Temperatures in parts of the UK are approaching 40°C this week, leaving many households desperate to cool their bedrooms for a good night's sleep. Parents have turned to social media for advice, particularly on keeping children's rooms cool. On Reddit, one parent from South Wales described their struggle: “Weather is projected to be 33-35°C for 3 nights in a row and today (29°C 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. No AC - we just cannot keep the upstairs cool no matter what we do. It stays in the high twenties.” The parent felt the only solution might be booking a hotel with air conditioning.
Unusual Trick from British Red Cross
The British Red Cross offers an unconventional tip: wearing socks in bed. Their advice states: “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 charity also recommends taking a lukewarm or cool shower before bed to lower core body temperature and ease falling asleep.
The Catch: Stick to Your Routine
However, the British Red Cross emphasizes that changing your routine can backfire. They advise keeping mealtimes, showers, and bedtime as normal as possible, since your body clock is accustomed to that rhythm. “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,” they said. The charity also warns against daytime naps, as they disrupt sleep patterns and make it harder to fall asleep in the evening.
Additional Cooling Tips
Beyond chilled socks and cool showers, the British Red Cross suggests maintaining normal habits to help the body regulate temperature. The heat can cause increased fatigue because the body uses more energy to cool itself, but giving in to naps can worsen nighttime sleep. Sticking to a consistent schedule is key, even during extreme heat.
