How to Keep Your Child's Bedroom Cool This Summer
Hot nights make it harder for children to settle and stay asleep, and a stuffy bedroom only makes things worse. A few changes to their bedding, bed style and layout can bring the temperature down without a full room overhaul. Here's what actually helps.
1. Swap to breathable bedding
Synthetic bedding traps heat close to the body. Natural fibres like cotton and bamboo let air move through the fabric, helping prevent your child from overheating and waking up during the night. Swap out any thick or fleece-lined sheets for something lighter, and keep a set of breathable children's bed linen on hand for the warmer months.
2. Lower the tog on their duvet
A lower tog duvet, ideally between 2.5 and 4.5 tog, or just a sheet on the hottest nights, is usually plenty.
3. Check the mattress and protector
Foam mattresses trap heat. A pocket sprung or hybrid option tends to sleep cooler through summer. It's also worth checking that their mattress protector is breathable rather than a fully waterproof plastic layer, since some protectors block airflow more than others. Our guide on how to choose a mattress covers this in more detail. If their mattress needs a refresh, too, a mattress topper with a cooling cover can help regulate temperature without changing the whole bed.
4. Think about the bed itself
Bed style plays a bigger part in room temperature than most people realise. A bunk bed or high sleeper sits nearer the ceiling, where warm air collects, so the top bunk can feel noticeably hotter on summer nights. A low, open bed frame keeps your child closer to the cooler air near the floor. It's one reason some parents choose a Montessori bed for younger children, alongside the usual independence and safety benefits. It won't fix a hot room on its own, but it's a small factor worth considering.
5. Keep the room ventilated and clear
Open windows early in the morning or late in the evening, when the air outside is cooler, then close blinds or curtains during the day to block direct sun. Clearing floor space and surfaces also helps air move freely throughout the room, rather than pooling around furniture and toys.
6. Move the bed away from direct sunlight
If a bed sits under a window that gets full sun, that spot will be the warmest part of the room by evening. Moving the bed even a metre or two, onto an interior wall, can make a real difference to how warm the mattress feels at bedtime.
You don’t need to make all of these changes at once. Start with the bedding, since it's the easiest swap, and work through the rest if the room still feels warm.