Strategies I've Found Effective as a Mother of Three: My Top 3 Tips for Helping Children Sleep Through a Heatwave
Sweat-Free Nights: Mastering Sleep for Your Kids in the Summer Scorcher 🌞
Hey Parents,
Let me tell you, as a mom of three, I know the misery of hot summer nights wasted tossing and turning along with my kids. Once you become a parent, it seems like all the things you adore about summer suddenly become the enemy of your peaceful slumber.
So, I've spent close to a decade figuring out ways to keep my little ones nicely cooled down during those warm summer nights - and with the summer heatwave knocking on our doors, I'm here to share three simple tricks to help you and your kids catch some Zzz's.
These tactics are easy to execute and require minimal investment. If you already have the necessary items, you can start trying them tonight!
🛏️ Ditch the Bulky Bedding
Kids are more prone to getting overheated in bed compared to adults, especially during a heatwave. Even a thin duvet can be too warm for them. However, they still prefer to have something covering them while they sleep. I get it - we don't move much during sleep, and as the temperature drops through the night, we might get chilly.
Instead of running out to buy new blankets, take the duvet out of its cover and let your children sleep inside the duvet cover as a makeshift sleeping bag. This creates a fun experience for them, and they're less likely to kick the sheets off during the night, ensuring they remain warm and cozy.
Cooling Your Child's Haven 🌍
When it's blisteringly hot, every little effort counts in cooling down the kiddos' room ahead of bedtime. Here are a couple of tricks I use:
- Sunblock the Room: Keep the curtains and windows closed throughout the day to block warm air from entering. This simple step makes a big difference.
- Ice the Beds: Instead of putting sheets in the freezer, which sounds like a hassle to me, I prefer to freeze ice blocks, wrap them in tea towels and place them in my kids' beds before they settle in. It works like a charm without all the fuss of freezing bed sheets.
Darkening the Roost 🌚
If you're struggling to get your child to sleep early due to the light, you've got company. I've dealt with an early riser who simply couldn't seem to sleep past the crack of dawn. To combat this, I covered the gaps in the roller blind with a thick blanket, which did the trick!
You can either adopt this improvised blanket approach or invest in a portable sleep blind for the summer months. The Tommy Tippee blackout blind is a life-changer, and it's compact enough to take with you on trips. Alternatively, the inexpensive temporary blackout blind from Dunelm, which you can cut to size, is a great option as well.
What Causes Kids to Sleep Less in Summer? 🌞
We've all had those sleepless nights due to the heat, but hot summer evenings can wreak more havoc on kids. This is because children's ability to regulate their body temperature is not yet fully developed, causing them to struggle to stay cool in the heat. This discomfort can lead to restlessness.
Considering that the long days and increased daylight during summer disrupt our natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm), it's essential to maintain a consistent sleep schedule and create a cool, dark sleep environment for kids.
Stay cool and sleep tight! 💤
Author's Note:Zoe is a versatile journalist and content strategist who's worked with various notable publications like the BBC, STYLIST, Marie Claire, Wallpaper*, InStyle, The Sunday Times Style, Ocado, Christie's, and more. She enjoys writing about interiors and sleep-related matters for a range of media - in other words, she knows a thing or two about mattresses! 🛏️
- To ensure a good night's sleep during the summer heatwave, consider swapping bulky bedding for a duvet cover used as a makeshift sleeping bag, which helps children stay warm and cozy while minimizing the chances of getting overheated.
- In addition to using a duvet cover, make your kids' room more comfortable by blocking warm air from entering during the day with closed curtains and windows, and chilling their beds with frozen ice blocks wrapped in tea towels before sleep.
- For a dark and cool sleep environment, create a gap-free roller blind or invest in a portable sleep blind, like the Tommy Tippee blackout blind, to help your child fall asleep earlier and sleep more comfortably during summer nights.
