AIBU to feel panicked about heatwave with newborn

[Dahlia34]

It’s due to feel like 40 degrees tomorrow where I live and last until Thursday. I have a 4yr old who has a south facing bedroom which will easily be over 30 degrees and I have a 1 month old newborn.

We have a portable aircon unit to cool upstairs before bed but it heats back up so quickly once it’s turned off. It’s far too loud to sleep with it on.

I’m half contemplating all sleeping downstairs together tomorrow and dragging mattresses down but worried baby will wake 4 year old. Or I stay upstairs with newborn (we cosleep) and 4 year old and DH sleep downstairs. Good idea or bad idea?

I’ve felt so hot today breastfeeding all day and it’s “only” been 30 degrees.

What are you doing to stay cool?

We’re sleeping with the air con unit on despite it being loud. Slightly older baby than yours but I feel the extreme heat is worse than the air con noise which acts like white noise after a while.

I would just take everybody to the coolest room in the house to sleep in. Even if that’s the living room- set up floor beds and follow safe sleep 7 rules with your new baby ! Don’t forget to drink loads of water yourself, it’s thirsty work breastfeeding in a heatwave ! Noisy air con can be nicer than sweaty stickiness, and babies/children can sleep through it

Expect baby to feed a lot more often. It was hot the summer DD was born and I felt like I was constantly feeding. So you need lots of fluids.

We have all slept downstairs before when it's been hot as it does help. I wouldn't expect your 4 year old to go to bed to early either as it'll just be to hot for them.

You’re not being unreasonable. Do what you need to do to keep you all cool, and happy, and safe. My upstairs gets very hot too, and we will be sleeping downstairs if necessary. I have all my windows open and blinds closed at the moment, fans are on, I’ve made a million days worth of ice in the freezer and stocked up on ice lollies. My house feels very cool at the moment and everyone is comfortable, even the cats. Last night was awful, I’m hoping tonight will be easier.

The air con noise is probably less disruptive than the heat if a bedroom is 30 degrees

Just all sleep downstairs where it is cooler. If the baby wakes the older then it doesn't matter nobody is sleeping that well anyway in this heat.

Have you also tried a muslin between you and baby when feeding- in this kind of weather I would make it wet if necessary and pop it between you- helped me feel less sweaty ...
Yes I would keep the Aircon on- and sleep wherever it is coolest. But our portable Aircon is quieter than our floor fan!!! This heatwave is no fun....

Just leave the air con on, you get used to it quickly. I’m in a hotel right now and it’s not a quiet unit (individual not central air) and after a few nights you don’t even hear it, just white noise.

What are you dressing baby in with air con on?

Yes all go downstairs. It doesn't matter if people are awake, it's a short time.

We have the Aircon on all night. It's just like white noise now. You get used to it very quickly.

Open your loft hatch and put downstairs windows in the locked open position overnight to allow the hot air to escape and to draw cooler air inside (only works if loft is insulated)

She’s in a short sleeve vest and 0.5 tog bag. We don’t have it set to an icy blast, it’s currently 22.7 according to the Gro egg.

We normally turn a/c off at bedtime but kids just fell asleep with it on tonight no problem.

Well of course YANBU to sleep downstairs if it's cooler

We are all sleeping in one room with the AirCon unit on. Not ideal but better than roasting alive

Keep the AC on. You'll get used to the noise.

Can you get a fan? Even one of the little portable ones makes a difference - bowl with ice cubes in front. Obviously just a nappy.
Windows and curtains closed in day time. Open at nighttime, early morning if possible.

Op if you do all move downstairs just remember to be extra careful still around safe sleep especially with your 4yo in too. I have seen a few families have close calls because the sleep set up was outside the norm like this and things weren’t as safe as they normally would be.

My 4 month old is down to a vest, and I'm dabbing down his chest with a damp cloth as needed. I'd run the AC or a fan if I were you. The noise could settle a baby!

You are not being unreasonable but I’ve had two summer babies. A freestanding fan at night, drawn curtains on the hot side of the house and windows open during the day. Make sure you’re drinking and eating enough if you’re breastfeeding.

Lol, what do you want people to tell you? You have air conditioning. Use it. If it’s too loud, get earplugs, a fan, a white noise machine, headphones, there are literally so many options. As an American who had her son in late July and survived a Midwestern summer pregnancy, I’m struggling to find the crisis here. 😭

Have you blocked the heat/light from hitting your windows during the day to stop it heating up? I'm in Paris where it's been 35+ since Thursday & not getting below 25 overnight and my 3rd floor flat is still OK thanks to covering windows during the day with shutters/blackout curtains.

You want something like this - if you can, stick it to the outside of the windows with the silver side facing out. www.amazon.co.uk/Temporary-Blackout-Portable-Material-Drilling/dp/B0D22XW3WR/ref=sr_1_6?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bwz3oQbleNCawl2UnW0vg3lx1HSO74ErmUsybF_-Fn4IHAnf0q_bBJyVwDA2pjTCmsyE-ZM3rk0zAlO0SXbJjr06zQo0EslX5UlLP2OEihcV4SPITzl9WGzvYeF7XkHnVqNbG2iU8Nvu5HRnwXcY38rSD25hvOcv_On2-ye8JUJ-4JlBKn4he4AkS-Y8EPjFsXdSDIU1eptZftiDHw6yPmUC_hSPnLpx2USpNczEYawc6otx4jqS2hGkzRvN9O_0rnD_0LueWz9VBeFGg7kduWDAiMWF-7Yu3rYRNA-W5iA.owo_sbd85eka7lMEBUXOq8f7lcxkFRCg2vqeKr8iPQk&dib_tag=se&keywords=blackout%2Bmaterial&qid=1782159088&sr=8-6&th=1

Yes if we do end up downstairs, we’ll take two double mattresses downstairs - our one for me and baby and the spare room room one for DH and 4 year old. We have an open plan living room/dining room so enough space for both with a bit of jigging around.