Toddler sleeping badly in hot weather. I could cry.

[spiritedawai]

My 21 month old has been sleeping awfully since the weather got warm. Every single night he wakes up 10+ times which is unusual for him. He sweats like crazy (he does anyway) and tosses and turns a lot. He wakes up asking for milk which I give him as I don't want him to get dehydrated. Again, he doesn't usually do this.

I'm absolutely exhausted. Any tips on how I can get him to sleep a bit better?

Sorry for yet another warm weather post. I'm from the Caribbean and love this weather!

Sorry to hear this OP.
I'm assuming you've just got him in a nappy with a light sheet over him? DS has always slept with a fan in his room but we put it oscillate and this helps keep air moving around. I've heard if you out a plate of ice in front of a fan it mimics air con.. worth a shot?
Does he have a blackout blind? If not then you can wet tin foil and it sticks to the window pane. Maybe do this short term whilst its hot. Keep blinds shut to minimise heat coming in that way.
Hopefully it's just short term whilst its hot!!

What is he wearing to bed? I've been putting DS down in just his nappy, and although I don't leave the window open at night as it's noisy, I make sure it is open as it cools a bit, we also have a cheap air con unit i run for the hour before. When he is asleep i pop a 360 cup (so it doesn't leak) of water in his cot, and it's always mostly gone by morning when it's hot. It's horrible though isn't it.

You can leave an oscillating fan on all night on a low setting OP. Prob not directly on his body but keeping the air cooler and moving just above him. Also a flannel on his neck might help, as it dries it helps cool the body slightly. Sympathies, poor bub must be miserable and not nice for you either. It's really hard sleeping in this heat.

Should've mentioned, we already have a fan on all night. It seems to circulate warm air at the moment but will try the ice idea!!

I've always felt pretty smug every time it gets warm and I have no problem sleeping. This feels like karma!

He's sleeping in just his nappy. No sheet as it gets kicked off.

Lukewarm bath before bed.
Do you have a fan in his room? Use it on a low setting with him dressed just in a singlet and nappy or short sleeve pjs and a light sheet. Drink of water/milk before he goes to sleep and a drink bottle nearby.

Shut the blinds/curtains during the hottest part of the day then open with in the evening or early morning when it’s cool.

The fan white noise helped Dd sleep.

(I’m in Australia and had no aircon for the 1st 4 years of Dd1’s life and 45 degree summers)

Do you have a fan in the room? Is he wearing layers to sleep? What about a cool bath just before bed?

I sympathise, both of mine have not slept well either, leading to the mother of all meltdowns in our garden the other day out of sheer exhaustion and being warm. Socks are the biggest problem with my eldest, he absolutely refuses to take them off, so we have to wait until hes asleep to peel them off . Warm feet = very sweaty child.

Those blue ice blocks stay frozen for hours. Get a large flat one and you can prop it up in front of the fan.

I feel your pain! We have blackout blinds up at all times in DDs room to keep the sun out during the day and it keeps it a bit cooler.

Open the windows when cool in the evening or early morning.

Sleep in just a nappy- keep the curtains in his room shut in the day with the window open- fan at night in his room but not pointing on him directly.
Sleep sucks in this heat.

Also, are your windows open during the day? I've found that opening all the windows and doors upstairs causes enough of a draft to keep the children's bedroom cooler by bedtime, and i keep their blackout blind closed, seems to keep the heat at bay.

@MouthBreathingRage

Do you have a fan in the room? Is he wearing layers to sleep? What about a cool bath just before bed?

I sympathise, both of mine have not slept well either, leading to the mother of all meltdowns in our garden the other day out of sheer exhaustion and being warm. Socks are the biggest problem with my eldest, he absolutely refuses to take them off, so we have to wait until hes asleep to peel them off . Warm feet = very sweaty child.

I've been wondering whether DS' meltdowns (daily) have been due to the heat, or coincidence he's entering terrible twos!

I think the problem is that in countries where it's hot all summer, children become acclimatised. We have no time for that here as it never lasts long, so just ends up with nightmare situ for parents.

Lots of good tips here thank you!

I have also been known to spray my kids with those plant spray bottles so they are a bit damp. That way the fan keeps them cool by evaporation.

Just a thought but you say no sheet as kicked off. I can't sleep without a cover and Dd seems to be same. Nappy and 1 tog sleeping bag. If really hot I give her a muslin and she just holds it. Could be a comfort thing?

I'd give him water in the night rather than milk, otherwise you'll end up having to night wean all over again.

@Huhokthen

I'd give him water in the night rather than milk, otherwise you'll end up having to night wean all over again.

He won't drink water at night. I've tried. He gets hysterical and asked for milk. I just breastfeed him and bring him in my bed with me. Honestly it gets us more sleep this way. I'm happy to go through the night weaning rigmarole again!

I feel your pain, having a nightmare with DD 9 months at the moment. I have a gro egg and her room is consistently 29+ every night when windows have been open but black out blind up all day, fan on overnight with the ice blocks in front and a quick sponge down before bed time too. She is sleeping in just a nappy, nothing else.

I'm absolutely exhausted and miserable and just keep checking the weather report for when it will get back to crappy weather again - please let it be soon!

@JalapenoCheeseOnToast

I feel your pain, having a nightmare with DD 9 months at the moment. I have a gro egg and her room is consistently 29+ every night when windows have been open but black out blind up all day, fan on overnight with the ice blocks in front and a quick sponge down before bed time too. She is sleeping in just a nappy, nothing else.

I'm absolutely exhausted and miserable and just keep checking the weather report for when it will get back to crappy weather again - please let it be soon!

I'm torn. I'm dreading losing this lovely hot weather 😅

I've been wondering whether DS' meltdowns (daily) have been due to the heat, or coincidence he's entering terrible twos!

My youngest is 2 and definitely been having more meltdowns akin to 'terrible twos' this week. My older one is 5 and is behaving more like a teenager who's been at the Red Bull. It looks like it's cooling where we are, so hopefully things will be calmer!

I've been up since 4. I gave up trying to resettle both of them and took the path of least resistance. Minions film was on by 4.30 and I was dozing on the sofa. Going to be a loooooooooong day.

We cool the bed before she gets in with ice packs or a frozen hot water bottle so the sheets and mattress and nice and chilled. Then leave her with a hot water bottle filled with cold water in the bed.

Has he got a waterproof sheet on the bed?

Some cause major sweating. I had to get rid of DDs waterproof sheet after 2 nights.

Is he going to bed early enough?
It might be worth a try to see if he can sleep right through, maybe 7-7?

I expect the daily meltdowns could be due to the broken sleep.

Does his room get hot in the day with the sun?
Close the curtains all day.

Fan in the room? What about a cool pad places at the bottom of his bed under sheet?? These are great for hot nights.

I’ve been putting my ds to bed much later in the head. He’s 6, and he’s been sleeping naked (by choice!) with a sheet on, and a fan while he goes to sleep, but not all night.

It’s worked ok here, but I accept a toddler is different. We’re in London.

I’ve had my winter duvet on most nights!