One of the most important tasks facing a family is creating the ideal air temperature for the newborn. The baby must not only not cool down, but also not overheat. The health of the skin depends on this, which in the first months after birth is extremely susceptible to various dermatitis. In addition to the skin, dry or too humid air can also damage the lungs.
Overheat
To the question of what the temperature should be, the answer is unequivocal - not very high. Usually mothers worry about how the child will become cold. Horrors about how the mother did not see that the window was open in the room, or did not feel that the room was cool, and the child got sick, are passed down from generation to generation.
Every parent's natural instinct is to try to protect their child. And the ideal air temperature in a newborn’s room becomes an obsession.
There are often situations when parents buy an additional heater for the room with a baby.
It is important to remember that the growing body of a newborn tries to work as actively as possible. The metabolism of an infant is several times faster than that of an adult. Therefore, the body produces heat, which it then tries to get rid of.
The heat generated can leave the body in several ways.
- If the child inhales air that is slightly lower than his body temperature. At the same time, exhaling, the generated heat goes away.
- Active sweating is the second option for getting rid of heat. It is worse than the first option, which is considered more natural. When you sweat, sweat and unnecessary heat appear on the skin. During this process, the baby becomes thirsty.
Negative consequences of overheating
Forgetting that a little person can be just as hot as anyone else, parents prefer to leave him in a very warm room. air in a newborn's room is harmful to his health.
Overheating is as dangerous for a child as frostbite. It not only removes nutritional moisture from the baby’s body, but also:
- Crusts form in the child’s nose, making it difficult to breathe;
- due to lack of saliva in the mouth, thrush may appear;
- the child’s intestines do not digest food as they should because it lacks moisture;
- the child's tummy is swollen;
- Due to the active secretion of salty sweat, irritation and diaper rash may appear on the baby’s body.
In extreme cases of overheating, the newborn is hospitalized and fluid is artificially infused into the body.
Ideal temperature
For healthy development infant The temperature in the room should not be high or low. Optimal temperature in a newborn’s room, according to the best pediatric doctors, ranges from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the baby, and therefore the mother, will feel great. The air the baby inhales when exhaling will begin to take away the heat generated.
To always keep the situation under control, you should buy a room thermometer in the store. It costs little, and is also sold in many stores. It is advisable to hang such a thermometer near the place where the baby spends the most time.
Individual requirements
Every person, and therefore every child, is unique. The body of one baby may react completely differently to a given temperature than the body of another.
The temperature in the newborn room should take into account individual characteristics. One baby will be happy to fall asleep in a thin cotton vest and light onesies, while the other will immediately begin to freeze. It is better for a freezing child to wear a warm blouse and socks.
Maintaining optimal temperature
IN different time throughout the year, the temperature in the room must be maintained the same. If the child was born in the summer, then the family should think about buying an air conditioner. The air conditioner should be installed in the newborn's room, but away from his crib so that direct air streams do not hit him. This way the temperature in the newborn baby’s room will be correct.
In winter you need to purchase a heater. If there is not enough heat in the room from the centralized heating system, using a heater the room is heated to a maximum of 20 degrees. You can often see the opposite situation. The radiators in the room produce 25-26 degrees, which is not suitable for the healthy development of a child. Not everyone has the ability to independently regulate the temperature.
Parents can ventilate the children's room several times a day for half an hour. During ventilation, the child is taken out of the room. You should wait until the temperature in the newborn's room returns to normal. In addition, you can cover the batteries with thick material, in the form of a blanket or blanket. They will retain heat.
It is necessary to maintain one level of humidity. Very often, the temperature itself, as well as the baby’s well-being, depends on the humidity in the room. In a nursery, the moisture level can be from 50% to 70%. To determine it, you need to bring a hygrometer into the room. It is also important to remember that the air in summer is usually drier than in spring.
In winter, when air dryness can reach extremes, it is advisable to install an apartment humidifier in the room. And, of course, parents should constantly carry out wet cleaning in the child’s room.
