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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you point a fan towards a sleeping toddler all night?

35 replies

dancerose · Today 11:41

We can’t seem to agree on this, I have read that you shouldn’t point a fan directly at them as it’s dehydrating but Dh thinks he needs the fan on him at night in this heat.
I have shown him all the information on line advising against it.
Ds was at the hospital yesterday as he had viral wheezing and he asked the doctor as we were discharged if it was ok to put a fan on him and she said yes you could do so now Dh is convinced that despite all the advice I’ve found discouraging this that a doctor has said he could so it’s fine.
Do you/ would you put a fan by the cot all night?

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · Today 15:01

givemushypeasachance · Today 14:00

Having a fan on you overnight isn't going to dehydrate you - the issue is that constant air flow over your face can dry out your mucus membranes, so you could end up with a dry nose/mouth.

The air flow from the fan? 🤦‍♀️

JustPassingTime · Today 15:03

RoseOliviaAu · Today 14:09

Yes. It’s a fan, not a vortex. I’ve slept with a fan pointed at my face since I was tiny.

vortex made me laugh!

ZanyPoet · Today 15:04

I'd direct it at their legs

Most fans only move warm around and are pretty pointless anyway

Sjh15 · Today 17:13

dancerose · Today 11:41

We can’t seem to agree on this, I have read that you shouldn’t point a fan directly at them as it’s dehydrating but Dh thinks he needs the fan on him at night in this heat.
I have shown him all the information on line advising against it.
Ds was at the hospital yesterday as he had viral wheezing and he asked the doctor as we were discharged if it was ok to put a fan on him and she said yes you could do so now Dh is convinced that despite all the advice I’ve found discouraging this that a doctor has said he could so it’s fine.
Do you/ would you put a fan by the cot all night?

I have a fan rotating between my toddler and my 4 year old as they share a room. Yes they can’t stop it but it is a distance away that it’s not full blast so if he wanted to, he could turn and face the other way and not feel it much at the other side of the cot.

in weather his hot (I’m in the south) I also have a ceiling fan on them too (not super strong and can’t really reach the toddler)

can’t see how a fan is more dehydrating than sweating

Edenmum2 · Today 17:16

I have mine on oscillating usually but sometimes do point it directly at DD at least for a few hours during the hottest part of the night, when it’s 30 degrees in the room I really feel she needs it. She has a drink she can reach too which she does guzzle down overnight. Isn’t this weather just hellish? Gah

Summervibes83 · Today 17:17

My son has slept like this for years so definitely from three at least. Never had any issues. If the doctor has said it is fine then surely that's the best advice to go with?

Portmore · Today 17:42

Loulou4022 · Today 12:41

I wouldn’t as a toddler cannot move the fan as you or I could if we got uncomfortable. I’d just have it going in the room but pointed away from the toddler so the air is being cooled/ circulated.

A fan does not cool the air.

Air moving over your body cools you down as it increases the rate at which sweat evaporates which is what cools you down.

Having a fan on in a room but not pointing at you will only make a very small difference unless it's a very powerful fan.

ExtraOnions · Today 17:45

Yes .. if the Toddler isn’t happy or is uncomfortable they will soon let you know.

Loulou4022 · Today 19:26

Portmore · Today 17:42

A fan does not cool the air.

Air moving over your body cools you down as it increases the rate at which sweat evaporates which is what cools you down.

Having a fan on in a room but not pointing at you will only make a very small difference unless it's a very powerful fan.

My point still stands that I wouldn’t leave a fan constantly on a toddler that can’t move it! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hmmmmwineandchocs · Today 19:43

I have an oscillating fan in the corner of my 9yr olds room on the low level speed, enough to move the air around but not too much

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