Is it Safe to Keep Newborn Babies in the AC or Cooler

Now that the summers are at their full swing. It is seen that the temperature is rising day by day and so the humidity. The unbearable heating weather is forcing you and me to find a place with a pleasant and cool atmosphere. This applies to the babies as well. Babies are not different from you and me but are part of us. But surely they are more fragile and sensitive to the excessive heating weather to live in.

Every parent like you and me are every time pondering with many questions in their mind. Such as:

Whether is it safe to keep our newborn babies in the air conditioner or coolers?

whether keeping them in an air conditioner or cooler is good for their health and skin?

What is the ideal room temperature for babies?

What is an ideal ac temperature for newborn?

Whether fan or AC or cooler better for babies?

As far as the question is concerned that is it safe or not to keep the newborn babies in the air conditioner or cooler, my answer is “Yes” it is safe to use the air conditioner or cooler for newborn babies. So as to beat the scorching heat and for providing a comfortable environment. Moreover, the paediatricians also suggest keeping the babies in the air conditioner or cooler. Because the babies are fragile enough to bear the excessive heat. Not living in a pleasant atmosphere results in heat stroke, fever, dizziness, dehydration, rashes and many more in babies. Further, these health issues more worsen the situation. Therefore, the use of the air conditioner or cooler is the need of the hour.

Babies before birth are in their mother’s womb. There they are living in a comfortable temperature. The temperature in the womb automatically regulated by the mother’s body. The babies are unable to maintain the temperature suitable or required by their body. Therefore, you as a parent should keep the babies in a pleasant and healthy environment.

Basis the above facts air conditioner or cooler is necessary for babies because:

• The air conditioner or cooler provides a cool and relaxed atmosphere.
  
  
• The air conditioner controls the humidity. This results in low sweating and provides comfort to the babies.
• The air conditioner helps in purifying the germs in the air and provides healthy air to breath for the babies.
• Mosquitoes remain away from the cool atmosphere. Therefore, keeping the babies in air conditioner or cooler also keep the mosquitoes and the diseases carried by them away.

Further, as you know there are disadvantages associated with the use of air conditioner and cooler. This increases our worries and concern for their usage for the babies. But at the same time, you have to understand their usage is a priority in summer. Therefore, using the air conditioner or cooler is safe but need to take care of some precautions in routine. These precautions are necessary to adopt by you as a parent. These helps in overcoming with the disadvantages of an air conditioner or cooler.

20 precautions/preventions to follow for making the appropriate use of the air conditioner or cooler for babies health:

• Prevent babies from direct airflow. This is because coming in direct contact of airflow makes the babies sick and complaint of cold is noticed. For this, make the baby sit or lie down away from the area where direct airflow is felt. Also, change the direction of the air conditioner or cooler wings to upwards. This helps in air circulation in the entire room.

• Cover the newborn baby’s head, hands and feet especially while using the air conditioner or cooler. This is because the immunity system of the baby is not strong to bear the cool airflow. Further, use swaddle or cotton blanket to cover the babies while sleeping.

• Full sleeves clothes and bottoms are important in an air conditioner at the time of change in the weather. This avoids heat and cold problem.

• Do not switch on the air conditioner or cooler immediately on returning from outside. The cool breeze affects the baby’s health and makes him/her sick. This is because of the sudden change in body temperature.

Similarly, when leaving for outside the house switch off the air conditioner or cooler at least 15 mins before leaving. Otherwise, the probability of getting heat and the cold problem increases. This is because your body is resisting to bear the excessive heat immediately from a cool environment.

• Check the body temperature of the baby at regular interval to monitor whether the body is hot or cold. If the body is hot continue with the air conditioner. Similarly, if it is cold then switch off the air conditioner for as long as the room is cool enough to stay. This is even recommended by the paediatrician to ensure that suitable weather is provided to the baby.

• Remaining in the Air conditioner for a longer time increases the frequency of pee. Thereby resulting in loss of fluids that is dehydration of the body. Therefore, breastfeed the newborn baby at a regular interval of every two hours. This helps in keeping the body hydrated and prevent heatstroke.

Further, For the babies above six months, encourage drinking water at frequent intervals around 2 hours. Increase fluids, fruits and vegetables in their food diet to keep them hydrated.

• Nasal congestion or dry nose is common with the prolonged use of Air conditioner or cooler. For this ensure using nasal drops at least three times a day. A drop is sufficient at a time for each nostril. I prefer using it at night and early morning for this helps in the opening of the nostrils.

• Avoid Air conditioner or cooler for at least 15 mins after the baby gets the bath. After bathing the body temperature of the baby is cool and coming in contact with cool airflow cause cold or cough problems to the baby.

• The babies get easily affected by the excessive change in temperature suddenly. Therefore, switch off the air conditioner or cooler at least 10 mins before leaving the room. This even results in heat and cold temperature of the body.  This makes the baby sick with a cold and affects the health.

• Use of air conditioner or cooler makes the skin dry. To avoid skin dryness, massage the baby two times a day. This helps in moisturizing and healing of the skin.

• Avoid using the air conditioner or cooler during and after the massage to the baby. Because this will result in a change of body temperature immediately and the baby is fragile enough to get sick.

• While using a car in summer, ensure to turn on the air conditioner at 24 ℃ to 26 ℃ for a pleasant atmosphere. In between switch off the air conditioner by ensuring that pleasant atmosphere is maintained throughout.
  

Precautionary, keep in mind to cover the baby with swaddle in the car itself to prevent the direct airflow.

• As you know the parked car is heating badly in summer. Therefore, before sitting in the car ensure to open the windows for allowing the hot air to flow out. Further, switch on the air conditioner for some time before using the car to cool down the heat inside.

• The baby wants a comfortable temperature that is not too hot and not too cold in the surroundings. Therefore, preferably maintain the temperature of the air conditioner in between 24 ℃ to 26 ℃. This is considered as an ideal temperature for newborn babies. Further, switch on the fan at a slow speed for circulation of the cool air in the entire room. This helps in keeping the room cool and pleasant for a longer time. Also, keeps the baby’s body temperature normal and less sweating.

Further, you can adjust the air conditioner temperature from 20 ℃ to 22 ℃. This is for those who are living in a place where the temperature is too high for the air conditioner to cool the room at 24 degree Celsius.

• At night, use a timer feature of AC for automatic turning off of the air conditioner. Do not use the air conditioner for the whole night continuously. Your purpose is to give a pleasant atmosphere to the baby and not chilled atmosphere. Further, the baby is fragile enough to get cold, cough or fever with the excessive coolness in the atmosphere.

• Servicing of the Air conditioner is necessary before starting to use it in the summer season. This is to kill the bacteria, fungi and germs and make the air healthy for intake.

• Clean the air filters of the air conditioner regularly every 15 days. This kills o the airborne fungi and dust and to make the air fresh and healthy. In case you feel more dust in the environment, clean the air filters every week. Inhaling dust and germs affect the health of the baby with sickness, therefore, cleaning is important of the air conditioner.

Similarly, clean all the windows of the cooler and change the grass every year.

• Put kerosene oil/petrol in the water tank of the cooler and regularly change the water. Because stagnant water give rise to mosquito breeding.

• While using the cooler open one window in the room. Because it allows the cross ventilation in the room and maintains the humidity at a bearable level.

• Recommended having Temperature and Humidity Meter in the room. It shows room temperature, humidity and clock time. It helps in monitoring the room temperature and humidity on a real-time basis. This helps  you in maintaining the pleasant and healthier atmosphere of the room.