Blackout curtains are pretty convenient for better sleep. Blackout curtains have some features that can create a completely dark environment to sleep properly. That’s why many people use blackout curtains nowadays.
You might want to use a blackout curtain for your baby since it helps to sleep deeply. But you might be thinking about the safety of babies to use blackout curtains.
Well, you have to know details about blackout curtains to know about their advantages and disadvantages while using them for babies.
Are blackout curtains good or bad for babies?
Blackout curtains have advantages while using them for babies. Complete darkness is essential for babies to sleep well. Melatonin hormone helps to relax and releases when the babies sleep in the dark. Blackout curtains create a barrier for the sunlight from entering the room and helps to sleep.
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When babies sleep, they need a proper environment to sleep. Besides, babies need more sleep than adults. So, they sleep in the daytime also. But the sunlight can enter through the normal curtains and disturb their sleeping.
So, these curtains are good for the babies for making them sleepy like the nighttime. Even nurseries use blackout curtains to help babies to sleep properly.
Why are blackout curtains good for babies?
Blackout curtains are considered good for babies. Even many nurseries use blackout curtains for babies’ better sleep. Blackout curtains have many excellent features that make blackout curtains good for babies. Let’s see why blackout curtains are good for babies.
Darkness:
The primary reason for which blackout curtains are good for babies is their darkness. Blackout curtains provide complete darkness. When babies get darkness like the nighttime, the melatonin hormone releases and helps to relax and sleep the babies. So, blackout curtains can indirectly help to release melatonin.
Prevent sunlight:
Babies require more sleep than adults. So, they have to sleep both in the day and night. But sunlight can disturb them passing through the normal curtains. Blackout curtains prevent sunlight from entering the room and make the baby’s sleep comfortable.
Hold back heat:
Generally, blackout curtains have comparatively thick fabric than other curtains. They can prevent sunlight to pass through the window or door. So, by preventing sunlight, they also help to prevent heat. That’s why they create a perfect environment for the babies to sleep.
Temperature control:
If the sunlight enters the babies’ room, it will raise the room temperature. But blackout curtains make a barrier between the window and the room. So, the room temperature remains controlled. So, babies can sleep well in a balanced temperature.
Why are blackout curtains bad for babies?
Blackout curtains are widely used for babies. Even they are common in houses and nurseries. But blackout curtains have some drawbacks too. So, you have to choose the curtains wisely. Here are some bad issues with blackout curtains.
Toxic material:
Blackout curtains go through some manufacturing processes where some toxic materials are used. Though how much this toxic material can affect the baby isn’t proved yet. But using toxic material without guarantee is unsafe.
Over-sleep:
Blackout curtains provide complete darkness. In the darkness, the melatonin hormone releases and helps the babies sleep well. But sometimes, the release of this hormone might trigger and the babies might oversleep. Over-sleeping can be unhealthy for babies.
Tiredness:
Blackout curtains help the babies to sleep in the daytime. Babies need more sleep than adults. But sometimes, when babies sleep more in the daytime than the nighttime, the baby may feel tired all day. So, being excessively tired is harmful to the babies’ health.
Do newborns or infants need blackout curtains?
Blackout curtains can be pretty helpful for infants and newborns. The main purpose of the blackout curtains is to create a completely dark environment that helps to sleep better for the babies.
Generally, newborns and infants need plenty of sleep. Even newborns and infants require sleep in the daytime too. So, if sunlight disturbs their sleeping, they might face difficulty sleeping. Moreover, not sleeping enough might affect the growth of newborns and infants.
So, blackout curtains can create a dark environment in the daytime. Moreover, blackout curtains prevent heat and balance the room temperature. So, Newborns and infants need blackout curtains.
Should babies have blackout curtains?
Yes, babies should have blackout curtains. The melatonin hormone releases when the babies get darkness to sleep. So, complete darkness is essential for the babies to sleep. Blackout curtains can fulfill this requirement of darkness.
Blackout curtains are made of thick and high-quality fabric that can prevent sunlight from passing through the window. So, the room remains dark like the nighttime. Babies also get the environment to sleep well.
