According to a Canadian study, half of six-month-old babies do not sleep eight hours straight, partly because of waking up at night. A light sleep which can be disturbed by physiological needs such as hunger, fatigue but also heat. Indeed, for baby to feel good in his environment, the bedroom temperature must be between 16 ° C and 20 ° C. We explain everything you need to know.
For adults, lack of sleep means fatigue, difficulty concentrating and ease of irritability. But for our little ones who spend half their time sleeping (when everything goes well), sleep remains the key to their development and for the maturation of their brain. “It seems that babies store the information they have encountered during the previous hours and create memories essential to their learning and development. ", says Dr. A.J.R Waterson, in the book "Your baby from 0 to 3 years old".
1. A good temperature, you will maintain
To best promote the child's sleep, it is useful to follow certain temperature rules. Indeed, the temperature of a baby room must be between 16 ° C and 20 ° C, the ideal is 18 ° C. To make your child sleep in a dormouse, remove the automatic settings and manually regulate the temperature. Depending on the season, reduce the heating finally not to exceed 20 ° C in winter and lower the air conditioning in summer so as not to drop below 18 ° C.
" The ideal temperature for a baby's room is 18 ° C. At this temperature, a sheet and two "cellular" cotton blankets (or a 2.5 "tog" sleeping bag) should be enough to keep your baby warm. The covers should not exceed his shoulders. Remember: if the room temperature is high, choose a sleeping bag with the "tog" (the heat index which determines the thermal resistance of the sleeping bag) is less than 2.5; in summer, when the nights are really hot, your baby may be satisfied with a sheet. ", advises Dr. A.J.R Waterson.
2. My comfort, you will favor
During the first weeks, the baby's thermoregulatory system is not yet well formed, so it can quickly feel uncomfortable or even get sick if the room temperature is not warm enough. To improve your baby's comfort, it is better to avoid place your child's bed near heat sources such as radiators or fireplaces.
In addition, heating objects such as hot water bottles or electric blankets are not recommended. "If it’s important that your baby is warm enough while sleeping, nor should it be too hot. Do not place your bed too close to a heater. " Indeed, the comfort of your baby can quickly be impacted by the heat of the room. Your child can also quickly catch a cold, so do not place his crib near the windows, to prevent him from rolling or getting drafty.
3. Appropriate clothing, you will wear
So that your little one is not too hot in its cradle, it is better not to cover it too much. So, avoid sleeping with a blanket thick because your baby may be very hot, or in the worst case, choke. Remove all objects that can clog your child's bed like stuffed animals, sheets, bed bumpers or even cousins. In winter, it is advisable to put your child to sleep in a sleeping bag, a sleeping bag or even one-piece pajamas. Conversely, in summer, a simple bodysuit may be enough to cover your baby to avoid the risk of suffocation as much as possible.
Moreover, it is useless to cover your baby too much, blankets and sheets can, even if they are thin, make your child very hot. “Babies often have cold hands and feet compared to the rest of the body. To find out if your baby is warm enough, put your hand on her belly. If it is too hot, remove a layer of sheet or blanket and check its temperature again a few minutes later. ", details Dr. A.J.R Waterson.
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4. Hydration, you will bring
To fall asleep, the internal temperature of our body must drop a few degrees, the same goes for babies. Indeed, toddlers need freshness to have sweet dreams. To minimize the risk of your child getting hot, you can hydrate it regularly, either with water or with a humidifier. Indeed, below 30% humidity, the air is too dry for your child, which can, in the worst case, lead to pulmonary complications. If the thermometer indicates that the baby's body temperature is still too high, have him take a warm bath to regulate body temperature. Conversely, above 55% humidity, your baby's room is too humid, which can cause risks of allergies and asthma.
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5. A healthy atmosphere, you will adopt
And yes, for your child to sleep "like a baby", it must be provided with a healthy environment, without pollution, without humidity and without too much heat. To do this, make sure to regularly ventilate the baby's room, at least once a day. A practice that will help you reduce the risk of disease from bacteria around your baby. Also, take a humidifier to bring good humidity to your child's room. Toddlers spend a lot of time sleeping on their mattresses, so don't hesitate to air it out and cool the mattress with a humidifier.
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