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The blistering summer sun has led to a soaring demand for air conditioning among many households. However, numerous parents still remain uncertain and engaged in heated debates regarding whether or not to let their newborns sleep under air conditioning.
1. Should newborns sleep under air conditioning during the hot summer?
The scorching summer heat has caused a surge in the use of air conditioning among many families. However, many parents are still uncertain and actively debating whether or not to let newborns sleep under air conditioning.
As the weather enters a peak heatwave in the northern regions, air conditioning becomes a necessity for many families. However, families with young children are anxious about having their infants in air-conditioned rooms.
Many argue that newborns have an immature thermoregulatory system, making them prone to overheating or sudden drops in body temperature. Thus, having infants in air-conditioned rooms may lead to abrupt changes in body temperature.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoa from Ha Dong, Hanoi shares: “I recently had a baby who is just over a month old, and Hanoi is about to enter the hot season. These past few days, the scorching heat has made the baby cry more often. I wanted to have my baby under the air conditioner, but my mother-in-law was worried that the baby would get cold. Finally, I took the risk and had the baby under the air conditioner with a temperature of about 31 degrees.”
This is just one of many cases where families wonder whether to have their baby under the air conditioner or not, and if so, what precautions to take.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, former Head of the Pediatrics Department at Bach Mai Hospital: “During the hot season, parents should still have their children under the air conditioner because otherwise, there is a higher risk of respiratory diseases for children.
Parents should choose the appropriate temperature for their children. I cannot precisely advise mothers on what temperature to set for their children, but when having the child under the air conditioner, they should pay attention. If the baby is comfortable, not sweating, and sleeping well, then that is the appropriate temperature.
Mothers must adjust the temperature to suit their children best. For example, for newborns born at full term, the temperature can be set at around 31 degrees; premature babies, born prematurely, should be at 32 degrees; from one month old, around 30 degrees, and from one year old onwards, set at 29 degrees. If the child sweats, then the temperature should be lowered by about 0.5-1 degree.
Additionally, another important thing to note is the direction of the air conditioner airflow, which should always be set upward, so that the cold air spreads downward. Absolutely do not aim the fan directly downward as it may cause the child to catch a cold and develop various other illnesses.”
Dr. Dung also advises parents to only let the baby lie in the air conditioning for a moderate amount of time. It's important not to have too much temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. Before taking the baby outside, mothers should open the door for about 15-20 minutes to let the baby gradually get used to the hot air outside to avoid heat shock.
Furthermore, it's important to encourage children to drink plenty of water and to moisturize their noses regularly because air conditioning can cool the body but also dry out the child's skin and nose.
Especially when the child is sleeping, mothers should also remember to use a thin blanket, covering the stomach area especially, to prevent enlarged pores which can lead to catching a cold.
