Sleeping in the Heat

by Kori Rodley Irons | More from this Blogger

15 Jul 2008 08:10 PM

The hottest days of summer are upon many of us and while some of us are lucky enough to have central air or air conditioning, others are not. I wrote earlier this summer about how some kids really feel the heat and have a hard time with it. For those of us who have a tough time with the hot days, the hot nights can be even tougher. Getting enough sleep and getting quality sleep can be a challenge for kids (and parents) who are suffering. Here are some tips for helping your child get a better night's sleep when the thermometer climbs:

There are some good old-fashioned tricks and tips that can help a child get a better night's sleep. If possible, get the house as cool as you can before sleep time-especially in your child's room. If the child's room does not get a good flow of air, consider letting the child sleep somewhere else. In the pre-electricity days, people used to have sleeping porches or would move the family to cooler, breezier places to sleep when the weather got hot. If you have air conditioning, make sure that your child is getting a steady supply or set up a fan to blow directly over the child.

A cool bath or shower (or a swim) right before bed can also help a child sleep. It can be hard for a child to get plenty of exercise if it is too hot to play outside during the day and swimming can help with that. My son has a hard time with heat and according to him; one of the biggest impediments to sleep is that he doesn't get his daily dose of exercise when the temperature rises. A late evening walk or bike ride can help or letting the child play outside on the lawn after dark in the evening breeze might help him or her ease into sleep (especially if it is followed by a cool shower or bath.) Consider making the child's bed time later when it is really warm so that he or she is sleeping in the coolest part of the night/morning.

A cool, wet washcloth or a spritz bottle with cold water can also help. A few spritzes over the child or the sheets can make things feel cooler and a child can learn how to give herself a few spritzes when she feels she's overheating. Additionally, encourage cool, loose bedclothes and consider letting the child sleep with just cotton sheets (100% cotton is best-no flannel, satin or polyester-it just feels hotter!) for a cooler feel.

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