How To Help Your Baby Sleep In Warm Weather
Whilst warm weather is often welcomed with open arms, by the time bedtime comes around, it can be almost impossible to get a good night’s sleep – and that’s just for adults! For babies, warm weather can cause a distressing and disturbed night’s sleep, which then means an even worse night’s sleep for you.
When you’re both as tired as one another, this can only make the evening worse, but not many parents know the best ways to help babies sleep in warm weather. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to help your baby sleep during warm weather spells.
Give Them a Refreshing Bath
Just like we use warm baths and showers during the winter, in the summer there is often nothing more refreshing than a cool soak. For your baby, a slightly cooler than usual bath will help them to cool down and relieve any daytime clamminess they might experience, which could cause irritation during the night.
Close Curtains and Shades During The Day
Whilst it might seem counterintuitive, closing curtains and shades during the day can actually prevent rooms from heating up. Keep the curtains and shades closed during the day in your baby’s room, but be sure to open a window to get some air flow in, to cool the room. It’s important to know how hot the room your little one is sleeping in is. This will then allow you peace of mind that you’re not allowing your baby to sleep in a room which is too hot or cold.
Use a room thermometer to get an indication of the temperature, as then you know how to appropriately dress baby for bedtime. If it’s over 25ºc, then dressing your baby in just a nappy and thin cotton vest is ok. If the room is between 20ºc and 23ºc, then a short sleeved and legged baby grow or pyjamas is fine, with socks and a one-tog sleeping sack.
Give Them Cooling Foods
If your baby is at weaning age, then feel free to give them cool foods during the day to keep them refreshed. Things such as watermelon, yoghurt, cucumber batons and orange slices can be stored in the fridge and given to baby to keep them cool. If you use weaning bibs for mealtimes, you can get short-sleeved versions for summer, or just let them enjoy and relax. It’s important to remember to keep your little one hydrated too. You might notice your baby wants to drink more than usual when it is warm, so be sure to have plenty of cold water ready to give them. Breastfed babies will also want to feed more and will stay hydrated on breastmilk, so it is important to keep yourself hydrated too! Babies will tend to sleep better if they are well hydrated.
Keep Them As Calm As Possible
This is easier said than done, but irritated and unhappy babies are likely to get hot and clammy, which only then makes them more irritable. This is a recipe for disaster when it comes to bedtime, so try to keep them as cool and calm as possible. Keep them out of the sun and in shade during the day and allow them to nap in a cool space. If you feel as though your baby is getting upset with the heat, then a cool flannel or baby washcloth gently dabbed over your baby’s body and head will help to cool and calm them.
