Debating Whether to Install a Light/fan Combo in Nursery

Updated on April 07, 2009
J.T. asks from Phoenix, AZ
17 answers

Any input regarding putting a ceiling fan in an infants room. We are decorating the nursery within the next couple weeks, I've been leary about the fan to try and prevent ear infections, but my husband notes that people at his work with kids say it's better to have a ceiling fan in the nursery??

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So What Happened?

Well I've been persuaded :) Thank you all for the input. I'm not sure where I even read the ear infection/fan correlation, but it seems to make sense that a little air cirrculation can't hurt as one person pointed out I can always turn it off IF it seems the baby starts to get sick frequently :) I'm also going to google the fan/SIDS article!

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E.C.

answers from Phoenix on

We have a ceiling fan in my sons room, I didn't use it often when he was a newborn, but his room gets the most sun, so it is VERY hot in the summer, so we def use it then! He is now 2 and we have had no problems, only 1 ear infection!

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G.G.

answers from Flagstaff on

Since the fan can be turned off/on it shouldn't be an issue. Also I've never heard of a fan causing an ear infection (myself and my son have gone through quite a lot of them, so it's speaking from some experience)...
it's not worth the energy to debate....
Peace

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B.H.

answers from Phoenix on

We have a ceiling fan in our nursery and luckily neither of my kiddos have had ear infection problems.
I will say this: recent reseacrh shows that having a fan going while a baby is sleeping is believed to help prevent SIDS.

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S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

There are new studies out showing that having a little air movement helps to prevent SIDS, so I say go for it! I have never heard of fans causing ear infections?

Good Luck and congratulations!

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T.J.

answers from Flagstaff on

Sorry to say, but I agree with your husband. I've read in numerous studies that having a fan running in your child's room can help reduce the risk of SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I don't know if it's true, but we've got a fan in my sons room who is almost 2, and will have one on our new babies room as well. Hope this helped. Good luck!

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C.M.

answers from Albuquerque on

We have had one (in two different houses) with both our kids. I think it really helps with white noise and air circulation. Also, I never heard of anything to do with ear infections. Luckily my boys aren't really prone to them - and if you breastfeed, your baby is less likely to have them.

It gets a lot easier and less stressful after the first one. :)

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H.H.

answers from Tucson on

They are nice to have to clear the air and on hot nights, can come in handy. My daughter is 26 mos. and we've never had a problem.

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K.M.

answers from Phoenix on

I have never heard of ceiling fans causing ear infections. You are in Az, right? I would definatly put it up. If you do not feel comfortable using it while the baby is little you don't have to turn it on. But later down the road you will want the fan. Consult with your doctor regarding any potential risks with a ceiling fan in an infants room.
Congratulations on being pregnant. :)

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C.W.

answers from Phoenix on

If you live in AZ, you should probably have a ceiling fan in every room, period.

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K.F.

answers from Albuquerque on

I have never heard that before, my one son has a fan in his room and had ear infections, and the baby does not and he still gets them. We also have humidifiers in both rooms...good white noise..as well as other benefits.

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C.R.

answers from Las Cruces on

I hadn't ever heard of a correlation between fans and ear infections - even after the baby gets hear you learn new things every day! :)

In this warm climate, I don't know what we'd do without the ceiling fans. My son's room gets stuffy and sometimes kind of stinky (even with the diaper genie) and that ceiling fan is a life saver. I recommend having one. If you think it's causing problems you can stop using it. It's easier to turn it off than to go back and buy a new fixture and re-install it after the baby is here.

T.C.

answers from Albuquerque on

Hi J.,
I have also never heard a correlation between ceiling fans and ear infections. (old wives' tale?????)

We've had them in our boy's rooms since the beginning, and have been relieved that we had them to cool their rooms down quickly, or circulate air after a steam-vac session.

We keep them clean to keep the dust off, and use full bulb-covers so if they throw a ball it won't break the bulb, but that's it - no ear infections, and very few illnesses in 4 years.

Go for it :)
t

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D.J.

answers from Phoenix on

There was a study that just came out showing that a fan in the nursery drastically reduces the risk of SIDS - you might want to check it out!

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S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

We've had a fan in our daughter’s room from the start. I think it's important to have one for air circulation, especially if you shut the door while they're sleeping. I can get surprisingly stuffy in their rooms. We also had a humidifier on all the time which helped keep the air moist for her. I pretty much exclusively breastfed my daughter and I think that's really the biggest thing that kept her from getting sick. I wouldn’t worry about having a fan in the room. Besides, it’s hard to find a room in Arizona that doesn’t have a ceiling fan in it so the baby will be exposed to one one way or another! ;)

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R.C.

answers from Phoenix on

Congrats on your pregnancy! Recent research says that SIDS is less common when the baby sleeps in a room with a fan. Both of our children have slept in a nursery with a ceiling fan and I think it helps keep the room cooler and air circulating, both of which research indicates are important in preventing SIDS. R., married SAHM of 2

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G.V.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi J.,

Congratulations on your baby-to-be! Whether or not you install a ceiling fan will not affect your child's ability to get an ear infection or not unless the room is too hot or too cold (which could disturb your child's immune system).

If you would like to prevent ear infections, it is best to do the following:

1. Breastfeed until at least age one
2. While breastfeeding, avoid consuming dairy
3. Don't start feeding him/her solid food until age one
4. When consuming solid food, avoid dairy and wheat, both of which can increase bad bacteria
5. Give him/her powdered probiotic daily

Best wishes to you! :)

Warm Regards,
G. Van Luven, H.C.
Healthy Habits Wellness Center, LLC
www.HealthyHabitsWellnessCenter.com
###-###-####

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S.A.

answers from Flagstaff on

Congrats on the new arrival to be. I have always had a fan/light combo in with our kids. Loved it. We never had any problems. I always liked the option to cool down or circulate air in a room w/out using the air conditioning.

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