Can You Use Air Conditioning During Confinement?

Few confinement rules cause as much worry in summer as the warnings about “wind” and cold — no fan, no air conditioning, windows shut, layers piled on. In a humid Taipei or Hong Kong August, or even a warm Greater Vancouver one, following that literally can leave a new mother miserable and, genuinely, overheated. So let me untangle it kindly.

The instinct behind “keep warm” is sound. But like several confinement customs, it was shaped by a world without temperature control, and a few details need a gentle update for a modern home.

Where does the “no wind, no cold” rule come from?

In a pre-modern home — draughty, no heating, no hot water, no way to dry off or warm up quickly — a tired, depleted mother who got chilled was genuinely at risk of illness. “Avoid wind, stay warm” was protective, practical advice for those conditions.

The key word is chilled. The tradition was never really about air itself; it was about not letting an exhausted, healing body get cold and stay cold. Once you see that, the modern version becomes obvious.

Can you use air conditioning or a fan?

Yes — sensibly. With modern climate control you can simply keep a comfortable room, which is exactly what the tradition wanted. The practical approach:

• Don’t let cold air blow directly on you. Aim vents and fans away; point a fan at a wall or ceiling to circulate air gently.
• Set a moderate temperature, not very cold. Comfortable, not chilly.
• Keep a light layer on so you stay warm even with the air moving.

Done this way, air conditioning and fans give you fresh, breathable air without the chill the old rule warned against. HealthLink BC has sensible plain-language guidance on staying comfortable in hot weather.

Overheating is a real risk too

Here is the part the strictest version of the rule misses: overheating is genuinely harmful. Piling on layers in a sealed, hot room can leave a new mother dehydrated, dizzy, exhausted and deeply uncomfortable — and a hot room is not good for a newborn either. Health Canada treats extreme heat as a real health concern, and new mothers and babies are among the more vulnerable.

“Keep warm” was always shorthand for “don’t get chilled,” never “get hot.” Aim for comfortable, adjust your layers, and don’t push through sweating and dizziness in the name of tradition.

Staying comfortable and hydrated in summer

A few gentle habits keep you on the right side of warm:

• Light, breathable layers you can add or remove as the day changes.
• A moderately cool room, with air circulating but not blowing on you.
• Drink to thirst. Warm and room-temperature fluids are comforting and traditional, and a steady flow of nourishing soups and teas keeps you hydrated — which matters most of all in summer and while breastfeeding (Dietitians of Canada). If a cooler drink is what you want on a hot day, hydration comes first.
• Rest in the coolest part of the day and don’t over-bundle for sleep.

For the wider set of customs worth keeping or updating, see confinement myths and the confinement month guide.

The spirit of it all is simple: a mother who is comfortable — neither chilled nor overheated — well fed and well hydrated is in the best shape to heal. When the warm, nourishing meals and soups arriving daily are one less thing to manage in a hot summer, that is exactly what we are here for, delivered fresh across Greater Vancouver.