One of the most important tasks that are posed to the family is to create the ideal air temperature for the newborn. The kid should not only not cool down, but also not overheat. It depends on the health of the skin, which in the first months after birth is extremely susceptible to various dermatitis. In addition to the skin, dry or too moist air can cause lung damage.
Overheat
To the question of what should be the temperature in the room for the newborn, the answer is unequivocal - not very high. Usually, mothers worry about how cold the baby would be. Horror about how the mother did not see that the window was open in the room, or did not feel that the room was cool and the child was sick, passed down from generation to generation.
Each parent’s natural instinct is to protect their child. And the ideal temperature in the room of a newborn becomes an obsession.
It is not uncommon for parents to buy an additional heater in a room with a baby.
It is important to remember that the growing body of a newborn tries to work as actively as possible. Metabolism in infants is several times faster than metabolism in an adult. Therefore, the body releases heat, which it then tries to get rid of.
The heat generated can leave the body in several ways.
- If the child inhales air, which will be slightly lower than the temperature of his body. At the same time, exhaling, the generated heat leaves.
- Active sweating is the second way to get rid of heat. It is worse than the first option, which is considered more natural. When sweating, perspiration appears on the skin with unnecessary heat. During this process, the baby is thirsty.
The negative effects of overheating
Forgetting that a small person can be as hot as anyone else, parents prefer to leave him in a very warm room. High temperature in the room of a newborn is harmful to his health.
Overheating is as dangerous for a child as frostbite. It not only removes nutrient moisture from the baby’s body, but also:
- crusts form in the nose of the child, which interfere with breathing;
- due to lack of saliva in the mouth, thrush may appear;
- the intestines of the child do not absorb food as needed, because it lacks moisture;
- the baby has a tummy;
- Due to the active secretion of salt sweat, irritation and diaper rash may appear on the baby's body.
With an extreme degree of overheating, the newborn is hospitalized and artificially poured fluid into the body.
Ideal temperature
For the healthy development of the infant, the temperature in the room should be neither high nor low. The optimal temperature in the room of a newborn, according to the best children's doctors, ranges from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the baby, and, consequently, the mother will feel great. The air inhaled by the baby during exhalation will begin to take off the heat generated.
To always keep the situation under control, you should buy a room thermometer in the store. It costs a little, besides it is sold in many stores. It is advisable to hang such a thermometer near the place where the baby spends the most time.
Individual requirements
Each person, and therefore each child, is unique. The body of one baby can react very differently to a given temperature than the body of another.
The temperature in the room for the newborn should take into account individual characteristics. One baby will be happy falling asleep in a thin cotton vest and in light sliders, and the second will immediately begin to freeze. It is better for a freezing child to wear a warmer blouse and socks.
Maintaining optimum temperature
At different times of the year, the temperature in the room must be maintained the same. If the baby was born in the summer, then the family should consider buying an air conditioner. Air conditioning should be installed in the newborn’s room, but away from his crib so that direct jets of air do not fall on him. So the temperature in the room of the newborn baby will be correct.
In winter, you need to purchase a heater. If the room does not have enough heat from a centralized heating system, with a heater, the room is heated to a maximum of 20 degrees. Often you can see the opposite situation. The batteries in the room give 25-26 degrees, which is not suitable for the healthy development of the child. Not everyone has the ability to independently adjust the temperature.
Parents can air the children's room several times a day for half an hour. During ventilation, the child is taken out of the room. You should wait until the temperature in the room for the newborn is normal. In addition, you can cover the batteries with a dense cloth, in the form of a blanket or rugs. They will retain heat.
It is necessary to maintain one level of humidity. Very often, the temperature itself, as well as the well-being of the baby, depends on the humidity in the room. In children, the moisture level can be from 50% to 70%. To determine it, you need to bring a hygrometer into the room. It must also be remembered that in summer the air is usually drier than in spring.
In winter, when dry air can reach limits, it is advisable to put a humidifier for the apartment in the room. And, of course, parents should constantly carry out wet cleaning in the child’s room.
Mom's actions in a hot room
As soon as the parents noticed that the child was hot, it was time to act. After all, the temperature in the room for a newborn is not a major factor in his well-being.
To cool a child, you need:
- remove all excess clothing from the child. This can only be done when the room is more than 24 degrees;
- often water the baby to protect him from dehydration;
- wash the baby several times a day. The temperature of the room when bathing a newborn should be kept constant. And the water should be approximately 35-36 degrees, slightly lower than ordinary.
When the temperature in the room of a newborn baby meets all standards, then the baby grows healthy and joyful.