Keeping Baby Cool In Hot Weather

☀️5 tips for keeping babies cool in hot weather ☀️

So there's a mini heatwave forecast - but please don't panic! Babies live in countries hotter than ours (as we were reminded by an Italian mother in Mum & Baby Yoga yesterday)

It IS important though to not let your baby overheat. They cannot regulate their temperatures in the same ways we can as adults. So here's some tips to keep them cool that may help you ...

☀️Tip 1 - keep baby’s room cool

The ideal temperature for baby's room is 18 to 20 degrees C. But houses do get hotter than this in the summer. All you can do is try to keep their room and them cool. Try these tips...

~ Keep curtains and blinds closed in the daytime to keep the heat out

~ Open windows to let the heat go outside before bedtime, try to get a through-draft if you can.

~ Use a fan to circulate the air. Make sure it's out of reach of baby, cannot fall into their cot, and not pointed directly at them.

~ Reduce layers of clothing. Just a nappy and no bedding is fine

~ Monitor the temperature of the room

☀️Tip 2 - keep baby hydrated

Babies also need to keep hydrated in the heat. They will need to drink more, just like you would.

~ If you breastfeed, then feed them on demand. It may be very often!

~ No need to give a breastfed baby extra water - your breastmilk will adapt. Super clever!

~ Bottle fed babies can have a little boiled, cooled water. As can babies who are having solids.

☀️ Tip 3 - a cool bath before bed can help cool baby down

It can be helpful to help cool baby down before bed with a cool bath (not cold), which will help lower their body temperature.

Also using lighter bedding, or no bedding, and no clothes in bed can help to keep them cool

☀️ Tip 4 - check for signs of dehydration & Baby’s temperature

~ Check their nappy to make sure they are weeing as often, and their urine has not gone a dark colour - signs of dehydration

~ Check their fontanelle (top of head) is not sunken, they produce tears when they cry, there eyes are not sunken - all can be a sign of dehydration

~ Check if baby is getting too hot by feeling their chest or the back of their neck. You may also notice a sweaty tummy or hair too.

☀️Tip 5 - keep out of THE sun

Keeping babies out of direct sun, and protecting them from heat is important.

~ keep them in the shade & use a pushchair parasol

~ use a sun hat when they're in a carrier (but remove once inside, as babies loose heat through their head)

~ never cover a carseat, pushchair or pram with a blanket or cloth (even lightweight). Although it might shade them, it can cause them to overheat as it traps heat. And you can't see them to check they are OK

And of course if you’re worried about your baby in the heat contact a medical professional without delay.

But do enjoy the sunshine, and keep cool yourself with plenty of cool drinks and ice cream 🍦😋

Please do share with anyone who might find this helpful 👌

Susan
x