Sleep in Warmer Weather

Now that we finally have some warmer weather (are we risking it saying that we think summer may be here?), this may affect your little one's sleep. This may be because they are too warm, restless and unsettled and/or their sleeping environment is too warm and has little air flow.

Lucy from NEST has come up with some suggestions which hopefully will help to keep your babies and their sleep environment as cool as possible, as well as making sure they don’t overheat during the day. 

How to dress your baby

When you are unsure what to dress your baby in for the night, what tog sleeping bag to use, or whether or not they should have a blanket (please follow the safe sleep guidelines when using blankets), we recommend having a think about how hot you are and what you will be sleeping in, then adding one additional layer for your little one.

Monitor their temperature

Did you know that babies only start regulating their own body temperature from the age of 12 months, although they may not be able to do this properly until they are around 2 years old. This is why it is crucial for us to keep an eye on their temperature and ensure they are not getting too cold or overheating. The best way to check your child’s temperature is by checking the back of their neck or their chest rather than their face, hands, legs or arms.

Not only do we all sleep better in a cooler environment, but research has shown a link between SIDS and babies who get too hot, which is why it is really important for us to monitor our children’s temperatures and the environment they sleep in.

Cooling down their sleep environment

The Lullaby Trust recommends the ideal sleeping temperature is between 16°- 20°, or as close to this as possible. The best way of knowing what the temperature of the room is, is to use a room thermometer. Here are some ways you can keep room temperature down:

• Keep windows and blinds closed during the day when it is warm, and once the temperature outside has cooled down (and if it is safe to do so), have a window open to ensure the room is well ventilated.
• Use a blackout blind at the window to ensure that the room stays as dark as possible - this will help with the warmer days, but it will also help with the early mornings too!
• Have a fan in the bedroom and turn this on prior to putting your little one to bed, this will ensure that the room is cool before you settle them. If it is a really warm night and you choose to leave the fan on, make sure the fan is not pointing directly onto your baby and where they are sleeping. 
• Try to keep your bedtime routine as consistent as you can. If bathtime is a usual part of your child’s routine, it may be worth giving them a cooler bath than usual, although make sure it’s not too cold!

When your baby is napping in the warmer weather, especially when outside in a pram, please do not cover the pram/pushchair with a blanket/muslin as this prevents air circulation and leads to the inside of the pram/pushchair getting incredibly hot, which increases the risk of your baby overheating. To protect your child from the direct sunlight, please use a sunshade/parasol instead which you can clip to the pram/buggy.

About NEST

NEST is a private Early Years Consultancy Service with a team of highly trained consultants offering bespoke support and advice to families from pregnancy until a child is at school. ​NEST stands for Nurture, Educate, Support - Together, an ethos we are really passionate about. We ensure that every family receives a service that is confidential, informative, and exclusively tailored to each individual family and their needs. We work alongside you and your family in a nurturing and non-judgmental way to support you in your child's early years. 

​NEST was founded in 2018 by Lucy, a Norland Nanny and Maternity Practitioner who has worked with families and their children, both privately and in the community with the NHS. Lucy passionately believes that no two journeys are the same, which is why she felt a bespoke service should be made available.