My Poor Sweaty Charge

[Anonymous]

Okay this may not be such a huge deal, but I admit, it does bother me to a point.

My charge is two years old and we live in San Diego CA where if anyone knows, it is unseasonably and deathly hot/humid/muggy lately. 102 degrees and counting.

My charge takes a daily nap at 1PM during the peak heat hour and his bedroom is located upstairs. His mother insists that I dress him in his sleep sack for his nap even though I told her always wakes up sweating from his nap in it.

Granted, the one bedroom window is open, there is both a ceiling fan as well as a floor fan in his room, but no A/C. It still gets really hot and it is so true. When I get him from his nap, usually at around 2:30-3PM, not only is his mattress in his bed soaked in sweat, but also his hair and sleep sack. The first thing he says when I get him is "wa wa peeze..." ------> Water please!!

Yet she insists I still dress him in his sleep sack, no exceptions and as his nanny, it is my job to do as I am told. But it is so hard to do so and I do not want to go behind her back and lie to her and not follow her instructions.

WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Why don't you have AC??? That's insane. I'm melting in CA right now and couldn't work at a house that warm.

[Anonymous]

Dress the baby comfortably for nap... unless your MB comes home in the middle of the day she will never know.

[Anonymous]

Do NOT disobey her orders. Think of something else that could help--strip him down to a onsie underneath the sleep sack, ask her to buy another fan for the room and place a big bowl of ice in front of it (so it's blowing cool air towards him). Buy or make a sleep sack out of lighter material. If this is a problem, address it and present a solution. "Larlo is waking up sweaty and asking for water . I am worried about dehydration. I know you want him to sleep in a sleep sack, so can we try X, Y or Z to help keep him at a more moderate temperature?"

My guess is that she wants him in a sleep sack so that he won't climb out of the crib, or because it is part of his sleep association. Whatever the reason, work WITH her instead of digging in and starting a power struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do NOT disobey her orders. Think of something else that could help--strip him down to a onsie underneath the sleep sack, ask her to buy another fan for the room and place a big bowl of ice in front of it (so it's blowing cool air towards him). Buy or make a sleep sack out of lighter material. If this is a problem, address it and present a solution. "Larlo is waking up sweaty and asking for water . I am worried about dehydration. I know you want him to sleep in a sleep sack, so can we try X, Y or Z to help keep him at a more moderate temperature?"

My guess is that she wants him in a sleep sack so that he won't climb out of the crib, or because it is part of his sleep association. Whatever the reason, work WITH her instead of digging in and starting a power struggle.

Thank you for bringing up those two points.
For the life of me, I couldn't understand the point of having him in the sleep sack, but your reasoning does make sense since at his age, he is nearing that age of almost (!) being tall enough to climb out of the crib as well as the sleep association logic.

[Anonymous]

Do NOT disobey her orders. Think of something else that could help--strip him down to a onsie underneath the sleep sack, ask her to buy another fan for the room and place a big bowl of ice in front of it (so it's blowing cool air towards him). Buy or make a sleep sack out of lighter material. If this is a problem, address it and present a solution. "Larlo is waking up sweaty and asking for water . I am worried about dehydration. I know you want him to sleep in a sleep sack, so can we try X, Y or Z to help keep him at a more moderate temperature?"

My guess is that she wants him in a sleep sack so that he won't climb out of the crib, or because it is part of his sleep association. Whatever the reason, work WITH her instead of digging in and starting a power struggle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do NOT disobey her orders. Think of something else that could help--strip him down to a onsie underneath the sleep sack, ask her to buy another fan for the room and place a big bowl of ice in front of it (so it's blowing cool air towards him). Buy or make a sleep sack out of lighter material. If this is a problem, address it and present a solution. "Larlo is waking up sweaty and asking for water . I am worried about dehydration. I know you want him to sleep in a sleep sack, so can we try X, Y or Z to help keep him at a more moderate temperature?"

My guess is that she wants him in a sleep sack so that he won't climb out of the crib, or because it is part of his sleep association. Whatever the reason, work WITH her instead of digging in and starting a power struggle.

Thank you for bringing up those two points.
For the life of me, I couldn't understand the point of having him in the sleep sack, but your reasoning does make sense since at his age, he is nearing that age of almost (!) being tall enough to climb out of the crib as well as the sleep association logic.

Sorry for the double post. I'm glad I could help with perspective-taking.

[Anonymous]

Yes, on the possible reasons for the sleepsack use (though we'd given up on that fight by 2!)

But, there are very lightweight sleepsacks - does he have those? And armless ones, so cooler. So a lightweight/armless sleepsack w/ just a diaper underneath might do the trick.

[Anonymous]

A sleep sack at 2? My twins gave them up at 6 months. The kid doesn't need a sleep sack. Lazy parenting.

[Anonymous]

A sleep sack does not prevent a child from climbing out of a crib and could actually make things more dangerous for the child.

You could try alternatives and process with her.

But honestly this is a sign of things to come this is going to be a difficult job for you unless you are okay with having all your concerns for your child brushed off and being seen and not heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A sleep sack does not prevent a child from climbing out of a crib and could actually make things more dangerous for the child.

It is still possible to climb out with it on, but if a child had not yet attempted climbing, often it won't occur to them to try (have seen this with many many kids)--but if they try even once it's game over.

[Anonymous]

Using sleep sacks past 6 months is not lazy parenting, it's safe parenting. It keeps them warm and comfy without having loose blankets in their cribs.

OP- Look into getting a few Aden and Anais sleep sacks. They have single layer muslin ones that are really great for hot/sweaty weather. We also live in California

[Anonymous]

I've never even worked for families that use sleep sacs .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never even worked for families that use sleep sacs .

And I've never seen a giraffe in person, but that's not relevant either is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never even worked for families that use sleep sacs .

And I've never seen a giraffe in person, but that's not relevant either is it?

NP.
you should. Giraffes are awesome.