Should I worry? (Babysitter no AC)

AshleyMF1983 · May 2013

DD's babysitter (since she was 3 mo old) is an older lady who has diabetes and is therefore always cold....so she hasn't put her window air conditioner units in yet and the temps have been in the high 80's lately. She watches another kiddo, her toddler granddaughter, plus her newborn grandson...and has her own adult daughter with cerebral palsy. I am kind of having an anxiety attack about this because this morning when I dropped DD off at her house, it was already hot and that was at 7am! Does anyone honestly think I should be worried??

ASmallWonder · May 2013

Not everyone has a/c you know. As long as your daughter is staying well hydrated it's not a concern, just a luxury (although I know I hate being hot so I get it).

mlee116 · May 2013

I guess it depends where you live and how she remedies the situation. I live in S Georgia and in the summer, the temps are usu. in the upper 90's- 100's with 100% humidity so I can't really imagine DS being in that all day especially if there are no cross breezes, fans, etc.

PhoebeJones3 · May 2013

I would just ask that she turn at fan on. We typically keep out house at 80 in the summer. (yes, crazy I know) But it really isn't that hot if the fans in the house are on. If you pick up your lo and they seem hot or flushed I would be a bit concerned.

ras26 · May 2013

PhoebeJones3:
I would just ask that she turn at fan on. We typically keep out house at 80 in the summer. (yes, crazy I know) But it really isn't that hot if the fans in the house are on. If you pick up your lo and they seem hot or flushed I would be a bit concerned.

As long as they are hydrated, I wouldn't even necessarily worry if LO is hot/flushed. Our DC has AC and DD is often sweaty and flushed when I pick her up. I know it's because she runs around like a crazy person.

gui's gal · May 2013

I wouldn't worry yet, but would continue to be aware of the situation. I would probably request politely that since it's hot out, that LO have more water or milk than usual...and that she have windows open and a fan on...

Maybe check for heat rash when you pick LO up.

Honestly, sometimes being warm is better than being stuck somewhere where the AC is cranked up way too high.

PhoebeJones3 · May 2013

ras26:
PhoebeJones3:
I would just ask that she turn at fan on. We typically keep out house at 80 in the summer. (yes, crazy I know) But it really isn't that hot if the fans in the house are on. If you pick up your lo and they seem hot or flushed I would be a bit concerned.
As long as they are hydrated, I wouldn't even necessarily worry if LO is hot/flushed. Our DC has AC and DD is often sweaty and flushed when I pick her up. I know it's because she runs around like a crazy person.

Even with Parker running around in this house at 80 he typically doesn't have pink cheeks from being hot because we have the fans on and it keeps him cool enough. I wouldn't think it would be good for a toddler to be flushed even if they aren't exerting themselves. IMO. Now when Parker is out in the sun running around he will be a little flushed, but it doesn't last long and I make sure to cool him off.

I guess what is more important that flushed/not flushed - is if you trust your babysitter to recognize that you LO is overheating and will cool them down if needed.

ktpaladino · May 2013

PhoebeJones3:
ras26:
PhoebeJones3:
I would just ask that she turn at fan on. We typically keep out house at 80 in the summer. (yes, crazy I know) But it really isn't that hot if the fans in the house are on. If you pick up your lo and they seem hot or flushed I would be a bit concerned.
As long as they are hydrated, I wouldn't even necessarily worry if LO is hot/flushed. Our DC has AC and DD is often sweaty and flushed when I pick her up. I know it's because she runs around like a crazy person.
Even with Parker running around in this house at 80 he typically doesn't have pink cheeks from being hot because we have the fans on and it keeps him cool enough. I wouldn't think it would be good for a toddler to be flushed even if they aren't exerting themselves. IMO. Now when Parker is out in the sun running around he will be a little flushed, but it doesn't last long and I make sure to cool him off.
I guess what is more important that flushed/not flushed - is if you trust your babysitter to recognize that you LO is overheating and will cool them down if needed.

This is what I was thinking. Hopefully your sitter is not an idiot. I don't think it matters how hot it is (within reason) as long as the caregiver takes proper precautions to avoid overheating, such as keeping LO hydrated, or running some fans as other pp's have mentioned. Maybe you could speed up the process of her installing her window units by making a comment like, "Phew! It's really hot in here!" Maybe she does not notice because of her medical condition.

karinothing · May 2013

I would look into your state regulations. Our daycare (granted its a center) is required to send children home if the temp gets above a certain degree inside. Kids don't get that they have to drink water to stay hydrated like adults do. My state requires cooling devices when the temperature reaches 80 degrees inside.

