Question for UK mums

[VillainV]

How do you keep your LOs room cool during the summer?

C's room catches the sun in the afternoon, and it gets really warm. It was maybe 21-22 degrees here today, but right now it's 26 in his room, at bedtime. We've had room darkening/ insulating curtains drawn all day and two big fans on in the room, and it still just feels way too warm for a baby. I know that SIDS risk goes up above 20 degrees, but I see no way to even get it that cool. We're putting him to bed in only a nappy and his swaddle (thin bamboo blanket). Anything else we can do to keep him cool???

[VillainV]

Our bedroom is no cooler, we can just cope with the heat better than he can. We could move him downstairs for the night, but there's no place for me to sleep down there (sofa is not an option...I mean, I could lay on it but I wouldn't be able to sleep). We'd have to do a pretty big "infrastructure" move (travel cot, video monitor setup, diaper changing supplies) to the downstairs, so we're trying to avoid that if there are other options.

[frlcb]

Do you have one of those gro eggs that say what the actual temp in there is? I would get one and if it is too hot move him, it would be worth the hassle. Or buy another fan.

[VillainV]

May 18, 2014 6:33:54 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Do you have one of those gro eggs that say what the actual temp in there is? I would get one and if it is too hot move him, it would be worth the hassle. Or buy another fan.

We do have a gro egg, and our video monitor gives a temp readout as well, though they're not always the same. I think part of the problem is that we are obsessing about the number. Right now it says 26 degrees, but with two fans on, it feels much better than it did last night when it said 26.

[pittpurple]

Absolutely no help here but it's interesting to read about heat problems - I've lived in Scotland too long, I kind of forget about this issue.

However - we stayed at my mom's house last summer for a few weeks. In Santa Fe. She doesn't have a/c and LO was fine. Just dressed her in practically nothing and kept her on the floor in her travel cot with a fan running and didn't have any problems.

[VillainV]

May 19, 2014 2:00:54 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

Absolutely no help here but it's interesting to read about heat problems - I've lived in Scotland too long, I kind of forget about this issue.

However - we stayed at my mom's house last summer for a few weeks. In Santa Fe. She doesn't have a/c and LO was fine. Just dressed her in practically nothing and kept her on the floor in her travel cot with a fan running and didn't have any problems.

We've lived places MUCH hotter than this before, but we've always been able to open the windows (without worrying about pets getting out or insects getting in) and turn on ceiling fans, and let the home ventilation fans circulate the air to avoid getting hot-spots in the house. And we could use air conditioning as a last resort.

Here we have to be careful about opening windows because there are no screens, ceiling fans don't seem to exist, there is no ventilation, and no a/c to fall back on. It's just crazy that it gets SO HOT in his room when it's actually really pleasant outside.

Anyway, sorry for complaining.....I think we have it sorted now, and baby is sleeping comfortably.

[pittpurple]

May 19, 2014 10:30:23 GMT -5 VillainV said:

May 19, 2014 2:00:54 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

Absolutely no help here but it's interesting to read about heat problems - I've lived in Scotland too long, I kind of forget about this issue.

However - we stayed at my mom's house last summer for a few weeks. In Santa Fe. She doesn't have a/c and LO was fine. Just dressed her in practically nothing and kept her on the floor in her travel cot with a fan running and didn't have any problems.

We've lived places MUCH hotter than this before, but we've always been able to open the windows (without worrying about pets getting out or insects getting in) and turn on ceiling fans, and let the home ventilation fans circulate the air to avoid getting hot-spots in the house. And we could use air conditioning as a last resort.

Here we have to be careful about opening windows because there are no screens, ceiling fans don't seem to exist, there is no ventilation, and no a/c to fall back on. It's just crazy that it gets SO HOT in his room when it's actually really pleasant outside.

Anyway, sorry for complaining.....I think we have it sorted now, and baby is sleeping comfortably.

I'm so sorry if it came off rudely, it sounded much nicer in my head. I blame typing :-P
All I meant was that LO wasn't used to any sort of heat after living her whole life in this horrific climate and she did much better than I thought she would. I was really surprised by how adaptable she was! Am glad you figured out a solution.

[VillainV]

May 20, 2014 2:37:11 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

May 19, 2014 10:30:23 GMT -5 VillainV said:

We've lived places MUCH hotter than this before, but we've always been able to open the windows (without worrying about pets getting out or insects getting in) and turn on ceiling fans, and let the home ventilation fans circulate the air to avoid getting hot-spots in the house. And we could use air conditioning as a last resort.

Here we have to be careful about opening windows because there are no screens, ceiling fans don't seem to exist, there is no ventilation, and no a/c to fall back on. It's just crazy that it gets SO HOT in his room when it's actually really pleasant outside.

Anyway, sorry for complaining.....I think we have it sorted now, and baby is sleeping comfortably.

I'm so sorry if it came off rudely, it sounded much nicer in my head. I blame typing :-P
All I meant was that LO wasn't used to any sort of heat after living her whole life in this horrific climate and she did much better than I thought she would. I was really surprised by how adaptable she was! Am glad you figured out a solution.

No worries, I took it exactly as you meant it :-). We're just frustrated (and tired!) new parents trying to adapt.

[mrsukyankee]

Can you buy an in-room air conditioning unit? We got one from B&Q one year and it did help out with our room. You can also DIY a screen for your windows if you need to...It's a pain in the butt but doable.
www.amazon.co.uk/Window-Screens-UK-Insect-Mesh/dp/B001VCJTZS  (this stuff and some blu tak)

[VillainV]

May 20, 2014 8:51:07 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Can you buy an in-room air conditioning unit? We got one from B&Q one year and it did help out with our room. You can also DIY a screen for your windows if you need to...It's a pain in the butt but doable.
www.amazon.co.uk/Window-Screens-UK-Insect-Mesh/dp/B001VCJTZS  (this stuff and some blu tak)

We made a screen, and have talked about an in-room a/c unit. Of course now it's about to cool off and who knows when it will be warm again? LOL. I think this was summer....