With temperatures in some areas of the UK approaching 40C this week, people are frantically attempting to cool their bedrooms in pursuit of a decent night’s rest during the heatwave.
Anxious about the days ahead, parents have turned to social media seeking guidance on keeping their homes cool – particularly their children’s bedrooms.
On Reddit, one parent wrote: “South Wales, weather is projected to be 33-35C for 3 nights in a row and today (29C peak) our 2yo is already up twice by 00:45. She usually sleeps through every night and slept pretty well during the previous heatwave.
“Even when she’s asleep she’s crying for most of it. She sleeps completely independently and the couple of times we’ve brought her in with us in the past it’s made things even worse.
“Plus the fact it’s so hot is probably not going to help anyone anyway, and our room is no cooler.
“No AC – we just cannot keep the upstairs cool no matter what we do. It stays in the high twenties.”
Running out of ideas, the parent confessed they were beginning to consider the only answer might be reserving a hotel room with air conditioning.
Nevertheless, the British Red Cross suggests there’s an unexpected method worth attempting first – and it requires wearing more clothing to bed than you might anticipate.
Their advice reads: “Cooling your feet helps to bring down your overall body temperature. Put a pair of socks in the fridge during the day and slip them on your feet before getting into bed.”
The organisation also advises having a lukewarm or cool shower prior to bedtime, as this can assist in reducing your core body temperature and make it simpler to nod off.
Rather than overhauling your entire routine during a spell of hot weather, the charity suggests keeping mealtimes, showers and bedtime as consistent as possible, since your body clock is already accustomed to that rhythm.
It added: “Hot weather can often mean your everyday routine goes out the window but eating and going to bed later may affect the quality of sleep. Try to stick to your usual eating and bed times and keep the same night-time routine.
“The heat can also mean you feel more tired during the day because your body is using more energy to regulate internal temperature. Try not to give in to having a daytime nap, as this disrupts your sleep pattern and can make it harder to fall asleep in the evening.”