As a new parent, you will be taking all possible means to make your little ones comfortable and to have a good sleep. If you’re wondering how to safely use an Air conditioner (AC) in your baby’s room, here is the answer to it. An adequately cooled and ventilated room will help your little one sleep through the night, which in turn helps in their proper growth. Some experts say that it also reduces the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). But make sure that you follow these few key steps to safely use an AC or a cooler in your baby’s room.
- Maintain a comfortable Room Temperature for baby
Your room could be too hot or cold depending on the outside weather, which makes it uncomfortable for your little ones to sleep. In addition, it’s difficult for your baby to adapt to sudden changes in temperature. So maintaining a suitable room temperature for newborn baby is very important. Paediatricians recommend keeping a range between 23-26 degrees C. If you are using an AC, remember to set the timer for the duration it takes to cool down the room. If you are using a cooler, leave the window or door partly open to allow fresh air circulation, especially in humid weather such as the monsoon. As cooler evaporates water to cool, it increases the humidity in the air, leading to stickiness.
- Protective Clothing
It is always better to dress up your little one with complete clothing during nighttime to avoid the direct blast of light. Moreover, it also helps from mosquito bites. Babies are too small to handle the direct blast of cool air and have more chances to fall sick. It is also better to use a light blanket or sheet to cover them when using AC but make sure you tuck it below his elbows to avoid covering his face. Moreover, it’s better to not use a heavy blanket as it can hinder their movement.
- Maintain humidity in baby room
Using air conditioners may cause dryness in the room, making it essential to maintain proper humidity in your baby’s room. It will be good to keep a bowl of water in the room as it helps keep the room a little humid. You can also try applying some baby oil around your baby’s nose to avoid any dry nasal passages or nosebleeds. Keeping the room a little moist also helps prevent dry cough and dry skin in babies due to the dryness.
- Keep checking your baby
Keep checking your baby’s head, chest, hands and feet, especially during the middle of the night, to ensure that he is cosy, comfortable and not wrapped too snugly. To check if your baby is too warm or too cold, place two fingers and feel around the nape of the neck and the ears. If your baby’s ears are red or hot or if the nape of the neck is warm and sweaty indicates your baby is too hot. Likewise, if your baby has freezing hands and feet, it could be an indicator that your baby is too cold. A cold baby will usually have paler skin than normal, and their skin may have a mottled appearance. They may also start to sneeze, get fussy, or may even become very still and quiet, so always pay attention to your baby’s actions and if anything seems out of the ordinary, reach out to the doctor immediately.
- Service the ACs & Coolers Regularly
With a newborn at home, you have to give extra care for everything. Getting your AC serviced regularly is essential since it can release the dust and other toxic items collected in the AC filter for ages and is harmful to your baby. So it is our responsibility to confirm that it is cleaned and serviced on a regular basis to ensure that your baby breathes in clean air.
