Hot summer evenings are such a rarity in the UK. We spend much of the year longing for them, yet when they’re here we’re reminded that (as with so many of our dreams) the reality is rather less idyllic than our fantasy.
Yes, you could be sat in the garden sipping on something fruity with your feet in a paddling pool, one ear tuned into the soft buzz of the baby monitor letting you know your child is sleeping peacefully…
You could, that is if it wasn’t for one small thing:
Your child, who thinks it is highly unreasonable of you to expect them to sleep in such sweltering conditions (and they are certainly not about to let their feelings go unheard).
So how can you help your family get more (any) sleep on hot summer nights? I asked parents to share what’s worked for them:
Channel your inner teenager
Cecily Henderson, co-founder of plastic-free kids’ shop PomPom, advises planning ahead to keep rooms as cool as possible, which means “fans, fans and more fans” and “curtains closed during the day, (transports me back to teenage angst but so worth it)”.
Upgrade your fan
“Basin with ice in front of the fan to help circulate cool air. Monitor for safety - do not leave unattended or where fan could get knocked over,” advises Alison MacColl, mum-of-two and founder of Ladies Love Fragrance. Also, make sure the fan isn’t pointing directly at your child’s bed/cot.
Schedule in a cooling off period
Putting children to bed already hot is a recipe for disaster, so make sure you allow time for a cool down. A “cooler shower than usual really helps our twin boys to fall asleep,” says Ivana Poku, author of Motherhood - The Unspoken. While Cecily advises letting the children have a “paddling pool bath before bed”.
Opening windows is just step one
On really hot evenings you can also “open the loft hatch to cool upstairs down,” says Nicola Russill-Roy, CEO of Propose PR and mum-of-two. “It really does make a difference.”
Cooling compress
Let your children relax like a swooning lady in a Victorian novel, “with lavender drops on a flannel out of the freezer, placed on their head as they are going to bed,” suggests Nicola.
Another option is: “A sock filled with rice and put in the freezer before bed will mould to their neck / feet and cool down their pressure 'points',” says Lisa Lewis, Sshhhh Sleep Consultant, who has shared more heatwave advice on her blog.
Throw a subterranean slumber party
My son’s room is upstairs with a south facing window, so at times it is the hottest room in our home. If your child’s room is similarly sweltering you may want to consider relocating them for the height of a heatwave.
“Slumber parties in the basement (aka a few nights all sleeping together on pull-outs alongside a portable bed) has worked for my toddler,” says Anthony Naglieri, who adds that the basement is “by far” the coolest room in his house. “The idea of it as a 'party' has made the transition much easier. Not sure it's sustainable, but it has been a reprieve.”
Can You Help With A Little Thing?
An upcoming issue of The Little Things will focus on how to get a toddler to do something they don't want to do (but have to). Have you found any little things that make getting them to clean their teeth/put on shoes etc. less of a battle? If so, please do let me know by replying to this email. Your advice can help make life easier for other mums and dads.
Little Lowdown
Tom Lamont unearths so many pearls of wisdom as he seeks for advice on how to raise a boy fit for the 21st century in the Guardian.
“I loved my son, I just didn’t love parenting.” Cathy Adams explores the often brushed-under-the carpet topic of motherhood ambivalence in The Independent.
“I promise you this: if you learn what makes your kid tick, you’ll all be the happier for it.” Clare Mackintosh shares the lessons her family have taught her about holidaying when your child has additional needs, in Grazia.
About Me
I’m Ellen Wallwork, a sleep-deprived mum-of-one, incessant worrier and freelance journalist. I’ve been writing about parenting for more years than I care to remember and previously launched the Parents section on HuffPost UK. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (but be warned, I’m not a prolific poster).
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Disclaimer: This newsletter does not provide medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The use of any information contained in this newsletter is solely at your own risk.