The Summer Sleep Survival Guide: How to Keep Baby Cool, Calm and (Fingers Crossed) Asleep
Ah, summer. The season of beachy getaways, sticky lollies, and—if you’re a parent—bedtime routines that melt faster than a teething toy in the sun. Your social feed may be basking in golden hour bliss, but behind closed nursery doors? It’s more “heat-induced chaos” than calm.
The problem? Babies are terrible at regulating their temperature. They can’t shed a layer, request an iced drink, or open a window. And when the heat creeps in, so do midnight meltdowns. Enter Mimi Menani, founder of The Cot and Cradle Company and mum of two, with a heatwave survival strategy that actually works—plus a curated edit of expert-approved products that’ll help turn those sweaty sleepless nights into something almost serene.
1. Chill the Room, Not the Baby
First up: temperature control. Babies sleep best at 16–20°C (aka 61–68°F). During the day, keep blinds or blackout curtains closed to block out heat, and once it cools, crack a window and use a fan to circulate the air (angled away from baby, of course). The Tommee Tippee Groegg2 Room Thermometer (£32.99) gives you a visual cue with a glow-in-the-dark display, so you’ll know at a glance if it’s too hot, too cold, or just right.
2. Dress Code: Heatwave Edition
Forget fleece-lined anything. On warm nights, opt for breathable layers—think nappy-only, or a short-sleeve bodysuit if it’s slightly cooler. The Little Green Sheep Organic Baby Sleeping Bag (from £37.95) in 1.0 tog is ideal for milder summer evenings, while the Kyte Baby 0.5 tog sleeping bag (£45), made from lightweight, buttery-soft bamboo fabric, is perfect when temperatures soar. Swaddling? Aden + Anais' classic muslins (£49.50 for 4) are iconic for a reason—light, breathable, and easy to use, even at 3am.
3. Sleepwear that Breathes
What your baby sleeps in matters. Baby Mori makes some of the softest, most breathable organic cotton and bamboo pyjamas, designed to regulate body temperature and prevent overheating—plus, they’re stylish enough to pass as “newborn chic.”
4. Bathe, Don’t Blast
Skip the cold shock and go lukewarm instead—an evening bath helps reduce core temperature and sets the tone for sleep. For newborns, the Angelcare Baby Bath Support (£27.99) cradles them safely while allowing water to flow freely. For older wrigglers, the Angelcare Soft Touch Bath Seat (£29.99) offers more support (and fewer escape attempts). Use the Liewood Kiera Bath Thermometer £25.99—a sweet little silicone animal that doubles as a bath toy—to make sure the water’s not too hot or cold.
5. Feed Smart, Stay Cool
Your baby may feed more often in hot weather—it’s their way of staying hydrated. If you’re using bottles, Medela’s Calma £17 is designed to mimic breastfeeding, allowing for a natural feeding rhythm and reducing the chance of overfeeding or wind. For formula-feeding parents, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced £249 is a late-night game-changer: it preps bottles at the perfect temperature with the touch of a button—no shaking, guessing, or boiling kettles required.
6. Create Your Sleep Cocoon
Evenings are brighter, days are longer—and your baby knows it. A blackout blind is non-negotiable in summer, and Tommee Tippee’s Portable Blackout Blind (£24.99)is a standout. It attaches easily to any window with suction cups and folds down for travel, giving you an instant darkness fix whether you’re at home, in a hotel, or staying with grandparents.
And when it’s time to really wind down, nothing sets the tone quite like sound. The Shushiie (£101.71) by The Cot and Cradle Company is a compact, design-led sleep soother that plays three calming sounds—white noise, Brahms lullaby, and a gentle ‘shush’—to recreate the womb-like background noise that comforts babies into slumber.
“Consistency is everything,” says Mimi. “And that’s exactly the role Shushiie was designed to fill—it helps create a familiar, calming sleep environment even when everything else is shifting.”
So yes, summer bedtime can feel like a marathon. But with a few clever switches—and the right gear in your parenting toolkit—it’s possible to turn down the temperature and reclaim some peace (and ideally, a stretch of sleep longer than 45 minutes).
