As parents, our priority is always the health, safety and overall well-being of our children, but rising temperatures are making it difficult for us to keep children comfortable during the warmer months of the year without intervention through technology.
Temperatures are on the rise
Thermoregulation in children is imperfect at the best of times. Newborns' temperature senses are not fully developed, which means that a baby has different heating or cooling requirements from adults and with summer temperatures on the rise the potential overheating of a child’s body can contribute to some serious medical problems. An air conditioner with heating and cooling capabilities is the most effective way to ensure you can regulate the temperature in your home and most importantly in your children’s bedrooms.
According to NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information's 2020 Annual Climate Report, the combined land and ocean temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.18 degrees Celsius per decade since 1981. Hot sticky summer nights and pollen-filled, itchy eyed days can take their toll on parents and children alike. Disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, breathing difficulties and skin conditions all stack up to spell one seriously unhappy toddler and equally exhausted parents.
10 warmest years on record have occurred since 2005 bringing with them more allergen sensitivity throughout the world. Allergic Rhinitis (also known as pollen allergy or hay fever) and other allergies are increasing in prevalence and severity in every country. Hay Fever is a particularly bothersome allergy that reduces quality of life and affects physical, psychological and social functioning. Fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, frustration, self-consciousness as well as low energy, motivation, alertness, and ability to concentrate are all symptoms of Hay Fever, accompanied by disorders of learning performance, behaviour and attention in children.
Air conditioners that feature titanium apatite and silver allergen filters can help to ensure that your home is free from allergens and pollutants such as pollen also trapping odours resulting from pets and tobacco smoke.
Are air conditioners safe for homes with babies and children?
There is no doubt that a properly selected and correctly positioned and installed air conditioning unit, operated according to manufacturer's instructions, is safe for both adults and children. Excessive heat, stuffiness, stale air and allergens pose a much greater danger to children's health. The question therefore is more about how to choose a suitable unit for homes with babies and children.
Air conditioners have specialist functions built-in that are designed for the ultimate user comfort. A child’s body is much more susceptible to drafts since a child’s immune system is weaker than an adult’s. To avoid hypothermia and colds, it’s important to choose a system with comfort-enhancing modes ensuring draught-free operation and presence sensing technologies, that direct warm or cool air away from room occupants. This combined with 3D Air Flow technology (unique to Daikin), combines vertical and horizontal swing functionality to ensure that cool air is distributed to the furthest corners of any room.
When you are buying an AC that is suitable for your baby’s nursery or kids’ room it can be a tricky and anxious experience. The journey can be much smoother if you know what you are looking for, an easy to use, future proof and cost-effective air conditioning system for your home is a smart place to start but also consider a compact space-saving wall-mounted design that will enable greater flexibility for placement, including fitting above a door far out of reach of curious children's little fingers.
Other excellent features and functions to look out for are a built-in 24hr sleep timer so you can leave the air conditioner running for a specific amount of time. Once the time set has elapsed, the device will automatically shut down. The ability to set weekly schedules via a user-friendly smartphone app interface can also be a very handy feature. Night mode and whisper-quiet operation will help to ensure climate comfort does not come at the cost of a good night’s sleep and hands-free operation via a smartphone app and Amazon Alexa and Google Home integration means you can still control and monitor your air conditioning unit when you have your hands full with little bundles of fun.
An excellent example of a Daikin air conditioning unit that provides the features and functions families need most, in one stylish well-designed unit is the Comfora (FTXP-M9).
Daikin’s air conditioning systems are complete cooling solutions. Enjoy superior performance, energy efficiency and optimal comfort for all ages from stylishly designed solutions that suit all interior spaces and lifestyles.
Discover Daikin’s residential air-conditioning range here.