Mom's actions in a hot room
As soon as parents notice that the child is hot, it is time to act. After all, the temperature in a newborn’s room is not the main factor in his well-being.
To cool your baby down, you need to:
- remove all excess clothing from the child. This can only be done when the room temperature is more than 24 degrees;
- Give your baby water often to protect him from dehydration;
- wash your baby several times a day. The room temperature must remain constant. And the water should be approximately 35-36 degrees, slightly lower than usual.
When the temperature in a newborn baby’s room meets all standards, the baby grows healthy and joyful.
Many new parents have questions about arranging a room for their baby and comfortable living conditions. Often their heads are tormented by the question of what room temperature for a newborn child there should be. Let's take a closer look to take into account all the nuances.
Why is the temperature regime in the nursery so important?
Many conditions of the human body depend on the conditions of its environment. For example, if you are in a stuffy or cold room, this is best case scenario limited to discomfort, and at worst, the development of pathological conditions (fainting, colds, etc.) is possible.
The small organism spent nine months in comfortable conditions, where stable humidity and temperature were maintained. Having entered this world, the baby received stress with a change in his usual conditions. The task of adults is to make it easier for a little person to adapt to a new life. If we neglect the temperature regime, the baby may experience a number of conditions associated with thermoregulation disorders.
What happens if the temperature regime is violated?
The thermoregulation of a baby in the first years of life differs from that of adults. If you do not monitor the temperature in the room where the child is, pathological changes may occur:
Hypothermia in a baby can be determined by cold extremities. Pediatricians recommend wearing socks, mittens and a hat made from natural materials in the first months of a child’s life.
Temperature in the nursery: what should it be?
Having analyzed in detail what the broken temperature regime For a baby, we can conclude that the greater threat is overheating of the room.
Dr. Komarovsky and his supporters adhere to the principle of not overheating the child and recommend a temperature of 18-19 o C. Opponents claim that the norm is 21-23 o C. It is difficult to say what the optimal temperature is, all this is purely individual. The comfort zone can be determined by the child’s condition.
Children born at term and premature babies have different requirements, so this fact must be taken into account. Room premature baby with low weight or with congenital pathologies it should be a little warmer, but should not exceed 24 -25 o C. The room must be ventilated and wet cleaned daily.
Overheating should not be allowed even at . The water temperature should not exceed 37 o C, and the air in the room - 22 o C. In order not to violate these requirements, you need to purchase thermometers in advance to determine the temperature of water and air.
If you decide to harden your child, do it gradually in the absence of contraindications. The temperature of the air and water when swimming must be lowered gradually, since sharp drop may cause discomfort and the development of pathological conditions.
What you need to know about humidity in a nursery?
Too dry or humid air can also provoke a number of pathological conditions in a child.
High humidity is an excellent environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
Extremely dry air can cause the development of:
- atopic dermatitis,
- infections of various etiologies (since the nasal mucosa dries out and there is no barrier to pathogens),
- allergic reactions.
Scientific research by American scientists has proven that the influenza virus dies at air humidity of 40-60%. This discovery is one of preventive measures occurrence of epidemics.
To keep humidity within the correct limits you need to:
- carry out wet cleaning daily;
- you can install a decorative fountain in the room;
- use a room humidifier.
Don't forget to take into account that the air in winter time requires additional humidification due to heating devices. Humidity is normal children's room should be 60-70%. Readings can be determined with a hygrometer.
Humidity, kept within normal limits, is an excellent method of disease prevention, and is also necessary for proper physical development baby's first year of life.
Alla Pasenko, pediatrician-neonatologist, especially for the site
Useful video
When assessing the air parameters in the house, most people first of all pay attention to its temperature, forgetting about this important indicator like humidity. It depends on her subjective feeling heat or cold, general health, the condition of plants and the safety of many household items. Let's figure out what the norm of air humidity in the apartment is, and also find out what it affects.
