Summer is a season of change for children: the long holidays are here, along with the sun and heat, mom and dad aren't working, and the days are longer and fuller... And while you, as an adult, may know how to regulate your sleep needs and go to bed earlier or sleep longer when necessary, this isn't yet the case for your child. So, when bad nights follow one after another—too short, too hot, or too restless—the days turn into a disaster. Adapting your baby's sleep then becomes essential. Temperature, environment, and sensory cues: discover all our tips to help them, especially during the summer.
SUMMARY :
- Circadian rhythm: how baby perceives day and night (and why it's so important for their sleep)
- Heat and sleep: a duo that's always difficult to tame.
- Baby on vacation: managing naps and nights away from home
- Observe, understand, adjust: instinctive parenting
Circadian rhythm: how baby perceives day and night (and why it's so important for their sleep)
At birth, babies do not differentiate between day and night. Their circadian rhythm ( from the Latin circa, "around", and dies, "day" ), that is to say their internal biological clock, is still immature and gradually structures itself according to its environment (hello broken nights 👋).
- Is your baby not sleeping through the night yet? Discover our 10 tips for managing sleep deprivation .
Between 0 and 3 months, a baby's sleep is called ultradian : this means that your child sleeps according to their physiological needs, in very short cycles of about 50 to 60 minutes, without a clear distinction between night and day. It is only around 10 to 12 weeks that the beginnings of circadian regulation appear under the influence of natural light and parental routines.
To reassure you (or not 😅), a study of 388 six-month-old infants published in Pediatrics in 2018 reported that at this age, 38% of babies don't sleep six hours straight, and 57% don't sleep eight hours straight. By age one, these proportions gradually improve: only 28% still don't sleep six hours uninterrupted, and 43% don't yet sleep eight hours straight.
The role of light and melatonin
Melatonin, secreted by the body at nightfall, is literally the "sleep hormone." However, its production doesn't begin until 6 to 8 weeks of age, and even then, it's slow. Too much light at bedtime—sunlight, but also the blue light from screens—can inhibit this delicate secretion, delaying sleep onset and disrupting sleep patterns.
That's why, during the summer season, with late sunsets or a room bathed in sunlight in the early morning, baby can:
- have more difficulty falling asleep,
- waking up too early, or more often
- show signs of marked fatigue or irritability during the day.
What the research says
An article published in the journal Science Direct in December 2022 supports the idea that seasonal variations in light can indeed increase sleep disturbances in young children. The researchers specifically refer to "seasonality in the microstructure of sleep in the youngest children."
Heat and sleep: a duo that's always difficult to tame.
Sleep in toddlers is a delicate mechanism where every parameter matters, including body temperature. For a good night's sleep, the body needs to cool down slightly . This is why falling asleep is so difficult during a heatwave when the temperature barely drops outside, yet rises inside homes.But beyond the discomfort, an overly warm environment exposes infants, whose temperature regulation is still immature, to a risk of hyperthermia . It is precisely to address this problem that your pediatrician recommends a temperature between 18 and 20°C in your baby's room .
In addition, and especially when it's not possible, adjust your child's clothing. A light, short-sleeved bodysuit , or just a diaper with a very thin cotton sleep sack , may be sufficient. If in doubt, place your hand on the back of their neck: if it's damp or warm, your baby is too hot.
How to create a cool and calm environment for a good night's sleep?
Walks, days at the beach, visits from family, joyful bursts of voices around a meal... For toddlers, summer comes with a kind of sensory overload that they need to learn to bring down before bedtime.
Here, you can create a little decompression zone at the end of the day . A warm bath, a gentle massage, a cuddle by the soft light of a lamp… anything that soothes the senses promotes a return to calm. Reducing stimulation gradually creates a reassuring cocoon that encourages rest.
During the day, pay attention to the little signs of tiredness: a look away, a yawn, a loss of interest in games, a little hand rubbing the eyes, a request for a pacifier ... All these are invitations to offer bedtime without waiting for excitement to take over.
