With the british summer well underway me and my little bundle of joy have been taking every opportunity to soak up the warm weather whilst its here. Whilst the sun creates the perfect days to create memories it can always cause issues with bedtime routines.
There are many reasons why the warm weather can affect your babies regular sleep routine. In this blog we will look into the causes of disrupted sleep in summer along with top tips on how to overcome these challenges.
Discomfort
Like adults the warm temperature can cause your baby to feel uncomfortable, especially if wearing clothes that aren’t breathable. This discomfort can lead to disrupted sleep and make it harder for them to settle in the evenings.
Dehydration
Whilst this mainly applies to babies and toddlers who are no longer just on milk, dehydration can affect your babies sleep. It can cause your child to become irritable and restless which can cause disruption to their normal sleep patterns.
Difficulty regulating body temperature
Compared to adults babies find it a lot harder to regulate their body temperature. If the weather does become warm then they may be finding it difficult to cool down.
Increased night waking
With all the above factors, combined with night times being a lot lighter in summer, its no surprise that your baby may be waking a lot more in the night. When they do wake throughout the night they may need an extra feed or comfort to help get them settled and back to sleep.
Changes in sleep environment
Whilst as parents we try to accommodate to any changes in the weather, such as lighter clothes, black out blinds, even fans in the bedroom, these factors may all come as a surprise for your baby. New noises and senses can sometimes disrupt your babies sleep routing and can cause some disruption at night time.
Whilst these factors can all affect your babies sleep there are ways in which you can help your baby get the best level as sleep in summer.
Keep the room cool
Ensuring your babies room is well-ventilated is vital when trying to get them to sleep in the warm. Whether its a fan or air conditioning, a light breeze in the room can help your baby regulate their body temperature. Try to avoid direct sunlight in the warm with the use of blackout blinds or curtains, whilst these factors may causing some disruption whilst your baby adjusts they can help maintain the correct sleep environment for your baby.
Lighter clothing
Dressing your baby in lightweight, breathable clothing is perfect for the warmer temperatures. Heavy blankets and think cotton clothing are only going to provide extra warmth that is not needed in the heat.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine
If you haven’t already tried to create a bedtime routine that helps your baby relax this will help them associate certain activities with sleep and naturally help them get into a relaxed state.
Whilst these changes can help your baby adapt to the summer weather it is important to remember that all babies are unique, what works for one baby may not always work for your own. It is important to pay attention to your child’s needs and comfort levels, if your baby is sleeping fine without blackout blinds then don’t feel like you need to buy them. If you need some help and advice on how to help your baby sleep this summer my essential package offers the perfect solution, we together we will create solutions tailored to you and your baby. Alternatively contact me today to discuss any of my packages in more detail.
