature is. Hands and feet do get colder than the rest of the body so it is natural for these to feel a little colder to the touch. If you are unsure about your baby's temperature, feel the back of his neck or use a thermometer. Babies will be comfortable dressed for temperatures as you would dress yourself. So ask yourself how hot it feels and what you would be comfortable in when you are considering how to dress you baby. Just remember, you can pull the covers over you but she cannot, so imagine you are going to bed without any bed covers. For more information and tips from The Sleep Nanny (Lucy Shrimpton) visit www.sleepnanny.co.uk or follower her on twitter @lucysleepcoach Too hot to sleep How to apply sunscreen Can you go home if it's too hot at work?
Don't make this mistake in the heat How to keep pets cool How to keep cool in bedHang string lights above your bed to add a little magic. Hanging the lights behind a sheet or thin curtain helps make your room feel less like a Christmas display and more like a FaiRy WoNDeRLanD. You can use normal tree lights or get these delicate ones at Urban Outfitters. Dress your bed in a giant sweater with a cable-knit blanket. Knit your own blanket if you’re looking for a project; if not, you could buy this throw (or this cheaper Ikea version), order a handmade one on Etsy (for example here, here, or here), or check out these cool chunky wool options. Get a real down comforter. It’s just one of those things that makes more a difference than you think it will. Sleeping under a beautiful weightless cloud of bird-warmth feels so much better than wrapping yourself in, like, endless layers of swampy padding made out of recycled plastic bottles. Good Housekeeping has recommendations for the very best in feathers.
That said, if you’re allergic to down (or how much it costs), there are still plenty of feather-free and budget-friendly alternatives that will give you the BIG, FLUFFY FEELING you’re looking for. Skip the top sheet and just put a nice washable duvet cover on your comforter. Europeans know this, and so should you: Sleeping top-sheetless feels LUXURIOUS AS HECK. It also means making the bed is basically zero work, and you’ll never again wake up with a dumb, useless piece of fabric tangled around your legs. Look for an easy-to-wash duvet cover made of soft, natural fiber (flannel, cotton, linen, etc). Throw down an extra fuzzy bedside rug to make things easier for your feet in the morning. When it comes to rugs, you can NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. You can get this white sheepskin at Ikea. A plushy faux-fur throw on top of the covers will add Hollywood glam to your all-day Netflix sessions. Check out Apartment Therapy’s list of throws to make your own. Learn how to tuck in your covers neatly.
It seems like a small thing, but the nicer your bed looks, the happier you’ll be to get into it. Check out this quick tutorial video on folding sheets with a tidy “hospital corner.” Make your bed every (!) day (!). It doesn’t have to be perfect, but see above re: nice beds and wanting to get into them. You’ll feel like you’re in a hotel, but the hotel is free, and you’re the only guest! If you’re not feeling motivated, you can reward yourself with an Andes mint every time you make the bed. When in doubt, add pillows. Don’t go CRAZY here, but at least two pillows per side is a minimum for baseline coziness. And anything beyond that will increase your cozy factor significantly, especially if you use pillows with a bunch of different shapes and cover textures. If you have basic sewing skills, it’s easy to turn cheap bath mats or accent rugs into cuddly throw pillow covers. Just make sure they’re unused rugs, please. Get more info here.
Invest in a nice bedside lamp so you never again have to get up to turn off the overhead light. This DIY pulley lantern is super cool, but you’re also definitely allowed to just buy one. You can save money on a fancy tufted headboard by making your own. You’ll need a board, padding, fabric, and buttons. Get the full tutorial here. If you’re ready to upgrade your sheets, try linen instead of cotton. This will make a much bigger difference than upping your thread count, which is basically a scam anyway. Linen is textured enough to be cozy in winter and light enough to keep you cool in summer. And it’s always (artfully, elegantly) wrinkly, so you don’t have to worry about getting out every little bump when you’re making the bed. Rough Linen sells these old-fashioned unfitted linen sheets, or you can find more traditional ones at Restoration Hardware or Garnet Hill. They’re not cheap, but these get even better and softer over time, so they’ll probably earn out over the years.
DIY a cozy canopy by hanging fabric from the ceiling. Option 1: Buy wooden dowels for just a few cents at a craft store and attach them to the ceilings with hooks or thumbtacks. Option 2: Rig up two short curtain rods on either side of the bed. Add a foam or feather pillow-top pad to your mattress to make it softer. You can get foam pads at IKEA or toppers filled with down at other home stores. If your bed is in a nook or very small room, you can turn it into a ship-shape hideaway with some curtains. Adding a wall mirror and light will keep it extra cozy and make sure it’s not too dark. Get more info on this cool small-space DIY at Apartment Therapy. When all else fails: Find someone furry to share your bed with. Dogs are basically just everlasting hot water bottles. If you’re looking for more ways to stay warm and cuddly, check out this list of 22 Obnoxiously Cozy Things That’ll Help You Embrace The Cold. Want awesome DIY tips in your inbox four times a week?