Many parents worry that putting infants in air conditioning in the hot season may make babies susceptible to colds or affect their health. However, air conditioning can still be used safely for young children if adjusted correctly.
In hot weather, infants are prone to crying, prickly heat, or dehydration due to incomplete body temperature regulation ability. Maintaining a suitable room temperature will help babies feel better and sleep better.
Dr. Parul Khanna - pediatrician at Meher Children's Care Clinic (Pune, India) - said that parents can completely turn on the air conditioner for newborns but need to pay special attention to the temperature and airflow in the room.
According to recommendations, suitable air conditioning temperatures for infants should be maintained in the range of 24-28 degrees Celsius. This temperature level helps children feel comfortable without getting too cold. Parents should also avoid allowing children to move continuously between spaces with large temperature differences because the baby's body is still sensitive and difficult to adapt quickly to environmental changes.
Newborns should not stay in an environment that is too hot or too cold for a long time. Maintaining a stable room temperature will help babies sleep better and feel more comfortable when the hot weather lasts.
In addition to room temperature, baby's clothes also need to be chosen appropriately. Soft, breathable cotton clothes with lightly long sleeves should be prioritized to keep the body warm. For children under 1 month old, parents can let their babies wear cotton socks or thin hats to avoid getting cold.
An important note is not to let the air conditioning wind blow directly into the child. Constant cold winds can cause the baby to get cold, dry skin or irritate the respiratory tract. It is best to adjust the wind direction upwards or use a light ventilation mode in the room.
Air conditioning can also reduce air humidity, making the baby's skin and nasal mucosa easily dry. To limit this situation, parents should moisturize the baby's skin with mild, odorless creams, and at the same time breastfeed the baby or formula fully to avoid dehydration.
If the child has signs of dry nose, physiological saline can be used to soothe the mucous membrane. For children over 6 months old, parents can supplement with more watery fruits to help replenish water for the body.
Dr. Parul Khanna also recommends that parents should clean and maintain air conditioners periodically before use. Dirty filters containing dust, bacteria or mold can affect the weak immune system of newborns.
When needing to take the baby out, parents should turn off the air conditioner for about 10-15 minutes beforehand so that the child's body gradually adapts to the ambient temperature, limiting the risk of heat shock.
Air conditioning is not harmful to infants if used properly. Maintaining a suitable temperature, avoiding cold winds blowing directly into the child's body and keeping air humidity at the necessary level will help babies feel comfortable, sleep better and be safer in hot weather.