The humidity indicator reflects the degree of saturation of the air with water vapor. It can be absolute and relative. In the first case, it is determined how many grams of moisture are contained in 1 cubic meter of air. In the second, the percentage ratio of the actual amount of water in the atmosphere (absolute indicator) and the maximum possible at a given temperature is calculated.
When using such a concept as the norm of humidity in an apartment, a relative indicator is implied. This parameter largely determines the comfort of the indoor microclimate. Both the person and the home environment suffer from too much or too little humidity.
Dry indoor air provokes increased moisture loss through the skin and respiratory tract. This can lead to such unpleasant consequences as:
- decreased elasticity of hair, nails and skin, accompanied by the appearance of microcracks, wrinkles, peeling, dermatitis;
- drying of the mucous membrane of the eyes, the symptoms of which are itching, redness, and a feeling of “sand”;
- thickening of the blood, leading to a slowdown in its circulation, weakness, headaches, decreased performance, and increased stress on the heart;
- an increase in the viscosity of gastric and intestinal juices, causing a slowdown in digestion;
- drying out of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, which results in a weakening of local immunity and an increase in the frequency of acute respiratory viral infections;
- an increase in the amount of respiratory allergens in the atmosphere, which should normally be bound by liquid droplets.
Excess moisture in the air creates acceptable conditions for the growth of mold, fungi, and bacteria. As a result, residents of the house may encounter:
- respiratory diseases - chronic runny nose, bronchitis, asthma, allergies;
- feeling of stuffiness or dampness in the room;
- unpleasant odor due to the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms;
- increasing the drying time of washed laundry.
Excessive or insufficient amount of moisture has a bad effect on the condition of home furnishings. Plants dry out or begin to rot, wooden furniture and parquet floors become deformed or “shrink,” paintings fade, paper products lose their structure.
Factors affecting humidity
The main factor that affects air humidity is its temperature. The warmer it is, the greater the amount of water vapor it can maximum accommodate, and vice versa. But when assessing relative humidity, an inverse relationship applies: the warmer the air, the lower its relative humidity will be for the same volume of water vapor contained in it. Therefore, airing in winter makes the air fresher, but less humid. The optimal temperature is considered to be 18-22 ºC.
Water vapor is “taken” from the air in the room:
- any heating devices;
- air conditioner;
- interior items, especially cushioned furniture, toys, carpets.
Any sources of water and steam lead to an increase in relative humidity:
- aquarium;
- houseplants;
- wet laundry;
- containers with boiling water (saucepan, kettle);
- leaking roof;
- faulty water pipes and plumbing.
Standard indicators
Let's figure out what air humidity is considered normal in an apartment. It depends on the purpose of the premises and the time of year.
Humidity standards for housing:
- warm period - 30-60%, maximum allowable - 65% (for certain regions with high humidity, this standard can be increased to 75%);
- cold period - 30-45%, maximum permissible - 60%.
Relative air humidity is not standardized in auxiliary rooms - bathroom, toilet, corridor, pantry and others.
Standards for plants and interior items:
- for furniture and antiques – 40-60%;
- for equipment – 45-60%
- for books – 30-65%;
- for plants – tropical – 80-95%, subtropical – 75-80%, others – 40-70%.
What is the normal level of relative humidity in the apartment where the child lives? Since the intensity of heat exchange processes is increased in young children, they are especially sensitive to non-compliance with microclimate parameters. Ideal air humidity in a children's room is 50-70%. If a child is sick with ARVI or an infectious pathology, then this parameter should not be allowed to decrease below 60%.
Important: During the heating season, air humidity drops to 15-20%. It definitely needs to be raised, especially if there are children, asthmatics and allergy sufferers in the house.
How to measure relative humidity?
Knowing what the optimal air humidity in an apartment should be, it’s worth deciding how it can be measured. The most rational way is to use special device- hygrometer.
There are several types of devices - electrical, chemical, condensation, hair and others. There is no need to purchase an expensive professional device for an apartment. The simplest hygrometer with an error of 3-5% is enough. It is often combined with a clock and a thermometer. It is important to place the hygrometer away from sources of moisture and heat.
