There are many parents who wonder what is the best way to sleep their babies, especially in times when it is too hot. The little ones still have no concept of time, so they wake up frequently throughout the day, regardless of the time or place; In addition, we have the handicap that they do not express themselves so that we understand them.
With the arrival of summer vacations, family routines change, which can alter the baby's sleep, causing them to limit summer activities in order for your child to sleep.
Newborns tend to sleep an average of 14 to 17 hours a day, waking up every so often to feed. For this reason, parents try to develop ways to put their children to sleep in the most effective way. You'll find plenty of advice online, and you'll try to be guided by your mom's stories, but there's no one pattern for every baby.
Tips for babies to fall asleep
Getting a baby to sleep peacefully in summer can be complicated. Especially in certain areas where the climate is arid and humid. Nor is it a question that we should keep the air conditioning on all night, since they could fall ill or catch cold. However, there are some recommendations that allow us to sleep the little ones in the middle of a heat wave.
- Allow him to sleep in the room. During the first months of life, many parents choose to place a crib next to their bed to facilitate feedings. It is also a good option to supervise him at night and have him close in case he needs our attention.
- Before sleep, perform a calming routine. This will help you relax and ease your sleep. It can be through a relaxing bath, a gentle massage or using dim lights and calm music.
- Lay the baby down when he is sleepy. Without being completely asleep. This will improve him to relate being lying down with the moment of sleeping. It is recommended that the baby does not sleep in the bed with the parents, this way she will learn where she is to rest.
- Establish routines. Although it is advisable to create calming routines, it is also recommended to establish habits so that babies fall asleep. In addition to helping them fall asleep easily, it is also a help method for parents to promote their child's development.
- stop sucking something. There is a very good chance that you will fall asleep if you have something in your mouth. Sucking and sucking is a practice that relaxes them a lot; so it is common for them to fall asleep while breastfeeding or while drinking the bottle. Consider giving your child a pacifier to make that process easier.
- Put him to sleep with the movement of the cart. Some companies have created a strip that sits on the wheels of the cart, creating a small blemish that makes a slight rattle as they move. The purpose is to reproduce the same movement as when walking on the cobblestones of a city, and thus be able to ensure the sleep of the little ones anywhere while the parents enjoy their summer vacations.
Every baby is different, so what may work for one may not work for another. You have to give them time, establish habits and routines, and test which techniques work best for each one.
Is it safe for a baby to sweat a lot?
Sweating is natural, it's a way our bodies cool us down. But it is true that some babies sweat more than others. If the baby feels very sweaty, we will check how warm it is touching her neck. If it feels hot to the touch, we will clean it with a damp towel, on the face, neck, arms and legs, and we will open the internal doors and windows, so that a natural and flowing breeze is created.
It's also a good idea to try to keep the house cool throughout the day. In Mediterranean countries, people avoid the heat with unopened curtains. This prevents a greenhouse effect, where heat accumulates and rises inside. Doors and windows are also closed to prevent high temperatures from entering.
We should not be scared if a baby sleeps more soundly than usual in hot weather. The heat can leave us all lethargic, which is quite natural. There is no need to worry too much unless we have trouble waking a baby or it shows strange behavior.
An ambient temperature of between 16ºC and 20ºC. In fact, 18º C is correct. It's not easy to tell just by guessing how hot or cold a room is. Fortunately, there are some really good - and not too expensive - room thermometers that are worth investing in.
If it is more than 23º C, it is recommended that they only sleep with a sheet. If the temperature is between 20 and 22º C, they should sleep with a sheet and a blanket. From there, for every two degrees less temperature, a blanket should be added.
Will excessive heat harm the baby?
There are concerns that overheating may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. But that doesn't mean we should get overly anxious during hot spells. Science suggests that babies are more likely to overheat when they are overdressed in cold weather.
Although heat stress is undoubtedly a contributing factor to some unexpected infant deaths, heat stress seems to be a bigger problem in colder weather, when parents can wrap their baby more tightly. With the excess clothing, the baby may find it difficult to cool down and experience heat stress. Babies don't really need much more shelter or clothing than adults in hot conditions. It is unlikely that a small one will suffer damage due to the high ambient temperatures that an adult could withstand.
Most importantly, we must ensure that there is no chance of a baby's head being covered by bedding or clothing. Babies can lose heat really effectively, when necessary, from their heads. And, of course, we must always make sure to put sleep baby on back. One of the possible reasons why babies are put to sleep on their backs is because doing so on their stomachs increases the risk of unexpected death.
In very hot weather, people are much more likely to sleep on their backs, as they can more easily keep cool in this position. This isn't the only reason babies should never be put to tummy time (tummy time sleep is a significant risk for babies, regardless of ambient temperature), but it can be helpful for parents to understand how to ensure their baby is neither too hot nor too cold.