How to Prepare for Hot Summer Days and Nights with Your Little One

Sunshine, laughter, and splashing in the pool – summer with a little one can be magical. But hot weather also brings unique challenges for parents. Don't worry, though! With a little planning, you can keep your precious one cool, comfortable, and having a blast all season long. 

Daytime Tips

• Seek Shade – The sun is strongest between 11am and 3pm, so try to plan your busiest part of the day outside in the early mornings or evenings. If this isn’t possible, just make sure you are prepared - bring an umbrella or a beach shelter tent. Remember to take your stroller umbrella and not to cover up your pram with blankets and muslins which can trap in the heat.
  
  
• Sunscreen savvy – Remember to apply sunscreen frequently and 15 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen isn’t recommended on babies under 6 months old. Be sure to do a patch test on your baby when they do wear it for the first time.
  
  
• Don’t forget the sunhats! – Choose one with a wide brim that will give shade to the face, neck and ears.   
  
  
• Keep your curtains and windows closed during the day – Keeping the room shaded during the day has a massive difference on the room of the temperature by night. Keeping the windows closed will also help to keep the warm air out. Once it starts to cool down, be sure to open windows on opposite sides of your house to encourage air flow.
  
  
• Stay hydrated – Breastfed babies are likely to want to feed more frequently to stay hydrated. Whereas formula-fed babies may need to be given cooled boiled water to help keep hydrated in-between feeds. Keep an eye on how many wet nappies they are doing to see if they are dehydrated. For babies over 6 months who have started eating solids, consider offering more water-based foods.
  
  
• Pram fan - Keep portable pram fans charged for when out and about. 
  
  
• Ice Lollies – Keep the freezer loaded with homemade ice-lollies for your little one to have a cool snack.
  
  
• Cool Down Creativity: A refreshing spritz with a water mister or a cool wet flannel (not freezing) being pressed gently behind their neck and on their face, can be a quick cooling relief for a baby. For older babies and toddlers, waterplay will be your best friend, a kiddie pool or sprinkler can provide endless entertainment and cool relief. 

Night-time Tips

• Lukewarm Bath – run them a lukewarm bath before bed, which can help regulate their body temperature and help them settle better for bed.
  
  
• Blackout Blinds - Help avoid those long bedtimes and early wake ups by making the room pitch black and creating the perfect environment for a good nights sleep.
  
  
• Use fans – when it is cooler outside, putting a fan in front of an open window, facing into the bedroom, is a great way to increase the air flow and cool the room down. You can even place a bowl of ice cubes or some frozen bottles of water in front of the fan to help generate cooler air. NOTE: do not aim the fan directly at your baby as they will get too cold.
  
  
• Appropriate clothing – Make sure to decrease the sleeping bag tog and layers the hotter that it gets. Don't be afraid of just putting them to bed in just a nappy if it is that hot and putting another layer on as it cools down during the night.
  
  
• Avoid waterproof bedsheets – these can make your child hotter and sweatier.
  
  

Dressing Guide

• 16C - Short sleeved vest, sleepsuit and 2.5 tog sleeping bag
  
  
• 18C - Sleepsuit and a 2.5 tog sleeping bag
  
  
• 20C - Long sleeved vest and 2.5 tog sleeping bag / short sleeved vest, sleepsuit and 1 tog sleeping bag
  
  
• 21C - Long sleeved vest and 1 tog sleeping bag
  
  
• 23C - Short sleeved vest and 1 tog sleeping bag
  
  
• 24C - 27C - Short sleeved vest and 0.5 tog sleeping bag / Just a vest
  
  
• Any higher - Nappy
  
  

Car Travel

• Never leave your child in a hot car, even just for a minute.
  
  
• Make use of the air-con if you have any – consider using a clip-on stroller fan if you don’t.
  
  
• Use sunshades on your windows – The ones that go over the top of the door frame are great at keeping the shade out from all corners, whilst also being able to open the windows fully.
  
  
• Try to park in the shade if you can.
  
  

Signs of Over-heating

• Chest hot or clammy to touch
  
  
• Sweating
  
  
• Damp hair
  
  
• Flushed cheeks
  
  
• Rapid Breathing
  
  
• Restlessness

As you can see, there are plenty of things you can do to try and help stay cooler during the summer. It can be a very difficult time of year for parents to attempt to keep your children cool and calm, whilst you're also sweaty and stressed. So just do your best and we hope these tips can help to make some difference!