Using AC With a Newborn – Is It Safe?
jessica albert 
Image: Shutterstock
Your bundle of joy is almost here and you really don’t know what to feel! If you’re a first-time mom-to-be, you must be confused as much as you are happy. You always want the best things for your baby and there are a million concerns popping in your mind. One such common concern is if it’s okay to use an air conditioner when a newborn baby is around. Well, you can use an air conditioner when there’s a newborn baby in the room but only if you take care of certain things. Trust me, if you’re living in a place where summers can burn things up, you better set up an AC before your baby arrives.
Here are a few important things that you need to put a green tick on before you switch on the AC in your newborn baby’s room:
The Right Temperature
Find out what is the ideal temperature for your baby to be in, from your doctor. The temperature outside and the humidity in the place where you live are all factors that determine how much of variation you need to make. Usually, anything between 23 degrees to 26 degrees is considered to be good enough. Don’t adjust the temperature according to how much cold you’re feeling- remember that your baby’s body is a lot more sensitive than yours.
The Right Way To Cover Your Baby
Use a light and clean cloth to cover your baby till the elbows. Use a cloth cap to cover the baby’s head and ears in case it’s necessary. Make sure the room isn’t too cold for the baby that you have to cover the little one up in multiple layers. Make sure that there are no loose pieces of cloth near your baby since it can cover the baby’s face and cause accidents when you’re not around.
No Direct Air On To The Baby’s Body
Place the bassinet inside the room in such a way that the baby is away from the direct blast of cold air. You can set the AC in such a way that the air flow is towards the roof and not towards the floor or the people inside the room. Getting exposed to the direct blast of cold air from an AC can make your baby catch a cold or cause any other health issues.
Only Well-Maintained ACs
Make sure that you get the AC in the baby’s room serviced frequently to ensure proper functioning. A faulty air conditioner can affect the healthy air flow and also the quality of the air inside the room.
Taking The Baby To A Warmer Room
Do not take your baby out from the air-conditioned room all of a sudden. The sudden transition from a cool atmosphere to a warmer one can be hard on the little one. So, switch off the AC in the room first and let the baby slowly adjust to the room temperature before you take him/her outside the room. Keep this in mind when you’re inside your car as well with the baby- turn down the AC a while before you reach your destination.
Keep The Baby Moisturized
Use a doctor-recommended moisturizer on your baby’s skin before turning on the AC. Air conditioners can dry out the baby’s skin pretty fast which is why good moisturization is unavoidable. Some mothers prefer to apply a tinge of oil near the baby’s nostrils to avoid dryness inside. However, this may not be completely safe which makes it mandatory to discuss with a doctor.
Even though it’s okay to use an air conditioner for a newborn baby, it’s not necessary unless the place where you live is too hot. Most mommies are happy with just using the ceiling fan which will also keep the baby cool. Having said so, do not place the bassinet directly below the fan because the direct blast of air from the fan might cause irritation to your baby.
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