Temperatures are starting to creep up (which is a great thing when the kids are playing in the garden) unfortunately, it’s not such a good thing when you’re trying to get them to sleep.
And if you thought creeping out of their room was tough normally, it gets even harder when they’re hot and restless and will take any opportunity to hop out of bed and back downstairs to play. Here are some tips to get kids to sleep when it’s hot at night.
Bath Time Blues
Bath time is handy for relaxing kids before they go to sleep, but in summer it has another purpose. Toddlers and older kids will appreciate the bath temperature being slightly colder than normal as it will help them cool down before bedtime. Adults might also appreciate the opportunity to stick their tired, hot feet in!
Top Fan
I’m a big fan of fans when it gets warm and it’s a good idea to make sure you have one for every bedroom before we get a heat wave – no doubt they’ll be flying off the shelves the minute the temperature gauge hits 25 degrees! Of course, with kids, you just need to be mindful of any health and safety issues.
Cotton Eye Joe
Natural fibres are king when it comes to keeping cool so make sure their bed sheets, duvet covers and PJs (if they need them) are made from 100% cotton. Additional benefits include that cotton is more breathable, durable and comfortable than synthetic fibres. Check the tog value on their duvets and sleeping bags too and make sure they’re suitable for the summer months.
Hydration Station
We all know that kids will use any excuse to call to you during bedtime and one of their favourite reasons is that they’re thirsty. While in winter this could simply be an excuse to get more attention, in the summer it’s more likely to be true. Keep them hydrated with little sips of cold water which will help keep them cool too.
The North Face
When temperatures start to rise, we’re faced with the dilemma of whether to open or close windows and blinds. One theory is that in south-facing bedrooms you should keep blackout blinds and windows closed, but in north-facing bedrooms, you can let some fresh air in. In addition, if we experience a heatwave consider temporarily moving kids into the coolest room of the house. They’ll be delighted to set up camp and have a sleepover in a different room and you might get five minutes of peace!
