Emily Oster

1 min Read Emily Oster

Emily Oster

Will a Drafty Bedroom Make My Infant Sick?

Q&A on illness

Emily Oster

1 min Read

Do drafty bedrooms or ceiling fans put kiddo at risk for more upper respiratory infections? Pediatrician is insistent.

—Katie

No. Illness is a result of exposure to viruses and bacteria. It is not a result of being cold.

If you are already sick, a very aggressive fan can sometimes further exacerbate the issues, by drying out your nasal passages. (Some people find fans make them feel better, so this isn’t universal.)

However: fans and drafts do not cause illness.

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