🌞 Air conditioning for a room with a baby | What's the right room temperature and humidity in summer?
On hot days, it's okay to use air conditioning in rooms with babies or small children.
Babies and young children are less mature in their temperature regulation than adults.
You can be affected by the heat not only outdoors but also indoors.
Here's a summary of recommended room temperatures, humidity levels, and air conditioning settings for rooms with babies and children under 6 years old.

You don't have to endure the air conditioning.

On hot days, you don't need to endure the air conditioning. In fact, spending time in an overly hot indoor environment can pose risks of heatstroke and overheating.
Let's think of air conditioning not as something that "gets too cold," but as something used to create an environment where the baby doesn't get too hot.
However, it's important not to just rely on the air conditioner's set temperature, but to adjust it while observing the actual room temperature, humidity, and your child's condition.

The goal is "actual room temperature," not "set temperature."

When babies and young children are in a room during the summer, aim for an indoor temperature of around 22-24°C. It's important to check the actual temperature with a thermometer, not just the air conditioner's setting. 28°C, which is often recommended for energy saving, can be too hot for infants and young children. If you notice signs like sweating, a flushed face, a hot back or chest, or difficulty sleeping, lower the room temperature.
🔸 The recommended indoor temperature in summer is around 22-24℃.
Let's check the actual temperature with a room thermometer.
28℃ can be hot for infants and young children.

Aim for 40-60% humidity.

When humidity is high, sweat doesn't evaporate easily, making it difficult for your body to release heat. Aim for indoor humidity levels of around 40-60%, and use air conditioning or dehumidifiers on muggy days.
On humid days, let's also utilize dehumidification.
It's reassuring to check with a hygrometer.

Use fans as a supplement to air conditioning.

Fans are useful for moving the air in a room.
When used with air conditioning, it reduces temperature unevenness in the room and makes it easier to feel cool. However, avoid exposing babies and small children to strong winds directly for extended periods.
A fan alone cannot lower the room temperature itself.
Especially when the room temperature is high, a fan alone may not be enough to combat the heat.

Let's check the signs of overheating.

The room temperature and humidity figures are only approximate guidelines.
Ultimately, let's adjust based on how your baby or child is doing.
If your child is sweating, has a red face, feels hot to the touch on their back and chest, is having trouble sleeping, is irritable, or is listless, it may be a sign they are too hot.
You don't need to immediately conclude that you're cold just because your hands and feet are a little cold.
When checking on your baby, check their chest and back for warmth, sweat, complexion, and energy levels.
I am sweating.
Your face is red.
My chest and back feel hot.
Seems to be having trouble sleeping.
I'm exhausted.
When you experience this, adjust by wearing thinner clothing, lowering the room temperature, and using a dehumidifier.

Summary
On hot days, you don't need to endure the heat in a room with a baby or infant; you can use air conditioning.
The summer goal is an actual room temperature of around 22-24°C and humidity of around 40-60%.
This is not the air conditioner's set temperature, but a guideline for the actual indoor environment as measured by a thermometer and hygrometer.
The energy-saving guideline of 28°C can be too hot for babies and infants.
Let's create a comfortable indoor environment that isn't too hot by effectively using the air conditioner, dehumidifier, and fan.
References
Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I. Evidence Base for 2022 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment to Reduce the Risk of Sleep-Related Infant Deaths. Pediatrics. 2022.
Lakhoo DP, Blake HA, Chersich MF, Nakstad B, Kovats S. The Effect of High and Low Ambient Temperature on Infant Health: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022.
Jay O, Capon A, Berry P, et al. Reducing the Health Effects of Hot Weather and Heat Extremes: From Personal Cooling Strategies to Green Cities. *Lancet*. 2021.
Wolkoff P, Azuma K, Carrer P. Health, Work Performance, and Risk of Infection in Office-Like Environments: The Role of Indoor Temperature, Air Humidity, and Ventilation. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2021.
Arundel AV, Sterling EM, Biggin JH, Sterling TD. Indirect Health Effects of Relative Humidity in Indoor Environments. Environmental Health Perspectives. 1986.