Slightly concerned about temp of upstairs!

[LDNlady]

So, first baby is due 8th June. My worry is that the house we live in is solidly built and when it gets hot as it has been recently the upstairs retains heat like I've never known! I couldn't sleep last night partly because of the heat and partly cos it's just how I am right now. But whilst laying there very hot I started wondering how poor wee bubs would cope if even I'm finding it difficult. I'm starting to think about getting an air con unit as I know babies have trouble regulating their temperature but hubby seems to think it's an expense that doesn't need to be spent. What are your opinions please ladies.

Babies live in hot countries too :-)

Get a Gro Egg if you are worried, and just put less/no clothes on the baby if it gets too hot.

My ds was born last August and the bedroom never got below 24c He just slept in a cotton nightie with a cotton sheet and was fine.

I live in a hot country and all the doctors over here tell people to turn the air con off for newborns! (It makes them too cold, and as you say, they cant regulate their temperatures)

I agree with 4pudding that a themometer is a good idea, if it is very hot you can always have a small fan on - not pointing air directly at the baby though.

Is there some way you can add/change insulation in your roof in order to cool the house? I am desperately ignorant about DIY stuff, but this seems to me more economical long term than an air con unit which is very expensive to buy and run.

You can also buy thermal curtains which keep the room warm in winter and cool in summer, they are fantastic at blocking out the light too, so are ideal for the room baby sleeps in. We got some and it dramatically increased DS's nap times.

My sister has been leaving the loft hatch open in the warm weather - she thinks that is helping to keep the temp down a bit

Hehe! I know babies live in hot countries too but I'm just so confused about how to keep the wee one comfy as you get told sooo much like "ooh you don't want to let them get too hot/cold cos x,y and z could happen" We do have a floor standing fan so that may come in handy.

As for changing insulation and the like, unfortunately that's not as easy for us to do as others as we are in Forces Accommodation and changes like that have to go through arseholes the powers that be and by the time they make their minds up we'll probably need more not less!

I guess I'm just being a neurotic first timer so I'll just have to go with less/no clothes, thermal curtains, fan and open the loft hatch and hope for the best.

Damn it, I'm gong to have to tell hubby he was right! Thanks a lot ladies. :o

I had my babies last October, and I've spent the winter with the heater on, keeping the bedroom between 21 and 24 degrees. They've been wearing a vest and babygrow.

I know this is hotter than advised, but if the room fell to less than 20, both babies seemed uncomfortable, couldn't sleep, etc.

I wouldn't worry about it unless your baby struggles with the temp when he or she arrives. You can always buy a unit then if you still think you need one.

Loft hatch thing didn't work for us but always worth a try at anything. Get a thermometer as others have said and respond by adding or removing clothes. Last summer DDs room got to 28. Those nights she just slept in a nappy. Invest in a 0.5 grow bag. Keep blinds closed in direct sun. Open windows etc. You just do what you can.

I thunk an air-con unit would be really expensive to run and install. Also remember that being pg makes you much hotter, the baby will have a relatively thin layer of fat and will lose some of that in the first couple of weeks, so should be easy enough to keep it cool by adjusting the amount of clothing.

One thing I do if it's very hot if put a big bottle of water in the freezer, then put it in front of the fan at night- like very cheap air-con! Doesn't last long but enough for me to get to sleep :)

DD was born in August and had a couple of really hot weeks in the newborn stage. She was fine with very few clothes (nappy and vest most of the time, with just a sheet over her at night). We used a fan as well at night time, just made sure it wasn't pointing towards her so kept the air circulating without her being in a direct breeze.

DD2 due in June so am expecting very similar arrangements!