Overheating fears

[FTM2022x]

I have a 5 week old and in this heat cannot get my house to cool down. I am petrified about overheating & SIDS and feel like i’m going to have a panic attack. Groegg currently 24.9 in living room with fans on, curtains drawn etc (tried opening windows and doors which made it higher).

She is currently in just a nappy and seems ok but cheeks slightly red. Taken her armpit temp which is 36.6.

Looking for reassurance/advice

Aw op I’m so sorry I remember that panic so well. My eldest was born in February and my youngest three were born May, June and august and it was sooo much easier to keep my February baby nice and warm than to keep my summer babies cool! I remember absolutely fretting and constantly checking their temperatures, stressing that they’d overheat when breastfeeding as I was absolutely roasting! Its really normal to be concerned about SIDS but do you have anyone you could speak to about how you feel? A supportive partner, mum or mil or health visitor? It’s starting to cool down now (I’m in London) so just keep doing what you’re doing, maybe give her a cool (but not cold) bath? Do you have a garden with any shade? Once it cools down a bit more could you sit in the garden with her? If it’s an option for you we now have a portable air conditioner that has literally saved summer for me, i wish we’d had it when my kids were babies. Another tip you could try is a bowl of iced water in front of the fans. I don’t know if it’s a good tip but I saw an article the other day where this mum used tin foil to black out the windows and it kept the room cool too, this was in the mirror though so take it with a pinch of salt! I hope you get some peace of mind soon x

Please don't worry, think of all the babies all over the world that are born in boiling hot countries and are absolutely fine. It's natural to worry but she'll be fine.

If it's any comfort my ds was born 8 weeks early, was in scbu for 3 weeks and then we had a run of this type of weather for weeks and weeks and weeks...and he was still fine.

Thankyou! I think the internet/media just like to scaremonger. I know SIDS is a genuine risk but hoping that as I take all other precautions and am trying my best to cool her then she’ll be fine x

A fan
Cool flannel

Extra water to drink

My ds was born during an august heatwave he was prem and had neonatal nurses coming out daily when he came home from nicu they pointed out about all the babies born in hot country’s with no air con.

you can only do so much just a nappy and a thin muslin I’d think fan not directly on them just in the same room it will be fine honestly.

Please PLEASE don't give a 5 week old baby any water!!!!!!!!

I won’t! She seems to want more formula than usual which obviously i’m giving her & her nappies suggest she is hydrated

I used to put toddler’s bed mats (they are waterproof but with soft cover, can’t remember the name) into DD’s bed and put her to nap without nappy, just covered with thin cotton cloth and also tried to change her nappy during the day asap. Also put wet sheet into her room during the day, usually to cover window.