As the cooler nights set in, it’s helpful to know how we can ensure our children are both safe and comfortable. By maintaining an optimal room temperature, they may also have a better night’s sleep (the same goes for parents too!).
What is the optimal room temperature?
For both children and babies, a safe sleeping environment is between 18 and 22 degrees. It is worth investing in a room thermometer or a baby monitor that has one built in for peace of mind.
The optimal temperature is 18-22 degrees. Image: iStock.
How can we maintain this temperature range?
Despite the marketing of many nursery products, it is not necessary in Australia to maintain a steady temperature throughout the night.
However, on nights that are expected to drop below 18 degrees, an additional layer of clothing or blankets (for older children) should suffice. On nights that are expected to reach temperatures above 22 degrees, fewer layers or a fan to circulate the warmer air can also be helpful.
Babies
Babies regulate their body temperature through their heads, so the most important thing is that they are put to sleep on their backs with their face and head uncovered (so that’s a no to hats in bed).
Sleeping bags are a great option, with added layers on baby’s arms when needed. The best way to dress your baby for bed is a number of tightly-fitted layers that can be added or removed as needed through the night.
How to dress your baby by temperature. (TOG stands for ‘Thermal Overall Grade’. It’s the way sleep bags are rated, the higher the tog, the warmer or heavier the bag is.)
When your baby is old enough to roll and if you’re not using a sleeping bag, Red Nose advises to use a number of thin layers of bedding rather than a thick quilt.
Many parents make the mistake of thinking that a baby is cold if their hands or feet feel chilly, but the limbs aren’t really a good way to measure their core temperature. Fingers and toes can often feel cold when baby’s core temperature is just perfect. To check whether your baby is too hot or cold, feel their stomach or back.
Overheating has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it’s important to dress them appropriately and not chuck on another layer ‘just in case’. Bruce Epstein, M.D., a paediatrician from Florida, explained the link to Babycenter saying, “babies sleep deeply when they’re hot, making them difficult to arouse, which may increase the risk of SIDS.”
Check baby’s chest or back for a more accurate temperature. Image: iStock.
Older children
As with babies, older children will benefit from the use of multiple layers of clothing and bedding that they can easily remove or add as needed throughout the night.
Many children wake between the hours of 3am and 5am as this is the coldest part of the night, so ensuring they have access to additional blankets during the night can really make a difference to the whole family’s sleep.
