Is it OK for babies to sleep with the air conditioner on?

When the summer heat comes, many people in the circle of friends will complain that "life is given by air conditioning", and many people will stay in the air-conditioned room all day long, including sleeping time. Some parents are afraid that their baby will be too hot, so they will install air conditioners in the baby's room and adjust the appropriate temperature to provide the baby with the best sleeping environment. It should be noted that babies sleeping in air-conditioned rooms must be covered with quilts, especially on the stomach, to avoid accidentally catching a cold.

Myth 1: As long as the temperature is adjusted properly, there is no need to cover the baby with a blanket.

Wrong! Because when the baby is exercising, the body temperature is higher, and when the baby is sleeping, the body temperature is lower, and the ability to regulate its own temperature is poor. If the baby is not covered with a thin blanket, or key parts such as the baby's belly are not covered, it is easy to catch a cold.

Misconception 2: The temperature is controlled at 26 degrees and you can turn on the air conditioner when you get home.

Wrong! What's wrong? Although it is correct to control the air-conditioning temperature at 26 degrees, the mistake is that parents turn on the air-conditioning immediately after returning home in order to quickly relieve the heat. This does not give the baby's body a period of time to adapt to the temperature and will make the baby prone to illness. It is recommended to adjust the air conditioner temperature a little higher (around 28 degrees), and then lower it to 26 degrees after the baby stays for a while.

Myth 3: As long as the baby is dressed warmly, it doesn’t matter how low the temperature is.

Wrong! Some parents are afraid of heat and always set the temperature very low, but they are afraid that the baby will catch a cold, so they put thick clothes on the baby, thinking that this will be fine. In fact, this is not the case. The baby is wrapped in thick clothes, so what about the head and feet? The exposed limbs form a temperature difference with the wrapped body. The baby's respiratory tract and oral cavity are connected to the internal organs. Inhaling dry cold air will also cause "organ cold."

Myth 4: With a humidifier, you can avoid air conditioning pollution

Wrong! Tests have shown that humidifiers can only increase indoor humidity and cannot solve the problem of air conditioning pollution. Also, because the air conditioner will continuously absorb indoor moisture, if we stay in the air-conditioned room for a long time, we will feel dry mouth and tongue. The baby's skin is delicate and it is easy to lose more body water when anxious. It is recommended to fill some containers with water and keep the air humidity at about 60%.

Myth 5: Covering your baby’s fontanelle can prevent colds

Wrong! Some parents think that the baby's fontanelle is just a layer of skin, so they take great care of this part. The fontanelle is actually a place reserved for the baby's development, and it will gradually close as the baby grows older (the time when the fontanelle closes is different for each baby). The baby's fontanelle is protected by hair and scalp. Parents don't need to worry about the baby's fontanelle being affected by cold or heat and catching a cold, and then use a hat to cover the fontanelle. If the baby frequently shakes his head due to head discomfort, it is more likely to cause occipital baldness, so this is really unnecessary.

When babies meet air conditioners, we should do this

Now that air conditioning has been approved by major hospitals, it seems that the key lies in how to use it. In our daily lives, as long as we use air conditioning scientifically and reasonably, we can minimize its adverse effects. The key to setting the temperature is to control the temperature difference. Traditional Chinese medicine theory calls babies a "pure yang" body, so young children's physique tends to be hot, and they are more likely to sweat and get prickly heat in the summer. At the same time, the baby's body temperature regulation center is not fully developed and is easily cold or hot, so it is particularly important for the baby to control the temperature difference when using air conditioning.

1. When using air conditioning to cool your baby, the temperature should not be too low. It is generally appropriate to keep it 3℃ to 5℃ lower than the outdoor temperature, and not lower than 25℃.

2. When taking your baby out in the summer, do not walk directly from the low-temperature indoor environment to the hot outdoor environment. It is best to turn off the air conditioner before going out to allow the baby to adapt to the high temperature. Similarly, after returning home from outdoors, you should wait for a while before turning on the air conditioner. It is best not to take your baby in and out of air-conditioned rooms frequently during the hot summer season.

3. Do not let the baby face the air outlet of the air conditioner. At the same time, the baby's dining chair, crawling mat, crib and other items should be placed away from the air outlet. You can also use the air conditioner in a single room to cool the entire house. Turn off the air conditioner in the room where your baby is and turn on the air conditioners in other rooms.