Chapter 16 – Air Conditioning

The use of air conditioners helps maintain a comfortable environment for the baby, to excessively high temperatures that the body is not yet fully able to manage—especially during the first few months. In factthermoregulation mechanisms are not yet fully developed, which can result in episodes of overheating at high temperatures. One secondary effect of high temperatures may be dehydration, caused by fluid loss as the baby’s body activates compensatory mechanisms to regulate its temperature—such as increasing blood flow to the skin’s surface and sweating.

This can lead to discomfort, which small children typically express through crying and restlessness. Whether it’s a centralized air conditioning system or a unit installed in a single room, these devices cool and dehumidify indoor air by absorbing heat and expelling it outdoors. The filters built into air conditioners also help reduce exposure to pollen, which benefits allergy sufferers.
However, caution is needed: the goal of air conditioning is to reduce heat and humidity—not to make the room cold. Therefore, the baby should not be placed directly in the path of the cold air stream. It is also crucial to ensure that the filters in the system are regularly cleaned and maintained, because—as previously discussed—they can become breeding grounds for dangerous bacterial build-up.