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I first shared the ways we were keeping H cool in the heat almost 3 years ago, when she was 7 months old. She's now 3.5 and we also have Baby B who has just turned one. We've coped with the heat each year, including living in a house with a south facing garden... aka two bedrooms in the sun all day. H's bedroom faces north, however that just means the sun is on her window at bedtime. Excellent just what we need. Not! So, we've found a few ways to keep the house and bedrooms as cool as possible.
I've compiled a few tips we've gained and tweaked through the years, and also a few tips from some blogging friends which we personally haven't tried, but they think are game-changers.
Our tried and tested coping strategies:
1. Blackout blindsThese are a must in our house as they really make the room darker as we always find that light still gets round the blackout curtains.
We've roller blinds in each of the girls' rooms, but I've also taped blackout curtain linings to their windows so that the gaps of light around the roller blinds don't show through. It's worked really well and also reflects the sun away from the room, while we're still able to have the window open during the day.
We also make sure to tuck the curtains in behind the radiator below so that no light can escape there either.
I also tried taping cardboard to the wall to bridge the gap between the blind edges and the wall. It makes a bit of a difference but I think I prefer the linings in the window option.
Polly from www.ourseasidebaby.com also said: "A blind has really helped us. I use the Gro-anywhere blackout blind in my son's room and it keeps the room really cool in the evening and also keeps the bright light out in the mornings. Without it his room was just too hot. I also keep the window open." and, Karen from www.ouririshfamily.com said "we also ensure the curtains/blinds in her room are closed from 4pm as it keeps it cool." 2. Blackout curtains, and close them during the dayKeeping the curtains shut with the windows open does seem to make a huge difference both to the light evenings and light mornings, as well as keeping the heat out of the rooms. H has unicorn blackout curtains from Next and B has owl blackouts from Dunelm - both make a huge difference.
Quite a few bloggers agreed with using blackout curtains and closing them in the day too - Leigh from www.dadgeek.co.uk, Terri from www.thestrawberryfountain.com, Jo from cupoftoast.co.uk, Emma from https://emmareed.net, 3. Close internal doorsKeep each room at its own temperature. So, our hall has a window which gets the sun from 3pm, it's scorching hot and heats up the whole of upstairs and we don't want that heat getting into the bedrooms.
4. Door wedges, and open the doors and windows!In saying the above..., if there is a breeze coming in one side of the house, take advantage and open the internal doors so it cools throughout out the house. Just make sure to edge the doors open otherwise baby will be woken from a door slamming!
5. 0.5 tog sleeping bags & thin sheetsYup babies sleep in just a nappy but if we have the fan on or there is a draft her a 0.5 tog sleeping bag keeps it off her. and kids in pants and perhaps a thin sheet (no duvet).
Charlie from www.ouralteredlife.com also agrees suggesting "cotton sheets to replace a duvet" helps. 6. Bath/shower before bedSome nights I've been doing this too.... it's so refreshing. It really helps get rid of the sun cream, the sticky skin and cool down. It also helps with the ridiculous amount of ice lolly that B seems to get stuck in her hair.
This was really popular tip: Haley from www.wingingitwithtwoboys.com also says "cool shower before bed seems to help my two - they are all hot and sticky from wearing sun cream so they like to have a rinse off and it helps cool them down a bit," and, Alice from www.livingwithajude.co.uk says " I always make sure my daughters hair gets wet in the bath as it keeps her cooler for longer.") Also suggested by Emma from https://emmareed.net, Joanne from www.wingingmamahood.com, Jodie from tightwadmama.com, Hayley from www.missmanypennies.com 7. Cold water and a fanPop a tub of ice or cold water in front of a fan to create a cool airstream. We've done this for a few years now and it really makes a difference. We have normal 'desk' fans but also now have a 'tower fan' which we are more comfortable having in H's bedroom as she can't stick her fingers in it.
Beth from www.twinderelmo.co.uk thought this worked well too. 8. Ice lollies or yogurt for puddingWe've been making sure both girls have either ice lollies or yoghurt for pudding to keep them cool after their dinner.
Jodie from tightwadmama.com also recommended this: "My toddler has been having homemade ice lollies after his evening meal to cool down. I make them with IKEA moulds, very weak cordial and a bit of fruit." 9. Fresh fruitIf the girls are still hungry after their dinner the girls have some fruit, particularly strawberries or cucumber - fruits high in water content to keep them hydrated.
10. Cold hot water bottlesIf the girls are quite hot we have popped icy cold water in a mini hot water bottle to try to cool their beds. I'm sit sure if that's really helped but felt like I'd tried something!
11. White noiseH has her Fisher Price light show and music projector which she still loves for bedtime, and B has her My Hummy which we use to mask the outside noises which are much louder when the windows are open. Card, trains, buses, motorbikes are a bit less obvious when these are playing so we hope they help keep them asleep. Not sure if they really help, but it makes sense!
12. Go with the flowWe've found that making sure the girls can always access water during the day, and allowing lots of down time (yes, giving into the requests for PJ Masks and Peppa Pig) do make a difference. It's hot and these toddlers seem to need more downtime too.
A few more heatwave bedtime tips, tried and tested by other bloggers: "We've got her a fan which is positioned right by her bed and we also use cooling spray on her before bed. We've also been playing music to her so she can take her mind off the heat. When we come up to bed we switch it all off until the next day." - Emma from www.happyfamilyhub.co.uk "I've built a makeshift cot tent with sheets for my two year old, place a fan near the sheet tent and let cool air circulate beneath an open slit - it stays cool all night and the white noise from the fan puts him straight to sleep." - Shan from www.shanelliswilliams.com "Let them play out before bed to try and burn some energy off in the fresh air. Somewhere open where they can explore to their hearts content." - Nyomi from www.nomipalony.com If you have any more tips, or if any of these are life changers for you, leave me a comment below!I've a few more posts related to heatwaves and gorgeous summer weather... and if you have a Perfect Prep and it's having trouble making baby's bottles I have some solutions and more about the problem - Perfect Prep machine warning light in hot weather.