I’m a sleep expert – here’s the exact temperature your baby’s bedroom should be to help them sleep through the night
A BABY sleep expert has revealed the perfect temperature to keep your little cherub in the land of nod all through the night.
There are lots of factors out with our control that wake up a child at ungodly hours, such as sleep regressions and colic.
But Jennifer Robison, a gentle sleep consultant, explained room temperature is key to get right when it comes to enjoying an uninterrupted slumber.
The Happy Sleep Coach told The Mirror: “I get a lot of phone calls around October time, with parents saying ‘my child used to sleep through, why are they waking in the night now?’
“It’s because they’re getting cold as October is the time when the temperature starts dropping at night but you don’t start putting the heating on, so children start to wake.”
The perfect temperature to aim for is anything between 16C and 20C, advised Jennifer.
The expert explained while a child is in a light sleep cycle, cooler temperatures are sure to wake them up.
At around 5.00am figures usually drop to their lowest which is why a lot of little ones become unsettled, according to Jennifer.
“Always follow the Lullaby Trust’s website for guidance on how many layers to put on your child,” she advised.
Her top tip for measuring your baby’s room temperature is to place the thermometer at cot level.
If it is positioned on a high shelf, it may produce inaccurate and higher figures.
In the same way, if the device is too low down on the floor, you may be heating the cot too much.
“Make sure that your child is warm enough, especially before the six-month mark, but even after that you’ve got to be careful of overheating”, Jennifer added.
“A cold baby is better than one that’s too hot.”
This comes as other baby sleep experts lend a helping hand to parents struggling through the night.
Heidi Skudder – aka The Parent and Baby Coach – spoke about the sleep myths to take notice of, and those you need to ignore.
She prioritised routine and advised: “Being aware of awake windows is probably one of the most game changing and crucial bits of information that you will ever come across as a new parent!”
Another important factor to consider is how many naps your baby needs.
Karen Miller, who’s a certified baby and toddler sleep consultant and founder of Asleep At Last, said: “Day sleep directly correlates with night sleep so if you can ensure babies get the right amount of day sleep for their age they should sleep better at night.”
The mum-of-two suggested babies up to four months should aim for three to four naps, while children up to eight months should be limited to three.
Babies up to 18 months only require two naps, and from this age onwards one nap of two hours in the middle of the day is necessary.
And parents still often struggle to get their kids down for the night when they’re older.
Dani McFadden and her husband Chris began working as The Mummy and Daddy Sleep Consultants four years ago and have since helped hundreds of families improve their nighttime routine.
They encourage learning your child’s sleep windows, helping teach them how to self soothe, giving them some control and doing a double feed.