Keeping Your Newborn Comfortable

Taking care of a new baby is stressful and tiring, especially since infants are more vulnerable to cold, overheating, and illnesses than adults are. You know to check on your child often to make sure he or she stays comfortable, even if you don’t hear crying. You should also place fans and portable heating units at least a few feet away from the baby. You can use your Fort Bend, Texas, air conditioning system to keep your newborn comfortable by using an air purifier, adjusting your thermostat, increasing ventilation, and controlling the humidity.

Using an Air Purifier

The air inside your home may contain dust, dirt, pollen, mold, pet dander, and other pollutants that could cause allergies, asthma, or other health problems. This is especially true for newborns.

You can have a whole home air purification system installed in your ductwork to remove most of these contaminants from every room, or you can use a smaller, less expensive portable model to clean the air in one or two rooms at a time. Many air purifiers can even get rid of bacteria and viruses, reducing the risk that your baby will become ill. You should change your air purifier’s filter once per month, along with the air filter for your HVAC system.

Adjusting Your Thermostat

Get ready for a new addition to your family by setting a higher temperature on your thermostat. Keeping your child warm promotes healthy sleep patterns, which helps other family members get enough rest. Keep in mind that too many blankets increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. You shouldn’t keep the nursery too hot either; newborns can’t sweat or shiver as well as adults, so they can’t regulate their body temperatures effectively. The nursery should be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.

If you have a programmable thermostat and your child has a regular schedule, you can save energy by changing your thermostat’s settings to match. Many programmable thermostats let you make changes from your smartphone if you need to run an unexpected errand or if you get home from work early one day.

Increasing Ventilation

Ventilation can improve your indoor air quality by removing stale air from your home and replacing it with fresh air. Use an energy recovery ventilator or ERV to save energy as well. These devices work like heat pumps to heat or cool air before it enters your home, and most units have filters as well.

You should also use an exhaust fan in your kitchen or bathroom when you cook or give your newborn a bath. These devices get rid of pollutants like smoke and excess moisture. Your clothes dryer should have a hose attached to it that vents moist air from the drying process outside your home. 

Controlling The Humidity

High humidity can lead to unwanted bacteria, yeast, and mold growth. It also makes your home feel warmer. You can save energy and make your newborn’s nursery more comfortable with a dehumidifier. A whole home dehumidifier attached to your ductwork can remove moisture from your entire home. Use a less expensive portable unit for a smaller area.

In winter, a humidifier prevents your furnace from making the air in your home too dry. Dry air can cause dry, itchy skin, nosebleeds, and irritated eyes for newborns and adults. You can find whole home or portable models, similar to dehumidifiers. Clean either device once per month to prevent mold growth.

To measure the humidity in your nursery, mount a hygrometer on the wall. Many programmable thermostats can also monitor your home’s humidity and let you know when it’s too high or low. You can prevent high humidity by checking your roof for leaks after storms and having leaky plumbing fixed immediately.

Davis Air Conditioning and Heating has more than 45 years of experience, and we’re an Energy Star Contractor, a member of the Building Performance Institute, and a Professional Comfort Institute Contractor. We can help you install, maintain, or repair a range of HVAC systems and equipment to help keep your newborn comfortable. Call us anytime at 888-710-5530 for expert help from one of our 60 technicians.

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