​Keeping Your Baby Cool In The Hot Weather

The skies are blue, the sun is out - yes, it’s summer! I love this time of year but I also remember when my daughters were small babies, finding it a little bit stressful. ​

How could I stop them overheating? What if they got sunburned? I spent a lot of time just trying to keep them cool!
 
If you have a young child, I hope you will find the following tips helpful, on how to keep your baby cool (and yourself chilled!).

1. Be sun smart. Current guidance is that babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight as their skin is too sensitive to deal with the sun’s rays. This doesn’t mean you can’t take your baby outside, but do keep them in the shade or covered up as much as possible; you might want to go and relax in the shade of a tree, babies love looking up at rustling leaves. Older babies should also be kept in the shade as much as they can be, especially during the hottest part of the day, and should wear high-factor sunscreen to protect their skin. This is easier said than done before your baby is crawling or walking, so enjoy these moments!
2. Offer plenty of fluids. Breastfed babies will not need any extra water, but may need to nurse more often to keep hydrated (meaning you may want to drink more water to ensure you are hydrated too). Formula fed infants may be given some cooled, boiled water to drink - you should offer this regularly, as your baby cannot tell you they are thirsty. However, you should never dilute your baby’s formula milk.
3. Find ways to cool down. In hot weather, older babies may enjoy paddling pools - just please make sure there is shade available - or long cool baths (remember to watch your child at all times in water). Breast-milk ice lollies are great for cooling down young babies, and healthy ice lollies made from fruit, vegetables, and yoghurt are perfect for weaning infants and toddlers. Indoors, try to keep blinds or curtains shut during the hottest part of the day, and invest in a fan to ensure air circulation in the room where your baby sleeps.
4. Keep clothing loose, natural, and minimal. Natural fibres such as cotton or linen are best for keeping cool. On very hot days, you may want to simply put your baby to bed in a nappy, or a vest, or with a thin muslin or blanket. Wide-brimmed hats are great at keeping the sun off little heads and necks, and full-body swimsuits are great for enjoying the beach or paddling pool. If your baby will be in the sun, consider dressing them in long-sleeved clothes which will protect their skin from the sun.
5. Stay safe and comfortable whilst baby-wearing. You can still wear your baby in hot weather - in fact, wearing your baby close helps to regulate their temperature - but make sure that both of you are wearing cool, breathable clothes. On very hot days, you may want to wear your baby in just a nappy. Do be careful to keep their arms, legs, feet, and heads protected from the sunshine. For more information Hannah Wallace, a sling consultant from Wear My Baby, has written two excellent blog posts on this topic, one on keeping cool and one on choosing a sling for the summer.
6. Be wary of covering your baby’s buggy. Covering your baby’s pram with a blanket, towel, or even muslin could cause your baby to dangerously overheat. Studies have suggested that covering a buggy even with a thin cloth can raise the temperature of the inside of the buggy dramatically. The Lullaby Trust recommends using a sunshade or pram parasol instead.

I hope you find this helps you and your baby to enjoy the wonderful weather we’re having at the moment.