Ceiling Fan in the nursery

sroszc · October 2010

I read in Baby Bargains that a ceiling fan can reduce the risk of SIDS because it keeps the air in the room circulating (or something like that). I also like the fact that it gives off a light white noise and isn't as loud/obnoxious as some of the other white noise machines. Is anyone else installing a ceiling fan in the nursery if you didn't already have one?

Just curious!

RSClementine · October 2010

sroszc:
I read in Baby Bargains that a ceiling fan can reduce the risk of SIDS because it keeps the air in the room circulating (or something like that). I also like the fact that it gives off a light white noise and isn't as loud/obnoxious as some of the other white noise machines. Is anyone else installing a ceiling fan in the nursery if you didn't already have one?

Just curious!

I read this too, and was planning to do it. However I spoke to my aunt who lost her son to SIDS many years ago. She is a physician and has become a national spokeperson on SIDS, so she is my go to for information.

She said the 2 most important things are to have absolutely nothing in the crib. Not even a breathable bumper. And to start tummy time immediately. She also recommended having the baby sleep in the same room as you at first to pick up your breathing pattern.

I asked her about the fan and she said it was not necessary, so we won't be installing one.

our1stbaby2010 · October 2010

We did! For the same reason you described. To keep the room ventilated and reduce the risk of sids. We got ours at Lowes for $69.00 bucks.

ChicagoBroad26 · October 2010

We read this too and already installed one in her nursery. Even outside of SIDS risk, I want her to be cool in the summer. I'm always hot and if she takes after me I want there to be an option to cool her off.

mandiroo · October 2010

We had one and I took it out....but that's just because I found a cute light fixture I just HAD to have.

)

sroszc · October 2010

RSClementine:
sroszc:

I read in Baby Bargains that a ceiling fan can reduce the risk of SIDS because it keeps the air in the room circulating (or something like that). I also like the fact that it gives off a light white noise and isn't as loud/obnoxious as some of the other white noise machines. Is anyone else installing a ceiling fan in the nursery if you didn't already have one?

Just curious!

I read this too, and was planning to do it. However I spoke to my aunt who lost her son to SIDS many years ago. She is a physician and has become a national spokeperson on SIDS, so she is my go to for information.

She said the 2 most important things are to have absolutely nothing in the crib. Not even a breathable bumper. And to start tummy time immediately. She also recommended having the baby sleep in the same room as you at first to pick up your breathing pattern.

I asked her about the fan and she said it was not necessary, so we won't be installing one.

Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitely be doing the no-bumper and tummy time (probably even napping on the tummy). And hell, I'll probably still install a ceiling fan - I'm anal like that. Baby will be sleeping in our room in a P&P at first and we have both a ceiling fan and air purifier in that room. I guess I'm covered for the first few weeks

elaforgia · October 2010

We installed ceiling fans in all the rooms when we moved in, so it's done. But if we hadn't I think we would. I just like the idea of the air ciculating and not sitting.

jenvalet · October 2010

We just moved into our house about 3 weeks ago and one of the first things we did was install ceiling fans in all the bedrooms.

RSClementine · October 2010

sroszc:
RSClementine:
sroszc:

I read in Baby Bargains that a ceiling fan can reduce the risk of SIDS because it keeps the air in the room circulating (or something like that). I also like the fact that it gives off a light white noise and isn't as loud/obnoxious as some of the other white noise machines. Is anyone else installing a ceiling fan in the nursery if you didn't already have one?

Just curious!

I read this too, and was planning to do it. However I spoke to my aunt who lost her son to SIDS many years ago. She is a physician and has become a national spokeperson on SIDS, so she is my go to for information.

She said the 2 most important things are to have absolutely nothing in the crib. Not even a breathable bumper. And to start tummy time immediately. She also recommended having the baby sleep in the same room as you at first to pick up your breathing pattern.

I asked her about the fan and she said it was not necessary, so we won't be installing one.

Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitely be doing the no-bumper and tummy time (probably even napping on the tummy). And hell, I'll probably still install a ceiling fan - I'm anal like that. Baby will be sleeping in our room in a P&P at first and we have both a ceiling fan and air purifier in that room. I guess I'm covered for the first few weeks

Please please please don't ever let your baby sleep on his/her tummy. The most important way to avoid SIDS is to always put your baby to sleep on their back on a firm surface.

The reason tummy time is important is it teaches the baby to use their neck muscles to turn their head, thereby strengthening it. This cannot be accomplished when they are asleep, and putting them to sleep on their stomach restricts airflow to the baby so they get less oxygen.

lilmgirl · October 2010

Yes, we installed a ceiling fan but not for the reasons stated above. First of all, the original light fixture was fugly as hell. And secondly, I like ceiling fans period to circulate air.

babyonthebrain2010 · October 2010

no, we didn't put in ceiling fan, but I plan on getting a pillar fan for the corner, if that makes a difference.

bumpuser260585 · October 2010

We have a ceiling fan in the nursery already, but I hadn't read about it reducing the SIDs risk. And thanks to the PP about the tummy time post, too.

LittleDucky · October 2010

We looked into it but decided it wasn't worth the cost. We have an old house with plaster ceilings and would have had to cut a section of ceiling out to build a frame for the ceiling fan and then patch around where we cut out. If we decide we want a fan in there, we'll use a little tabletop fan. And LO will be on our room for a while anyway (where we do have a ceiling fan).

BabyS2008 · October 2010

I've heard of this too. With DS we kept him in our room for a year and always had the fan on, but it wasn't a ceiling fan. In the kids room now we do have a ceiling fan and will probably use that. SIDS terrifies me, obviously, so we will try to keep DD in our room as long as we can. We'll keep the fan on, give her a binky, not have anything in the crib and do things like that. So scary! The sleepless nights of worrying if she's breathing or not (not even the waking to feed sleepless nights) are what I'm dreading!

curlydoglover · October 2010

We're talking about it, though we haven't gone looking yet, and just for the white noise factor. Never heard that about it reducing the risk of SIDS. Interesting.

We need to determine if where the light currently is is up to standards to install a ceiling fan properly. I didn't take a close look, but I don't seem to recall a junction box being there...

BB8785 · October 2010

Never new the reason on SIDS to have a fan, but there was a fan in baby's room that was for a little girl and we recently bought one at lowes for $65 to replace it.

We will also leave the fan on low to keep the air circulating.