So, it depends on the requirement of the necessity of preventing sunlight. If you want to create a nighttime environment in the room for the baby, the baby should have a blackout curtain.
When do babies need blackout curtains?
Babies need blackout curtains when they need more sleep in the daytime. Generally, infants and newborns require plenty of sleep every day. Only nighttime sleeping isn’t enough for them. So, they have to sleep in the daytime too.
Blackout curtains provide a daytime environment providing complete darkness. Moreover, blackout curtains prevent heat and balance the room temperature. These features are perfect for newborns and infants to sleep.
But when the baby gets a sleep cycle and can sleep in the daytime naturally, the baby doesn’t need blackout curtains compulsorily. So, babies need blackout curtains when they are newborns and require plenty of sleep.
Will blackout curtains help my baby sleep longer?
Yes, blackout curtains will help your baby sleep longer. Generally, when we get darkness, the melatonin hormone releases and helps us relax. The same goes for the babies. Darkness can help them sleep a long time.
Blackout curtain’s main purpose is to provide darkness. Blackout curtains prevent the direct sunlight and even create darkness like the nighttime. So, the babies can sleep and more melatonin will release. This will help the baby sleep longer.
Can babies sleep without blackout curtains?
Yes, babies can sleep without blackout curtains. Blackout curtains are one of the options for creating a dark environment. Other options are still available for the babies to sleep.
Naturally, babies sleep more than adults. So, they have the instinct to sleep in the daytime. Sometimes, direct sunlight can pass through normal curtains and disturb the baby’s sleep. But this doesn’t mean the baby can’t sleep without blackout curtains.
If you use opaque windows, there is no chance to enter sunlight. Moreover, you have other options to blackout the room. For example, you can use dark paper or a Bristol board on the windows to blackout the windows.
How to blackout windows for babies?
Different options are available to blackout windows for the baby. So, here are some tips that you can follow to blackout windows for babies.
- You can use blackout curtains to provide darkness in the room.
- You can use dark paper on the windows that will prevent the sunlight.
- You can use heavy curtains or heavy towels to prevent direct sunlight.
- You can use a shutter on the window or replace the window with an opaque one.
- You can add liners to the existing curtains.
- You can paint the window in a dark color that will prevent sunlight from entering the room.
Are blackout curtains toxic?
Yes, blackout curtains have the chance to be toxic. Generally, every curtain goes through a manufacturing process. While making blackout curtains, some chemical and toxic materials are used to make the curtain prevent sunlight.
So, for these chemicals and VOCs, blackout curtains can be toxic sometimes. Though how much these toxic materials can affect your health isn’t proven yet. But VOCs are considered harmful for your health.
So, the blackout curtains are made of toxic chemicals and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), are toxic for you.
Non-toxic blackout curtains that can be good for the nursery:
Nurseries that use blackout curtains for babies must have safe and non-toxic curtains. Let’s see what the non-toxic blackout curtains are that can be good for the nursery.
Bamboo Shades Blackout Liner:
Bamboo is a natural source for making curtains. These blackout curtains don’t have toxic chemicals and pesticides.
Polyester Blackout Curtains:
Though polyester is made with chemicals, these chemicals are not harmful for babies. Blackout curtains made of 100% polyester are safe for use in the nursery.
Cotton blackout curtains:
Blackout curtains made of cotton are safe for babies. 100% cotton blackout curtains don’t have toxic chemicals.
DIY hemp curtains:
These curtains are safe for babies as they are handmade. They don’t have any chemicals and pesticides. So, nurseries can use DIY hemp curtains for babies.
Blackout curtains have a lot of advantages that are helpful for the babies to sleep. They prevent sunlight and heat. So, they create a good environment for the babies to sleep longer comfortably.
Moreover, blackout curtains can be used both during the day and nighttime. So, newborns and infants sleep well in the daytime too. Some blackout curtains use toxic chemicals and VOC while manufacturing blackout curtains.
So, you can avoid these chemical process blackout curtains and use curtains that are derived from natural sources.