The arrival of a new baby can be an anxious and exciting time, and for many parents, having the nursery ready is an important consideration. Part of the new nursery set up may include an air conditioner. This can help maintain an ideal room temperature for newborn babies , and for parents when attending to their child at night.

Why is Room Temperature Important for Babies?

Sleep experts link bedroom temperature and body temperature with successful sleep, and this is especially true for babies. Given that some babies are initially unable to regulate body temperature [1], bedroom temperature can significantly impact their sleep quality and a parent’s peace of mind. 

A lowering in body temperature is generally associated with drowsiness [2], which means a room temperature that is too high can lead to restlessness and poor sleep. Regardless of the time of year parents set up the nursery, the installation  of a single room or smart ducted  air conditioner can assist with maintaining an ideal room temperature for babies.

What’s The Ideal Room Temperature for Babies?

The perfect room temperature for babies to sleep can depend on a number of factors, however many experts recommend somewhere between 18 and 20 degrees. More important than the actual temperature, however, is its consistency throughout the home, so you aren’t carrying your baby from a warm kitchen to a cold nursery.

As a general rule, a cooler room temperature provides a safer environment for babies to sleep in, as they cannot regulate their body temperature to the same degree as an adult. If you think the temperature of the nursery may be a little too cold for your baby, add layers of clothing or bedding before increasing the temperature.

Signs Your Baby Is Too Hot or Cold

When finding the ideal nursery temperature, trial and experimentation are key. Observe how your baby sleeps in different room temperatures to find the ideal setting for your home. If you spot any of the following signs, they could be an indication that your baby is either too hot or too cold, and that the temperature of the nursery should be adjusted accordingly.

Signs Your Baby is Too Hot:

  • Sweaty back, neck or hair

  • Flushed skin that is red or warm to the touch

  • Fast breathing

  • Unusual fussiness during sleep

Signs Your Baby is Too Cold:

  • Pale or bluish skin

  • Appearance of goosebumps

  • Shivering, although uncommon

  • Chest or back that is cold to the touch

 

Tips To Control The Temperature of Your Nursery

These tips can help both babies and parents benefit from a comfortable sleeping environment:

  • Maintain a consistent temperature
    While research and advocacy organisation Red Nose does not recommend a specific room temperature for healthy babies [3], it’s a good idea to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature in the nursery that is similar to  the rest of the home. To help manage indoor comfort, a Fujitsu multi system air conditioner allows you to install up to six indoor units all connected to the one outdoor unit. Whether it’s the nursery, or a parent’s or teenager’s bedroom, each space can be individually managed by remote control and specific temperatures set to suit the individual space.

  • Use program timers
    Program timers help control the temperature of the room around the baby’s sleep time, with up to four on/off times able to be set in one day. Some Fujitsu wall mounted split systems have a sleep timer feature, which changes the room set temperature gradually by 1°C every 30 minutes up to a maximum of 4°C in heating and 1°C every 1 hour up to a maximum of 2°C in cooling to encourage a comfortable sleep.

  • Keep indoor air quality at its best
    A ducted or single room air conditioner may run less efficiently without regular cleaning of the filters and maintenance. While filters can often be removed for cleaning, selected Fujitsu wall mounted units feature an apple-catechin filter that captures fine dust, invisible mould spores and harmful microorganisms that are absorbed onto the filter by static electricity.

  • Use an in-room thermometer
    Placing a digital thermometer in the nursery enables you to see the precise temperature in the room at any given moment, and adjust the settings on your Fujitsu home air conditioner as necessary.

Position the crib away from windows and vents
While airflow regulation is important in a nursery, it is best to avoid the sudden temperature fluctuations that come with direct exposure to draughts from open windows or air conditioning vents. This will prevent your baby’s core temperature from fluctuating as much while the air conditioner is on or the window is open.

Maintain an Ideal Nursery Temperature With Fujitsu

Knowing the temperature of the nursery is under control, and that you  have created a comfortable sleeping environment for your  baby, can help give you peace of mind to also enjoy a good night's sleep.

To find out what might be the right air conditioning system for your new baby’s nursery, visit the interactive Fujitsu Assist Tool or contact Fujitsu General Assist on 1300 882 201 to speak to a member of our friendly customer service team. 

  1. https://www.snuza.com/blog/baby-temperature-regulation/

  2. https://sleepfoundation.org/bedroom/touch.php 

  3. https://rednose.org.au/article/what-is-a-safe-room-temperature-for-sleeping-baby