💧Tip: At your baby's usual bedtime, give them a bath, even a quick one, to relax them and help them settle into the routine of rest time. And for even more pampering, use Élhée 3-in-1 Cleansing Foam. Soap-free , sulfate-free , free of synthetic fragrances , dyes, and endocrine disruptors , it's enriched with organic aloe vera for soft, cleansed, and cared-for skin.
5 tips for easier nights despite the heat
- Close the shutters and/or draw the curtains from mid-morning onwards.
- Ventilate your home thoroughly, very early in the morning and late in the evening .
- Give your child a lukewarm bath at the end of the day (between 35 and 36 °C).
- Dress baby according to the room temperature ( only a diaper if it is above 27°C ).
- Slow down the pace after 5pm : dim the lights and limit stimulation.
- Expose your child to daylight in the morning (natural light upon waking in their room, bottle taken outdoors if possible, walk in the stroller…).
- Dim the lights in his room from late afternoon onwards.
- Avoid intense light sources after 6 p.m.
- In addition, and even if it's a little more complicated in summer, establish a routine of time, gestures and atmosphere to help your body anticipate falling asleep.
🍼 Élhée Focus: From 6 months old, you can give your baby water in addition to their meals to keep them hydrated . For this, Élhée has developed a 100% safe medical-grade silicone training cup with a leak-proof system that allows your child to drink without tilting their head. This cup is so safe, you can leave it with them all night. For infants, you can divide bottle or breastfeed feedings into smaller, more frequent meals.
Baby on vacation: managing naps and nights away from home
If you've ever done it, you know that going on holiday with children means taking a break as a family… but also disrupting their routines a bit. In the car, in a tent, at grandparents' house or in a hotel, sleep becomes more fragile, simply because the environment is different.
In this case, your mission is to recreate a reassuring cocoon with 2 or 3 sensory references that baby knows well : a swaddle or a cuddly toy imbued with his smell, the night light in his room, the music you play for him every night... Enough to establish a feeling of normality and security, even far from home.
Similarly, during journeys , try to maintain a regular feeding schedule : offer the bottle at regular intervals, anticipate breaks, and be attentive to your baby's needs (warmth, tiredness, fussiness, etc.). Conveniently, the Élhée portable bottle warmer allows you to prepare a warm bottle in just a few minutes , anywhere, anytime.
And above all, don't worry: whatever your baby's sleep patterns are like on vacation, they will naturally regulate themselves once you get home. Their internal rhythm will gradually and gently find its bearings again.
🎵 Bonus: Have you ever thought about creating a Spotify playlist just for your baby?
😴 The summer sleep kit for baby
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Observe, understand, adjust: instinctive parenting
In summer, schedules become longer, routines shift, and usual rhythms become a little disrupted. That's normal. And to make sure you don't miss the right time to put your baby to bed, there's only one key: observe them.
Especially if naps are missed, especially if falling asleep is difficult. Don't feel guilty. You know your baby: observe and you'll know . Besides, if you stress about your child not getting enough sleep, they'll sense it and nothing will improve...
Slowing down internally, holding baby skin-to-skin, rocking them … these small gestures are often enough to initiate a return to calm. Contact, voice, breathing can be powerful cues.
Moreover, why not create a holiday ritual, a little emotional capsule? A familiar object, a piece of music, always the same, a whispered lullaby… a discreet thread that leads back to the essentials: the security of the bond, trust, and each child’s own rhythm.
Have a wonderful summer with your baby, find your own rhythm!
A baby's sleep is never fixed. It evolves, transforms, and sometimes adjusts to the seasons. Summer is not a hurdle to overcome, but an invitation to slow down, to listen to oneself, to take a step back.
By respecting your baby's rhythm, their signals, their needs, and their little moments of tiredness, you help them establish their sense of security, even away from home. And by giving yourself the same care and attention you give them, you create a summer that reflects your own: light, flexible, and deeply peaceful.
So, just go with the flow. And if bedtime is later, if a nap is missed, or if a bottle feeding is delayed… it doesn't matter. That's life in the summer.
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