Sleep Environment

How The Right Sleep Environment Really Paves the Way for a Good Night’s Sleep

Your little one’s sleep can be affected by the environment they are sleeping in – whether that be their own room or sharing a room with you. So I’ve put together a few pointers to hopefully help your little one get more sleep (which means more sleep for you!):

Temperature

It’s essential to check the temperature in your baby or toddler’s room to ensure that it is optimum for them to sleep well. Often in winter, I find that, although it’s cold outside, little ones’ rooms are too hot for them to get restful sleep. The ideal temperature for a child’s room during the night is 16C – 22C. If you have a house that gets cold at night, don’t worry, you can add extra layers for your baby – make sure there is no chance of them overheating. According to Safer Sleep Guidelines, it is important to make sure that your baby doesn’t get too hot, so it’s a good idea to know the temperature of your baby’s room so you can dress them accordingly.

Light

It’s also helpful to check the light levels in your little one’s room. If you look at the light on a scale of 1 – 10 (with ten being pitch black), their room should be around an 8. Check light levels from hallways or night lights to ensure the room isn’t too bright.

Noise

Using white or pink noise can also be a helpful way of ensuring that your child doesn’t get disturbed unnecessarily during the night or too early in the morning. Play it for the duration of your child’s sleep, not just as they fall asleep, and it will help them not be disturbed by other noisy siblings or the early morning rubbish collection outside!

Safety

Check that the environment is safe for your little one – for a baby, make sure that there is nothing loose in their cot, whether bedding, bumpers or toys. Also, make sure that they can’t get hold of any cords from blinds, baby monitors etc. For older toddlers and children that may get up and have a cheeky play in their room, check that all furniture is securely attached to the wall.

Decor

Finally, if you have a toddler or older child who suddenly seems to be anxious about their room, have a quick look at the decor from the eyes of a child. Make sure the room is calming and restful to be in and that no decor is “scary” from a little one’s point of view. If you think that shadows could be making your little one anxious, you can always spend some time during the day making shadow puppets on the wall with your child to show them that shadows are fun and nothing to be scared of.