You can determine humidity using alternative methods– a glass of water, an Assmann table and a fir cone.
Glass of water
Pour water into a glass and cool it to 3-5 ºС. To do this, just put the vessel in the refrigerator for 3 hours. Next, you need to place the glass on the table away from the radiator and watch it for 5 minutes. At the same time, condensation forms on its walls due to temperature differences. Possible results:
- the glass has dried within a few minutes – the humidity is reduced;
- the walls remained fogged - the microclimate parameters were normal;
- Streams of water flowed down the glass - there was too much moisture in the air.
Assmann table
The Assmann table is designed to determine humidity using a psychrometer - an instrument consisting of two thermometers - a regular one and one with a humidification device. Its likeness can be made at home. You must first measure the temperature in the room with a regular alcohol thermometer and write down its value. Then you should wrap its end with a damp cloth. After 5 minutes, the temperature must be measured again. It should go down.
Next you need to look at the Assmann table. The readings of the “dry” thermometer are located vertically, and the temperature difference is located horizontally. Having seen the desired values, you should find their intersection. This will be an indicator of relative humidity.
fir cone
On a note: Indirect signs Low air humidity in the room is caused by drying out the tips of plant leaves and electrical discharges emanating from synthetic clothing.
Humidity regulation
At any time of the year, normal air humidity in the apartment should be no less than 30-40% and no higher than 65%. How to regulate it?
Ways to reduce humidity:
- frequent ventilation of premises;
- installation of exhaust fans;
- use of dehumidifiers and climate control systems;
- timely repair of water pipes and plumbing fixtures;
- use of heaters and air conditioners;
- refusal to dry clothes in the room;
- installation of a hood in the kitchen.
Methods for increasing humidity:
- purchasing an aquarium or decorative fountain;
- minimal use of heater and air conditioner;
- hanging wet towels on radiators;
- periodically spraying water from a spray bottle;
- using an air humidifier - steam, ultrasonic or traditional;
- regular wet cleaning;
- growing large quantity indoor flowers.
Air humidity in a house is an important parameter that affects both the well-being of its inhabitants and interior items. Normally, this figure ranges from 40 to 60%. It is especially important to monitor the humidity in rooms where children and people with respiratory diseases spend most of their time. To regulate the moisture concentration in the air, it is convenient to use household humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
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With the arrival of a newborn baby in the house, parents have new worries: to provide as much as possible comfortable conditions for your little one. Great importance It has . However, that's not all! The baby's well-being is also affected by the humidity in the newborn room. If it is enough, then metabolic processes in the baby’s body will occur more actively, and as a result, he will grow faster and get sick less. Lack of air humidity can lead to frequent colds, runny nose, allergies and even asthma. Therefore, all mothers and fathers should know what humidity should be in a newborn’s room.
Air humidity in a newborn's room: optimal values
The air exhaled by a person has an absolute humidity of 100%. This value remains constant regardless of room humidity. Therefore, the drier the inhaled air, the more fluid the newborn will lose. And at this age, a sudden loss of fluid can be very dangerous for the baby: his body temperature may rise and discomfort may appear. Scientists have determined the optimal value air humidity standards in a newborn’s room: 50-70%.
How to determine this important parameter? First of all, you can purchase a special device - a hygrometer. Very often, it is combined with. If it is not there, then how can you find out if the humidity in the room for a newborn is optimal? It’s very simple - to look at the condition of the baby, he should:
Experts note that during the beginning of the heating season, air humidity in apartments drops to a minimum level and can sometimes be equal to a third of the norm. We must definitely fight this!
What to do if the temperature and humidity in the newborn’s room differ sharply from the norm
To bring humidity parameters up to normal, experts advise using special devices or using improvised means:
- . The most proven method, a silent device will very quickly fill the room with cold, damp air, but not steam! Some models have the function of ionizing the room or spraying special aromatic oils.
