A registered midwife is warning parents against making one common error regarding their child or baby’s sleep during periods of hot weather. The Met Office has issued a weather warning for 37 areas across England experiencing “very high temperatures” of up to 38C on Wednesday, August 11.
An amber weather warning for “extreme heat ” will remain in effect from 9am until midnight on Thursday, with the conditions expected to affect transport, infrastructure and health. Consequently, individuals are being urged to drink plenty of water and avoid direct sunshine between 11am and 3pm.
The soaring temperatures also present challenges for parents attempting to ensure their children remain comfortable while sleeping. The optimal room temperature for a sleeping baby sits between 16–20°C.
Organisations such as The Lullaby Trust advise maintaining the nursery within this range to minimise the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
However, as temperatures climb, maintaining bedrooms at a lower temperature becomes increasingly difficult – forcing parents to adapt by removing layers of clothing from their children, reducing the number of blankets or even lowering the tog rating of a sleeping bag.
Registered midwife Lily Foggan is now cautioning parents to avoid making one particular mistake when it comes to dressing their children for sleep during a heatwave.
Lily said: “In hot weather, babies obviously need fewer layers than normal. Lightweight sleepwear and lower-tog sleep bags are usually preferable to blankets, which can be kicked off or accidentally cover a baby’s face.”
She went on to say: “Check their chest or the back of their neck for a more accurate indication of temperature, or can also check their temperature. The Tommee Tippee No Touch Digital Thermometer is great at eliminating the risk of waking them up, which no one wants, especially during a heatwave.”
The Lullaby Trust website says: “You might find that even after doing all of the above, you still struggle to keep your baby’s room between 16 – 20°C when it’s particularly hot outside. This can be frustrating. In really hot weather, it’s fine to have your baby in a short sleeve vest or even just a nappy.”
How to keep a baby cool during a heatwave
The Lullaby Trust has outlined several ways in which parents can help their little ones stay cool while sleeping through a heatwave.
Methods include:
- Reduce layers; just a nappy with no bedding is fine in hot weather
- Open the bedroom door and a window, if it’s safe to do so, to allow the air to flow.
- Check baby sleep bag guidance for which tog to use for each season.
- Use a fan to cool the room, but don’t aim it directly towards the baby.
- Keep curtains closed in the daytime so the room doesn’t heat up as much.
- Use a thermometer to check the room is the right temperature – as it’s hard to guess.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that you shouldn’t put your baby to sleep in just a nappy. However, during heatwave conditions, this advice is incorrect.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
