Help with bringing temperature down in the house

peachyprice

CDaniels1987 wrote: »

Ditch the vest under sleepsuit? We were told by midwives that they should always wear a vest and then sleepsuit over the top, if its far too warm then ditch the sleepsuit and use a long sleeved vest or something..... but then again we were also told by one of the midwives not to bath him for the first 6 weeks, and also not to give him more than 30ml of milk!!!!

A short sleeve vest is more than adequate when it's hot, he doesn't need his arms covered. My premmie twins came home during a particularly hot summer, that's all they wore for 3 months, day and night.


As for the cooling, try opening the windows and curtains when the sun is not on the room to get cool fresh air in then as soon as the sun starts to come around shut the windows and curtains. It should trap the nice cool air in.

patchwork_cat

CDaniels1987 wrote: »

Ditch the vest under sleepsuit? We were told by midwives that they should always wear a vest and then sleepsuit over the top, if its far too warm then ditch the sleepsuit and use a long sleeved vest or something..... but then again we were also told by one of the midwives not to bath him for the first 6 weeks, and also not to give him more than 30ml of milk!!!!

What midwife was that! Sounds like someone needs to be struck off! What is so magical about a vest? If you think he is too warm then take a layer out of the equation, either vest or babygrow. Probably wouldn't do this for a baby as they might get too cold, but when we are hot I spray a sheet with water and just sleep under that. A similar tip I read from an Aussie ranch hand was to soak a sheet, squeeze it out and just sleep under that, as I say I wouldn't do that for a baby though, although it would probably lower the temperature of the room generally.


http://www.wikihow.com/Sleep-Comfortably-on-a-Hot-Night

CDaniels1987

Wilma33 wrote: »

Can't baby just sleep in a nappy? Vest and sleepsuit sounds too much for this time of year.

Me and the wife are at a bit of a loggerhead over this, I have said just for him to sleep in a vest, but shes insistant on both the vest and sleepsuit as he is only 11 days old, and the first few days he was in hospital he had to have a heater put over him a couple of times as his temperature dropped to around 35.9/36 and it should be 36.6 I believe. We have also been told but both the midwives and the health visitor that for now he should be in a vest and sleepsuit, but lay off the blankets for now. So much conflicting information, as I have said he seems happy and content, he's waking for his feeds and is alert (mostly at night! lol), so its just a case of making it a bit more comfortable in general not just for him.

Its difficult for us to take an accurate temperature reading as we only have one of those ones you place on his forehead, which currently shows hes the right temp but not sure how accurate it is, as its supposed to be one that goes under the arm pit which I have ordered but has not come yet.

And as I said it's not just about him, its also about us, its so uncomfortable in the house, so it would be nice to have something to bring the temp down in the day ready for the night, its not something we would have on at night as I would not want him to be too cold or anything, but if it can lower the temp to around 18/19 during the day it will at least be a bit more comfortable on the night.

CDaniels1987

patchwork_cat wrote: »

What midwife was that! Sounds like someone needs to be struck off! What is so magical about a vest? If you think he is too warm then take a layer out of the equation, either vest or babygrow. Probably wouldn't do this for a baby as they might get too cold, but when we are hot I spray a sheet with water and just sleep under that. A similar tip I read from an Aussie ranch hand was to soak a sheet, squeeze it out and just sleep under that, as I say I wouldn't do that for a baby though, although it would probably lower the temperature of the room generally.


http://www.wikihow.com/Sleep-Comfortably-on-a-Hot-Night

Oh we have already made a complaint about that midwife, as we knew that her not saying to bath him and only give him 30ml of milk was completely wrong!

peachyprice

CDaniels1987 wrote: »

Its difficult for us to take an accurate temperature reading as we only have one of those ones you place on his forehead, which currently shows hes the right temp but not sure how accurate it is, as its supposed to be one that goes under the arm pit which I have ordered but has not come yet.

The in the ear ones are the best IMO, they give a more accurate reading and are much easier to use than trying to keep a thermometer tucked under a baby's armpit!

CDaniels1987

peachyprice wrote: »

The in the ear ones are the best IMO, they give a more accurate reading and are much easier to use than trying to keep a thermometer tucked under a baby's armpit!

The one we have is also an ear one, but once again midwife has advised us not to use an ear one under 3 months.....

CDaniels1987

Anyway back on subject, has anyone ever used any of these portable AC systems? according to google they can lower the room temp by several degrees, which would be fantastic with the heatwave apparently coming up.

summerspring

CDaniels1987 wrote: »

Ditch the vest under sleepsuit? We were told by midwives that they should always wear a vest and then sleepsuit over the top, if its far too warm then ditch the sleepsuit and use a long sleeved vest or something..... but then again we were also told by one of the midwives not to bath him for the first 6 weeks, and also not to give him more than 30ml of milk!!!!

I sometimes wonder if these midwives have ever had children of their own! If it's too hot the baby needs to wear fewer clothes. Babies can't sweat (or shiver) so they shouldn't be allowed to get too hot or too cold.

notanewuser

What are your instincts telling you? Ditch the sleepsuit or vest. You don't need a thermometer, just feel the skin under the clothes at the bottom of the neck. If it feels hotter than you, take a layer off; colder, put another thin layer on.

I lived in a greenhouse flat for about 5 years - lots of glass, South facing. It could reach 30+ degrees on an averagely sunny day. The water cooling units worked fairly well. Have to say though, I would have moved before baby's arrival rather than try and deal with this now.

CDaniels1987

notanewuser wrote: »

What are your instincts telling you? Ditch the sleepsuit or vest. You don't need a thermometer, just feel the skin under the clothes at the bottom of the neck. If it feels hotter than you, take a layer off; colder, put another thin layer on.

I lived in a greenhouse flat for about 5 years - lots of glass, South facing. It could reach 30+ degrees on an averagely sunny day. The water cooling units worked fairly well. Have to say though, I would have moved before baby's arrival rather than try and deal with this now.

If only we could have moved, we have been trying to move for the last 12 months, but having problems with mortgage etc, and renting is a dead end as most houses won't allow pets (we have 2 cats) so moving has not been going to plan unfortunately.