- Wet cleaning premises. And it will get rid of dust and significantly moisturize the air in the nursery.
- Availability of open water tanks. It can be anything: from basins to decorative fountains and aquariums.
- Spraying moisture with a spray bottle.
- Drying wet towels on radiators. The least productive method, as it fills the room with hot steam.
What does a decrease in air humidity in a newborn’s room below normal lead to?
All newborn babies suffer from low humidity; this parameter does not have such a detrimental effect on adults. Lack of moisture primarily manifests itself in:
- Drying of the skin surface. It becomes warm and damp and loses its protective properties. Because of this, pathogens can enter the baby's body.
- Frequent coughing. The child feels dry mucous membranes, so he may cough often, feel dry mouth, and the baby develops a runny nose.
- Blood thickening. Lack of moisture in newborns also affects this parameter.
Dry, hot air in the room contributes to the accumulation of harmful microorganisms in the nursery, dust and allergens. As a result, the risk of allergic reactions and even asthma increases. 
Even before the birth of the child, parents think about where to equip a place for the baby, how to set up a crib, and what to buy. An important issue is determining the “correct” parameters of temperature and humidity in the room where the Small child. Many people will now think that it will be about buying a heater or plastic windows for insulation. On the contrary, let's talk about how important clean, moist and cool air is for a child, about the negative effect on the baby's body excessive dryness and warmth.
The temperature and humidity in the apartment where the baby is located should be such as to strengthen the child from birth.
After staying in the maternity hospital for several days, my mother notices that the thermometer in the room is at 22, or even 24 degrees, and there are no devices, such as humidifiers, anywhere to be seen. From this she concludes: the warmer and drier, the better. Arriving home, she immediately tries to turn on the heater, close all the windows and dress the baby warmly so that he does not get hypothermic. The maternity hospital is a place where there are many mothers and children. And every mother has her own concepts and principles. If the temperature in the wards is 18 degrees, then almost every woman in labor will complain that it is cold in the maternity hospital, and the baby may get sick. So health workers try to please such mothers so that there are no complaints later.
In fact, warm and dry air has a very unfavorable effect on the child and does not add to his health. Everyone knows that local immunity is mucus that is produced in the nose and upper respiratory tract. It contains antibodies that actively fight viruses and bacteria that have entered the body. If the mucus dries out, the immune system will weaken and pathogenic microorganisms will penetrate inside. Helps prevent mucus from drying out correct temperature and indoor air humidity.
A small child is afraid of hypothermia, but overheating bothers him even more. Heat air causes the child to be unable to lose heat through the lungs, so this process occurs through the skin. As a result, the child sweats, which contributes to water loss and minerals which he needs. The optimal air temperature in the room where there is a child is 18-20 degrees. It is better to dress your baby warmly and set the temperature to 18°C - let him breathe cool air.
Air in the apartment - important factor maintaining the health and immunity of the child. Children who breathe dry air get sick more often and more severely. What humidity should be in the apartment? Normal indicators- from 50 to 70%, the minimum acceptable limit is 40%. It follows from this that every home where there is a small child should have a device that measures the air humidity in the apartment. This device is called a hygrometer. If the air humidity in the apartment is less than permissible, which very often happens during the heating season and summer time, you need to purchase a humidifier.
There are humidifiers different forms and sizes, different designs and with different functions. There are humidifiers with built-in sensors that show the temperature and humidity in the apartment, with a steam heating function, with ionization and other parameters. There are quite simple and inexpensive models whose only function is to humidify the air.
If you are planning on having a baby, then a humidifier, thermometer and hygrometer are on your shopping list. By providing your child with comfortable conditions, you will strengthen his health and increase his resistance to disease. Don’t listen to grandmothers and girlfriends who advise you to close all the doors and turn on the heater - be guided by common sense and caring for the baby. Clean, cool and moist air in the room where the baby lives will provide him with healthy sleep and good health throughout the day.