One of the most prominent priorities for parents of newborns is to create a comfortable, calm, clean and healthy environment to enable them to sleep well during the day and night. Good quality sleep for the baby means good quality sleep for the parents, and it is no different for the ones living in the Gold Coast area. Gold Coast in Queensland has a sub-tropical climate with bright sun shining over them for over 300 days. The average temperature during summers can reach up to 28.4°C, and the humidity is around 69 to 75 per cent. This weather condition can be irksome for infants and young children. Parents can ensure their comfort by installing the best air conditioning Gold Coast has to offer.
Why Is It Important to Have an Air Conditioning System in A Nursery?
Infants have sensitive skin and internal organs that are prone to overheating. As their bodies are still developing, they cannot regulate their body temperature like adults. Therefore, they are vulnerable to heat exhaustion, stroke and rashes. Research also indicates that well-ventilated and air-conditioned rooms decrease the risk of babies developing sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS, as it reduces the heat and humidity.
What Is the Ideal Sleeping Temperature for a Baby?
Babies are sensitive to even the slightest variation in temperature. Extreme heat or cold can make them feel uncomfortable, restless or ill. Paediatricians recommend babies and newborns sleep in a controlled environment from around 18°C to 22°C. Controlling the room temperature and the environment in places like Gold Coast, Queensland is even more essential as the climatic conditions can be oppressive, making restful sleep difficult. It is also essential to keep the air conditioning unit in a position such that it does not directly blow the air on the cot. It is ideal to install it on the left or the right wall instead of placing it on the wall facing the opposite cot.
What Are the Precautions Parents Need to Take?
Parents must dress infants in lightweight clothing, preferably made of cotton and tuck the blanket under their elbows to avoid covering their faces. They must also keep their skin moist with skin cream as air conditioning could dry their skin at times. Parents must also not shift the baby from an air-conditioned room to an area where there is a sudden shift in the temperature. They must slowly turn down the AC or open a window for them to get acclimatised, especially in hotter regions like the Gold Coast.
What Are the Important Features to Consider?
Air Filters
As babies spend most of their day and night in the room, they must be able to breathe clean, fresh air devoid of dust, germs and allergens. One of the best ways to ensure this is to buy an air conditioner with air filters. They are removable and washable, which makes cleaning and maintenance easier. Also, the replacement of air filters is very easy. You may buy 17x21x1 furnace filters online and get it replaced whenever you want.
Low Noise Levels
Having a calm and quiet environment ensures a good night’s sleep for the baby. And the noise level in the surroundings can have a significant impact on their sleep quality. Air conditioners that run on low power produce sound as low as 18 decibels, and those on turbo produce up to 60 decibels. Putting it into context, the voice level at which people speak is around 40 decibels. Therefore, buying a unit that produces a relatively lower noise is the best for the baby.
Energy Rating Label (ZERL)
Energy efficiency and safety are an integral part of every family. As they would have to keep the air conditioning under control for most of the day and night, it is best to buy one with a high energy rating system. More the stars, the higher the efficiency.