How to help your toddler sleep better in summer

During the summer it’s often hard for everyone to get to sleep. But it’s especially difficult for babies and young toddlers. Here are 5 ways that you can help your baby or toddler to sleep better during the summer months.

1 Help your toddler sleep better in the summer months by keeping their room cool.

Babies and young toddlers’ bodies do not regulate temperature as well as adults’ bodies do, therefore it’s up to us to keep them cool. Young babies and toddlers can easily become overheated, and of course, if they feel too hot, they cannot remove their own blankets or clothing in order to help them to cool down. During the hot summer months, use a fan to keep cool, circulating air flowing throughout your child’s room (but make sure the fans aren’t pointed straight at their beds). Keeping the curtains pulled during the day and the windows shut are also good ways to keep the hot summer air out of your baby or toddler’s bedroom.

2 Make sure your toddler has dressed appropriately for the summer weather.

Babies and young toddlers cannot remove their own clothes, therefore it’s important that parents pay close attention to how they dress their children. Dressing young children appropriately is normally a case of common sense, after all, no one knows your child better than you. If it’s warm, avoid long baby grows or long-sleeved clothing. Instead, opt for wearing a thin cotton t-shirt, or simply try putting your baby or toddler down to sleep in just their nappy. If you’re swaddling your baby, switch to a lightweight cotton blanket to help them stay cool during the heat.

3 Help your toddler sleep better in the summer months by making sure their room is dark.

During the summer months, making your child’s bedroom dark is one of the biggest challenges. Blackout blinds are a fantastic way to help keep rooms dark, and cool, during summer. You can purchase children’s curtains that are lined with blackout material. Or if you have brackets for blinds, you may choose to opt for permanent blackout blinds. Alternatively, you can also purchase portable blackout blinds that do not require any DIY skills to put up. These can be used during summer and then taken down once you no longer need them. 

4 Don’t stray from your normal routine.

If your baby or toddler is firmly set in their routine, do not try to change it! As parents, you may be tempted to stray from your usual routine. And head outside to have fun later than your child is used to. As tempting as this may be, altering your child’s routine can cause havoc. Especially when it comes to helping your baby or toddler sleep at night. Instead, stick to what your child knows as this will help them to settle more easily when bedtime comes around.

5 Keep your children safe from the sun.

Too much time in the sun can make your baby or toddler dehydrated, grumpy, and unsettled. Be sure to take sun safety seriously. And provide your child with plenty of opportunities to get out of the bright sunshine and stay hydrated. A child that has been kept comfortable during the day is more likely to be comfortable enough to sleep in the evening as well.