When the mercury rises, getting a good night's sleep can be difficult, especially for kids. If you're looking for top tips on how to keep your child cool at night, we've put together a few handy hints to help them, and you, get some shut eye during those long, hot summer nights.

Making a Comfortable Sleeping Environment

Making your child's bedroom as comfortable as possible is the first step to a happy bedtime.

1. Invest in a Room Thermometer:

The ideal room temperature for sleeping is between 16-22°. If you have young children or babies, using a room thermometer can help you to determine the layers they'll need to wear during the night:

- For temperatures between 18° and 21°, babies should sleep in a vest and sleep suit, and be covered by a light 1 tog blanket.
- Between 22° and 23°, babies can sleep in a vest with a 1 tog blanket.
- For temperatures of 24°-25° babies should wear a vest and be covered by a 0.5 tog blanket.
- If the temperature is above 26° then a baby can wear just a nappy and vest to sleep in.
- If it's over 25° toddlers can also wear a vest and nappy.
- Older children can have more choice over what they wear to sleep in. Some kids may prefer to sleep without pyjamas and some may prefer to opt for a light cotton t-shirt and short set.

2. Cool the House

Drawing bedroom curtains will help keep your child cool throughout the day. Opening doors and windows might not be a good idea if the temperature inside the house is cooler than the air outside. However, because warm air rises, opening a loft or attic window can get rid of hot air and cool the house down.

You could also use a fan to lower the bedroom temperature during the evening. If using on a desk, a top tip is to place a bowl of ice or a frozen water bottle in front of the fan so it can blow cool air around the room. Fans can be kept on at night if the noise doesn't disturb your little one (many kids get used to the noise very quickly). They should also be kept out of reach of small children.

3. Choose your Bedding Carefully

- Waterproof sheets and bedding are usually made from non-breathable fabric which will cause your child to sweat more. Replace these with light, cotton bed sheets and use nighttime pull up nappies or a disposable bed mat to avoid accidents during hot nights.
- Keep things cool: For older children, you can use a hot water bottle filled with crushed ice and cold water to cool down the bed. This is especially helpful for kids sleeping on the top bunk of bunk beds.

Getting ready for bed

1. Drink more

Encouraging kids to keep hydrated during the day will help to keep their body temperature lower. Babies who are breastfeeding will receive all the hydration they need, but for older babies and toddlers, you can boil a kettle and keep a bottle of cooled water in the fridge. Older kids might want to take a bottle of water to bed with them too and keep it on a bedside unit.

2. Limit Active Games Before Bed

- Try to avoid games which involve a lot of running around before bedtime. This will mean that kids have a lower body temperature when they go to bed, and are (hopefully!) calmer, and more ready for sleep.
- Try some sensory play with a washing up bowl of water and a few bath toys. Place a towel underneath the bowl to prevent splashes and make sure your child is supervised at all times.

3. Take a Cool Dip

Give kids a cool, but not cold, bath before bedtime to lower their body temperature. It's important to always check official advice for water temperature for babies and young children. This is a great way to keep your child cool before their bedtime.

4. Keep Things Calm

Extreme heat can make us all irritable, and kids are no different. Where you can, try and keep to your normal bedtime routine. If they are very upset, a cool flannel or compress on the forehead can help to calm kids down.

Keeping kids cool at night is no easy task, but, by following these tips, you and your little ones will be guaranteed a great night's sleep even when the temperature rises.