Hot weather can make it extremely difficult for every family member to fall asleep, but for children it's even harder as they're unable to regulate their body temperature like adults17:12, 07 Jul 2026The UK isn't really over the last heatwave but now a new urgent amber heat alert has been issued with temperatures set to surge above 34C this week.‌Hot weather can be extremely difficult to handle, especially if your home isn't built with air conditioning. While fans and air coolers are ideal in the day, having them on all night can impact the quality of your sleep. Now a sleep expert has revealed the one common bedtime mistake parents are making during the heatwave. It comes as research by CapyChews revealed most half of parents (48%) say their child's sleep worsens during hot weather, rising to 71% among families with four-year-olds.‌In addition to the statistics, children are also struggling when it comes to the proper amount of sleep. The findings show 82% of children are sleep-deprived, with only 18% getting their full recommended nine hours of sleep a night.‌The Common Bedtime Mistake Parents Make During a HeatwaveAndrea Grace, a baby and child sleep consultant, revealed the common bedtime mistake parents are making – and it should help you all get some good shuteye tonight.She said: "One of the most common bedtime mistakes parents make is putting their child to bed too early. While early bedtimes are usually recommended, a bedtime that comes before a child is genuinely ready for sleep can make falling asleep harder – and your child's bed can become associated with wakefulness."In these cases, a later bedtime for a few nights can help. Once your child is falling asleep easily, bedtime can be gradually moved earlier until you find their ideal sleep time."‌To further help parents survive the heat, Fraser Gowland, Founder of CapyChews, shared four tips to help parents during a heatwave – including a genius £1.50 hack.Make your own ice-lolliesCamomile tea has known benefits to help kids sleep. However, giving them a hot drink during a heatwave could be counter-productive.Instead, make some chamomile tea, let it cool and make your own ice lollies. Not only will your child cool down instantly from the frozen snack, but they also benefit from camomile's natural properties.‌Chamomile tea can be bought for as little as £1.50 making this an affordable, easy hack for parents. Babies can have weak, unsweetened chamomile tea after six months, but experts advise waiting until 12 months due to potential allergen risks. They're also good to help soothe teething babies as one mum demonstrated in a TikTok clip.Content cannot be displayed without consentMove aroundKeeping kids in their own bedroom might not be a good idea. For extreme conditions, such as this weekend, have kids sleep in the coolest room in the house. Create a make-shift bed for a few nights during the hot weather. If you're worried about disturbing their sleep routine by doing this, consider sleeping with them for added comfort.Article continues belowCool clothing and clothsKeep your kids bedding, and pyjamas cool during a heatwave. Place the items in the freezer for a short period of time to add an instant cool blast. Also leave a cold flannel by the kids bedside, they can use the cloth throughout the night to keep their forehead, neck and hand nice and cool.Sleep gummiesGentle, natural support can be a helpful component of a cool and consistent bedtime routine during a heatwave. Look for products with a natural blend of ingredients such as magnesium, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm. It's important to still keep kids cool in other ways, but sleep gummies could be the secret to a successful sleep.