Will The Air Conditioning Harm My Baby?
The air conditioning does not have to be the enemy of the baby. You can safely use an air conditioner as long as you take certain precautions.
Keep in mind that sudden changes in temperature can affect the health of the newborn. Therefore, precautions need to be taken because the baby will still need time to adjust to the world outside of its mother’s womb.
The best way to use air conditioning when there is a baby in the house is to regulate the temperature to around 22 degrees Celsius. This is the ideal temperature for newborns and premature babies.
Although the ideal temperature for babies is 22 degrees Celsius, it is advisable to keep the environment between 21 and 24 degrees during the day and between 19 and 21 degrees at night.
According to various articles published by pediatrician Florencio Santiago, mothers should measure the humidity in the house to ensure that it is always at a level between 30 and 50 percent.
In order to be able to control these parameters at home, the house must be equipped with a thermometer and a hygrometer. The pediatrician also emphasized the importance of proper ventilation in the house.
Tips for using air conditioning when a baby lives in the house
- Remember, a temperature of 22 degrees Celsius is perfect for a baby. Sudden changes in temperature can weaken the child’s immune system and should therefore be avoided.
- Temperature differences should not be more than 10 degrees Celsius; measured between the inside of the house, the car and the outside environment.
- It is also important to make sure that the flow of air coming out of the air conditioner is not aimed directly at the baby.
- Another good tactic is to cool a room before the baby goes to bed and then turn the device off at night. When doing this, make sure the room is well ventilated.
- If it is very hot, you can use air conditioning to keep the child from feeling uncomfortable. This can also prevent certain skin rashes. If you leave the air conditioning on at night, you should make sure that the baby is properly dressed to be comfortable.
Always keep a blanket handy to cover the baby. This is especially useful if it’s in a place where the air conditioner is too cold for the child.
Maintenance and cleaning
Although you have air conditioning in your home, it’s important to also naturally ventilate each room.
Always keep an eye on the condition of the air conditioning filter, as it can often accumulate microorganisms, such as dust, that can be harmful to the child’s health. To avoid possible harm to your child, you should always keep the air filter clean.
Experts also recommend keeping the entire house at the same temperature. To do this, you can use built-in air conditioners or air conditioners that are installed on the ceilings.
These units are always a better option than fans or portable air conditioners.
If you have multiple air conditioners in the house, you can use them to maintain a consistent ambient temperature.
This will prevent the baby from being affected by sudden changes in temperature. This could be very harmful to the baby’s health.
Pediatricians also recommend using a cold humidifier. This device helps regulate the humidity in the area.
Humidity is usually eliminated through the use of air conditioning. Low humidity can lead to dryness of the baby’s mucous membranes.