Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Why can't you point fan at baby?

29 replies

SassyPants87 · 18/07/2021 19:30

I keep seeing that baby can have fan in room but never pointed directly at. But they never say why?

Does anyone know?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
User5827372728 · 18/07/2021 19:33

Does it shoot dust particles at them?

twiggytwoo · 18/07/2021 19:33

I've never heard that!

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 18/07/2021 19:34

No I'm not sure but would also like to know. I think I read it can give them a chill or cause sniffles etc but in this weather a fan is necessary!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
DogsSausages · 18/07/2021 19:34

Is it because they cant regulate their temperature so could get cold quickly

Bobholll · 18/07/2021 19:35

I’ve got a fan blowing over my (older) baby as we speak.. what’s wrong with that? Her room is boiling 😫

5zeds · 18/07/2021 19:36

They do point them at them in hospital

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 18/07/2021 19:36

Never heard that. We used to have a fan that clipped to the cot and looked like a duck.

Like this images.app.goo.gl/tTr8q3RG8JSFYjP38

squiddybear · 18/07/2021 19:36

We have ours rotating so it does go on him but only briefly

ConradKnightSocks · 18/07/2021 19:36

I think it's something to do with how it might cool them down too much and then their body will overheat to compensate....or something...? Or maybe that's just to do with fevers?

Sirzy · 18/07/2021 19:36

Pointing it directly at them would cool them too much too quickly, have it ossolating and cool the air around them

xyzandabc · 18/07/2021 19:36

I've no idea but tbh I wouldn't like a fan directly pointed at me. Fine if it's moving and sweeps by creating a gentle breeze but directly on me for long period of time would be cold and annoying, even on a hot day.

Sirzy · 18/07/2021 19:37

@5zeds

They do point them at them in hospital
When Ds has been in hospital they have always made sure the fan isn’t pointing directly at him
CatNamedEaster · 18/07/2021 19:37

It's because blowing a fan straight at them could actually raise their temperature by making them shiver at the cold air coming straight at them. Shivering will then make them hotter (which is the point of shivering!)
The fan should be directed above them so it could the air but they aren't blasted with it.

TokenGinger · 18/07/2021 19:38

I am sure I was told that it brings their external temperature down too quickly so their internal temperature cranks up to try and warm them up, therefore causing them to overheat.

CatNamedEaster · 18/07/2021 19:38

Grr, so it COOLS the air above them!

BertieBotts · 18/07/2021 19:40

Moving air over them is fine. Pointing directly at them can apparently make them too cold and then they can't regulate their temperature very well.

But TBH I think it might be an old wives' tale.

Inthesameboatatmo · 18/07/2021 19:47

It would cool their body temperature to quickly and as we sleep body temperature drops anyway I think .
An older baby I would, definitely did with mine but not a young baby

Spinningaround21 · 18/07/2021 19:56

On my ward it’s not pointed at the baby/child it’s used rotating to cool the room air around the child not the child themselves.

Crimblecrumble1990 · 18/07/2021 20:28

I always thought it was because it would make them too cold. If they are tiny they don't have the option of snuggling up under the duvet if they get chilly in the middle of the night.

5zeds · 18/07/2021 20:33

@Sirzy when dd was in hospital (multiple times we were regulars for a bit) they definitely pointed them at her. To be honest I always thought it was a bit uncomfortable for her. Breeze ruffling your hair would make me restless.

CiaoForNiao · 18/07/2021 20:36

[quote Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow]Never heard that. We used to have a fan that clipped to the cot and looked like a duck.

Like this images.app.goo.gl/tTr8q3RG8JSFYjP38[/quote]
We had one of those. I thought it was a brilliant idea for the cot or the pram when we were out. DS was terrified of it Grin

bloodywhitecat · 18/07/2021 20:41

@5zeds

They do point them at them in hospital
When I worked in paeds and on a neonatal ward we never, ever pointed a fan directly at a baby, they cannot regulate their temperature well and get too cold very quickly.
littlejalapeno · 18/07/2021 20:48

All the older people I know from actual hot countries say never sleep under the air con or under a fan as it stresses your body and you’re likely to wake up with a cold or cough. I used to think they were being precious, but there’s actually something to it as your body has a harder time regulating and you go from extremely hot to extremely cold too quickly and too frequently. So yeah 26 degrees and my toddler will have a fan on gentle pointing away from them to move the air, windows and door open, but wearing a thin vest over kidneys. I’ll turn it off when I go to bed and it’s a bit cooler. I guess try to keep the room cool rather than pointing a fan at them.

However keep your baby as hydrated as possible- keep offering boob or milk, and if old enough ice lollies and juicy fruit. We want lots of wet nappies. Thats gonna help them more than a fan pointed at them.

grey12 · 18/07/2021 20:57

If a fan is pointing at you all night it could give you a cold shoulder or something. Fan is to circulate the air.

Try standing in front of fan and see if it starts getting uncomfortable at some point Wink

5zeds · 18/07/2021 21:20

Well I can only report what happened. Google says
But that doesn’t mean it’s good for a baby.

Why can't you point fan at baby?
Swipe left for the next trending thread