Ceiling Fans for Night-Time Comfort
Ceiling Fans for Night-Time Comfort
Why LP kids run hot at night and which ceiling fan and wall control setup works best — an LP family’s installation story.
Some of us tend to run generally hot — whether it be genetics, weight, or a lot of hair! We’ve heard many stories about LP kids who sweat like crazy while they’re sleeping, which can be alarming for new parents. If you’ve never had a ceiling fan installed in the bedroom, we highly recommend you consider this for your children and your master bedroom.
Why Ceiling Fans Are Great for LP Families
Ceiling fans keep you comfortable by moving air across your skin, increasing evaporation of sweat and leaving you feeling cool. For LP children who tend to run hot, this can make a dramatic difference in sleep quality.
Ceiling fans cost only a few cents per hour to operate — a fraction of the cost of running air conditioning. Running one all night adds up to only a few dollars a month.
Depending on the speed, a ceiling fan produces a gentle white noise effect which can be calming while sleeping. At low speed on a quality fan you won’t even hear it — just feel the air.
Many ceiling fans have a built-in light so they double as a room light. Combined with a wall control, your LP child can independently manage both the fan and the light from a switch they can actually reach.
Our Favorite Ceiling Fans
Minka-Aire Concept II
We’ve had ceiling fans from Hunter, Sears, and Minka-Aire — and by far our favorite is the Minka-Aire Concept II. More expensive than the generic fan at Home Depot or Costco, but well worth it. Extremely quiet — at low speed you won’t even hear it on. At higher speeds, you only hear the whoosh of air moving. We have this fan in both our children’s bedrooms and it definitely helps them sleep better at night. Great modern look and ideal for short ceilings. The electrician who installed ours said the blade installation was the easiest he’d ever seen — the blades basically pop into a slot.
One thing to keep in mind: the blades are plastic, not wood, and some people don’t like the look. Also the blade color will be slightly different from the fan housing, which is noticeable during the daytime on oil-rubbed bronze versions. However they look great and the kids always want the fan on at night — and during the day! We definitely feel the Minka-Aire Concept II is one of the best ceiling fans for kids.
Wall Control — Don’t Skip This
We strongly recommend purchasing a wall control along with your ceiling fan. Available for most major brands, they are very convenient. The ceiling fan remotes that come in the box always seem to get lost or tossed aside. By having the wall control at the entrance to the room, you can easily turn the light and fan on in the dark. Our dwarf son uses the wall control to independently turn on his fan and light — he loves the independence and comfort it gives him.
Ceiling Fan Wiring
When we purchased our first house, the builder offered ceiling fan pre-wiring but we didn’t take the option because it was expensive. Fortunately, a junction box, ceiling fan brace, and wiring can be installed relatively easily in an older home as well. We recommend using a qualified electrician for the installation unless you have done this before — it’s important to be sure the junction box is secure and the wiring is safe.
Ceiling Fan Installation — A Note for LP Adults
Do your LP children run hot at night? Has a ceiling fan made a difference for your family’s sleep? Share your experience in the comments below.