Mustardseed2007 · May 2013

Probably because I'm from Texas, the idea of having no AC - not even a window unit - is completely and utterly nuts to me.

My LO stays at my parent's house while I work, and yesterday and they called me to come get him b/c their AC was broken. I also offered to let them spend the night at my house but the AC was repaird by 7pm so that wasn't necessary.

Obviously though, I think that where you live has a great influence on that. In Texas I would never have my kid some place where there is no AC but then again, in Texas there aren't many places that don't have it to begin with.

dizzycooks · May 2013

AC is a luxury to many. I work in a school without AC. No school I've worked at has every had AC. A few years back it was 100+ in my classroom for over a week. We were expected to continue teaching. Summer school is the same way. We took water breaks, we went out in the shade, we turned on fans, but it was otherwise business as usual. Would I choose to send DD to a daycare w/o AC? No, probably not. If their AC broke or they only turned it on for extreme days though, that would be fine with me. I grew up w/o AC though and I am fine.

12bailey18 · May 2013

I agree that it completely depends on where you live, what the lady is doing about it (does she have fans going, is she keep her hydrated, etc.) and also to me I would make sure your LO is properly dressed for warm temps. How I would dress my baby for naps when the temp is 67 in the house is very different then when it's 75 in the house.

Karen1998 · May 2013

Mustardseed2007:
Probably because I'm from Texas, the idea of having no AC - not even a window unit - is completely and utterly nuts to me.

I'm with you!

Ultimately, though it depends on what you're used to. My parents grew up with no A/C - in Texas. 100+ degree days, 60-90+ days in a row, all summer, every summer with no rain. They were fine. They used fans and opened the windows. They drank plenty of fluids. They're taller and smarter than average, too.

Because it's so darn hot here, outsiders think we're really used to the heat. We're not. We're just used to real A/C, not crappy window units (those are a sorry excuse for A/C). Since we grew up in air conditioning, we have a much harder time adjusting to the lack of it. Though, I can tell you that, as a kid, I adjusted to non-A/C camps pretty quickly.

Since you're worried about it, talk to her about it. Talk to her about her plan of what to do if your LO is too hot. She probably has something in mind. If you don't like her plan, look for a new provider.

Past that, 80-something is not hot. I'm sorry, but it's not. 80 is a cool morning in July and August here. We go outside and celebrate when it's between May and November and only 80-something here.

ETA: I meant to finish that with, "You see, it's all relative."

I can tell you, though, that if your summers were like ours and the provider had no A/C and or wasn't using it, that I've move my child. Hanging out in 80 is one thing; hanging out in 100+ can be deadly and fast.

cast920 · May 2013

You could always offer to help her put the AC unit in the window. Those things can be heavy and maybe she just couldn't get anyone to help her with it yet.

chardonnay24 · May 2013

We don't have a/c and we live in a 2nd floor apartment. It is not uncommon around here for homes and apartments to lack a/c because it doesn't get very hot in the summer. Temps are usually in the 70's and 80's, but can definitely get in the 90's or even past 100 on occasion. It'll be fine. As long as she's hydrated, she'll be okay.

Wulfgar · May 2013

No, my parents didn't get all house AC until I was a senior in high school and we only had one room with an AC unit which was the computer room ( we got the AC unit when I was about 8). My grandparents didn't have AC at all. As long as your child is getting enough fluids everything will be fine.

shotzie · May 2013

The only thing I'd be worried about is her newborn grandson sleeping there if it's hot. If the room temp is high, that can be a factor that increases the risk of SIDS.

MesmrEwe · May 2013

AC is a luxury!!! I grew up without AC, went to a school with no AC, had no AC in dorms in college, etc. The funny part is DH didn't and when our AC went out one year he's the one who couldn't handle it! I learned how to cool off a house in the heat of summer and never had any issues. AC is a new thing, to this day many even in the heart of Louisiana have no AC. Quite honestly, if I didn't have allergies I'd rarely run ours because what's the point when the weather is nice.

IMO, as long as your LO is drinking plenty of fluids, and any fans aren't within fingers reach, I wouldn't be worried about the AC factor.

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