Do you have a new baby at home? Be aware that children under a year old are sensitive to temperature. If they overheat, it increases the risk of SIDS. So how do you protect your baby? What’s the ideal nursery temperature? Let’s take a look.
The Right Temperature
Experts say the ideal nursery temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees. In the hot Yuma summers, up to 75 is acceptable. But every baby is different. Some may overheat more easily than others.
The best way to gauge your baby’s reaction to temperature is to sleep in the same room as them for the first six months. This way, you can get a feel for the comfort level they like and see how they react to slightly cooler or warmer conditions.
Checking the Thermostat
The problem with such a narrow window is that you can’t always tell the temperature just by looking at the thermostat. If there’s uneven heating through your house, and the thermostat is in a different room, there could be several degrees difference between the number on the panel and the actual temperature.
The solution is to install a zoning system in your home. The house is split up into separate areas, each with their own thermostat, based on their individual heating or cooling needs. This way, you can control the heat for just the nursery, monitoring it more accurately and keeping it at the proper levels.
You should also have an HVAC technician check your thermostat settings to be sure the readings are accurate, and recalibrate it if necessary.
Other Heating Tips
Don’t wrap your baby in too many layers. A pair of pajamas and a lightweight blanket is plenty. If they need to be warmer, exchange the blanket for a sleep sack. If you need a space heater, keep it on the other side of the room from the crib, and avoid putting the baby near vents that will blow warm air on them directly.
To learn more about nursery temperature settings, contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We proudly serve Yuma’s HVAC needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
