For new parents, introducing your new baby to your Cheverly, Maryland, home is a moment filled with both joy and worry. Whether you’re a first-time parent or you already have a large brood at home, you want to do everything you can to make sure your bundle of joy is comfortable. From moderating temperature and humidity to ensuring cleaner air, keep your baby comfortable by following these five steps.
Adjust the Thermostat
Before you bring your new baby home, prepare by adjusting the settings on your programmable thermostat. No matter the season, babies tend to be healthiest and happiest when they’re warm. Since babies can’t regulate their internal temperatures as well as older kids and adults can, cranking the air conditioner up during the summer months can cause chills and other issues in little ones. Along the same lines, exposing your baby to intense summer heat can lead to fussiness, rashes, and more serious problems.
In the summer, keep your thermostat set to 76 or 78 degrees when the family is home and dial back the temperature several degrees when you’re out for the day. In the winter, set the heat to the upper 60s or low 70s to keep baby warm and cozy.
Increase Ventilation
Infants struggle to regulate their body temperatures, and they don’t yet perspire the way adults do. That means they can get overheated much more quickly than older kids can, especially during a Maryland summer. Never leave your baby in a hot, stuffy room. Instead, play it safe and increase ventilation throughout your home.
Ceiling fans are an inexpensive, yet effective, way to add ventilation in the rooms you use most. In the summer, rotate ceiling fans counterclockwise to drive cool air down and keep your baby cool and comfortable. If your home has bigger issues with stuffiness and stale air, consider installing a ventilator to push out old air and draw in fresh air in a continuous cycle.
Keep Air Filters Clean
If you’ve lived in your home for long, you’ve probably established a schedule of changing your HVAC air filters at least every three months. In the summer and other high-use seasons, however, be sure to replace old air filters each month to ensure that your home’s air supply is as clean as possible.
To reduce common allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold, replace your old filter with a higher quality version that captures smaller particles. To ensure that your newborn breathes the cleanest air possible, ask the professionals at Griffith Energy Services about an air purifier. This device works with your HVAC system and captures virtually every allergen that passes through your home.
Invest in a Whole-Home Humidifier
Maintaining sufficient humidity levels can be challenging with a new baby in the house. Since the Cheverly area tends to be hot and humid during the summer months, you may be able to rely on your air conditioner to maintain a comfortable humidity level for the whole family.
Once temperatures cool down and winter starts to approach, however, your heating system might cause the air to dry out. Though you can place a portable humidifier in your newborn’s room, a whole-home humidifier is often a smarter purchase. This device works seamlessly with your existing HVAC system to add an appropriate amount of moisture to the air, which makes your home feel warmer and more comfortable.
Install a Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Make sure your baby is safe and comfortable by installing and maintaining a carbon monoxide alarm. This odorless, tasteless, and invisible gas can quickly cause illness and even death, and it poisons young children much more quickly than it affects adults.
Keep the whole family safe by installing a detector on each floor of your home and outside of each sleeping area. Check the batteries every month to ensure that the alarm works properly, and know that you should leave your home immediately if you ever hear its audible warning.
Keeping everyone — especially a new baby — comfortable in your home is key during the warm summer months. For expert advice on air conditioning installation, humidity control, and air quality improvement, contact us at Griffith Energy Services, Inc.: 888-474-3391.
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