Wanting your baby to sleep well is one thing; actually making it happen is another. 

Wanting your baby to sleep well is one thing; actually making it happen is another. 

There are times when, for reasons you cannot fathom, your baby does not want to sleep, but your baby’s nighttime experience is often more controllable than you might think. It’s often possible to greatly increase your baby’s chances of sleeping through the night just by making sure that their room is the right temperature they need. Many baby sleep troubles occur because babies aren’t capable of regulating their body temperature in the same way that adults can.

A few simple adjustments can make it more likely that your baby’s environment helps, not hinders, their sleep. 

Choose The Right Room

This may not always be possible, but if you have a range of room options available for your baby, then it’s best to choose one that is north or east-facing. That has the convenience of avoiding the hot afternoon sun in the summer months, which can significantly elevate the room’s temperature. 

It’s also recommended to ensure that the room is well-insulated. A drafty window, for instance, can make the room feel much colder during the winter months.

Opt for a Breathable Mattress

Your baby’s mattress, where they’ll spend around 12 – 16 hours a day during their first few months, has a big impact on temperature regulation, especially during the summer months. Standard baby mattresses can trap heat, which increases the chances of your baby becoming uncomfortably warm at night. If you’re noticing the signs your baby is too hot while sleeping, then it may be worth switching out to a more breathable mattress, which is much more effective at allowing heat and moisture to escape. There’s also a safety benefit to using breathable mattresses, since they reduce the risk of accidental suffocation. 

Control The Temperature

Choosing a breathable mattress helps to keep your little one cool, but it needs to work in conjunction with a room that’s inherently cool. Most experts say that a baby’s room should be around the 68–72°F range, which is cooler than what adults need to sleep comfortably. Setting the AC to that temperature, especially during the hot summer months, is an easy way to enhance your baby’s sleep quality.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that rooms can have different temperatures depending on location, so it’s best not to rely on a thermometer if it’s located in another part of the room from where your baby sleeps. Temperatures can also be lower closer to the floor, which is where most cribs are, so if you’re using a thermometer, then make sure it’s located at crib level.

And Manage The Humidity

With that said, while it’s recommended to prioritize the room’s temperature, it’s worth giving some attention to the room’s humidity levels. A room that’s 68–72°F can feel a lot hotter if the humidity is high. If humidity is high where you live, then investing in a dehumidifier can be an effective way to keep the room comfortable during the summer months. In the winter, when it’s low humidity, you have to worry about — it can cause congestion in babies — then a humidifier is best. Unfortunately, due to the mechanisms of these devices, they can’t work together, so you’ll need to buy both a humidifier and a dehumidifier. There are many affordable options on the market, however. 

Adjusting Clothing

Choosing the right clothing is an easy way to make sure your baby is comfortable at night. After all, it’s something that you can adjust depending on the temperature. If the room’s a little cold, then an extra layer is necessary. If it’s warmer, then lighter clothing is the way to go. Whatever quantity of clothes your baby needs, be sure to choose breathable fabrics. Both cotton and bamboo, for example, can allow heat and moisture to escape, and are much better than synthetic clothing regardless of the weather.

One important thing to note: make sure your baby is dressed for the temperature inside the room, not for the temperature outside. Some parents overcompensate in the winter months, when in fact their baby would be more comfortable with less clothing. 

Manage the Light

As an adult, you’ll appreciate sleeping in a dark room — and the same goes for your baby, too. In fact, it’s even more important that babies have a darkened room, because they’re more sensitive to light than adults. Investing in blackout curtains allows parents to deliver a consistently dark sleeping environment, regardless of the time of year. In the summer, when the days are much longer, they allow you to block out sunlight, signalling to your baby that it’s time to rest.

Blackout curtains will take care of sunlight and any external light sources that might impact your baby’s rest, such as streetlights, but it’s also important to control the light within the room, too. Opting for warm, low lighting, especially during nighttime interventions (instead of using an overhead light), can help to keep the space as dark as possible. 

Check-In Before Leaving

Finally, it’s good practice to make a habit of testing both your baby’s temperature and that of the room before leaving them for the night. A quick check of your baby’s stomach or the back of their neck will give you an accurate reading of their temperature (don’t focus on their hands or feet, which will be colder than they really are). 

Conclusion

There’ll be times when your baby struggles to sleep through the night for reasons that are beyond your control, but you can significantly reduce the chances that your baby will sleep through the night by ensuring that their sleeping area is comfortable and as sleep-friendly as possible. Taking the tips above, all of which are budget-friendly and are easy to do, will help to turbocharge your baby’s comfort levels all year-round, and that can bring significant benefits not just for your baby, but also for you. After all, it’s much easier for parents to get enough sleep when their baby is safely in the land of nod.