Last updated: October 3rd 2019
While hot summers make outdoor family days more adventurous and fun, it is also a challenge to make sure our little ones stay comfortable and cool.
More than that, it can actually be dangerous for babies in hot weather.
According to NSW Health, babies are unable to regulate their body temperatures in extreme weather conditions as much as adults. Babies sweat less, reducing their body's ability to cool itself down, and therefore they are more at risk of overheating and developing a heat-related illness. Heat also has the ability to make existing illnesses worse.
But before you start stressing out, we're here to help you be prepared. We’ve put together our top tips to ensure your baby is comfortable and content in the summer heat, so you can still enjoy the long days and balmy nights.
Don't have air-conditioning at home? Fear not, we're focusing on how to keep baby cool without AC. So, whether you want to know how to cool down baby's room or generally just how to keep newborn cool, we've got you covered.
A moisture-wicking singlet is ideal to keep sweat off baby's skin during naps.
1. Choose adapted clothing
According to The Royal Children's Dermatology Unit, the infant skin barrier does not fully mature until at least one year of age and is thinner, more fragile and more sensitive than adults' skin. It is also less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the environment so can be easily irritated.
It is important to check what fabrics your baby is wearing because this can directly affect overheating of the skin. Completely avoid synthetics as it stops the skin from breathing. Thermoregulating clothing with natural fibres such as bamboo naturally regulates baby’s body temperature. Boody’s moisture-wicking and highly breathable baby clothing will ensure bub is kept nice and cool at all times.
Also ensure you remove any unnecessary layers off bub, including what is in the cot and pram and avoiding too many blankets or pillows that will block airflow.
Our muslin bamboo wraps also make for a great pram shade protection for babes in hot weather and provide plenty of airflow and breathability.
A breathy bamboo tee and assorted shorts keep baby cool during the hot days.
2. Maintain room temperature
According to the Women and Children’s Health Network, babies and young children may not show early signs and symptoms of being affected by the heat even when they are affected.
To avoid your baby getting stressed by the heat and high temperatures, use air-conditioning or a fan where possible. If you are using a fan, make sure you never position it towards your baby and then ensure your windows are open to get fresh air circulating through the house.
Another quick and easy idea is to hang some wet towels between open windows and close the blinds during the hotter hours of the day. Choose the coolest place in your home for naptime, making sure air can circulate around your baby's bassinette or cot.
3. Check your baby’s temperature
Keep a thermometer handy at all times and check for sweat or red, hot and dry skin.
Your first thought might be to reach for cold water to cool your baby’s skin down but this can do more harm than good. Cold water can lead to babies shivering and crying which causes their temperature to rise. To cool them down instead, sponge them with lukewarm water or give them a bath around 32-35 degrees.
Also, be mindful that babies may need extra feeds in hot weather. Cooled down boiled water may be considered between bottle or breastfeeds, particularly for babies over six months old or those already receiving other fluids between feeds.
4. Notice any signs of overheating
Become familiar with all signs of overheating and basic first aid. Some of the signs of heat-related illness in infants include looking unwell, being floppy or more irritable than usual, dry skin, refusing to drink, dehydration, having fewer wet nappies than usual or the soft spot on baby’s head may be lower than usual. For a more detailed rundown on symptoms and first-aid practises head over to the NSW Government Health page.
Most importantly, don’t wait to take your baby to a doctor or a hospital if you ever are unsure and in case of emergency. Babies don’t always show symptoms straight away so stay alert and take precaution.
5. Keep bub hydrated
Just like us adults, babies need to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. A clear sign that bub is hydrated is there are six to eight pale wet nappies a day.
During the first six months when your baby is being fed breast milk or formula, you shouldn't be giving them any water. That said, during hot weather, your baby might want to feed more than usual but in shorter bursts.
Summer can still be very enjoyable despite the heat. Plan your outdoor adventures wisely in the early morning and late afternoon. Be aware of heat symptoms and take action straight away. If you want more specific details on your local state or territory, you can contact your health department. Shop our range of breathable baby clothing that’s the perfect fit for summer.
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Maternity clothing. It’s a challenge every soon-to-be-mum is faced with. When should you start buying them? How do they work? What should you wear and not wear while pregnant? Well, fear not. Our Ultimate Guide to Maternity Clothing has got all your questions answered. So you can sit back and enjoy the ride that is pregnancy! When should I start buying maternity clothes? The majority of women can wear their normal clothes for most of the first trimester (three months), but you might need to consider a larger bra or loose-fitting clothing for comfort. Once you reach the four or five-month mark, you’ll most likely have to start wearing larger pieces – also known as maternity clothes. What should you wear while pregnant? Luckily, we live in an age where there are plenty of stylish and practical pregnancy clothes that make the challenge of getting dressed when expecting far easier (and much more fun!). 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Nadine Richardson, She Births® founder and doula, offers some hot holiday tips for pregnancy and parenting this festive season. Over to you, Nadine... The summer holidays are here, and this year you might have to do things a bit differently, especially if you’re living in Australia. Bushfires and higher temperatures mean that our time outside will most likely be limited. Time indoors combined with your in-laws and extended family, extra cooking and cleaning and the kids getting cabin fever could result in your holiday not being the downtime you planned on. So, here’s our top parenting and pregnancy tips for a healthy and happy holiday. We hope it helps to make your time together joyful. Pregnant over the holidays? There is one thing you really need if you are pregnant over the holidays: oxytocin, oxytocin, oxytocin. Oxytocin is the hormone for connection and the hormone of labour, so if it’s been a busy year, reconnect to your partner. 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They might also assist with the healthy development of bub’s neural tube and prevent birth defects (but always seek medical advice from your doctor). Make sure no more than 30% of your meal is cold. Here is our recipe for the Indian staple and super healing kitcheree – an essential for pregnant women. 4. Control your emotions Don’t take the arguments seriously. With the extra heat, tempers can rise a little faster. Make sure you have times just for you alone and spend time in nature, which is always relaxing and calming. And if you get cranky with each other, drink a big glass of water, then respond. Not only is this a great social skill, but will make you a good parent and role model to your children. Child behaviour is very influenced by parenting skills, so for positive discipline and positive parenting, take a calm and collected approach to your parenting style. Your children will thank you for it in the long run. One of the most common times people argue is when they are on holiday because as we relax stress releases from the nervous system, just the same principle in a very busy mind during meditation. Parenting over the holidays? The summer holiday period can come as a massive release for children. The built-up exhaustion from school and daycare or the daily routine (or lack thereof) with baby can wear us all down. And for adults, by the time we get the gifts bought and wrapped and the celebration meal cooked and the family over, it can feel like a marathon that we only just survived. So, when we finally sit down and shift into holiday mode, the lack of structure can be so freeing. There are more hands to tend to children and every day is filled with possibility for doing something or doing nothing. 5. Get lots of family time Family time has to be one of our number one top tips to parenting over the festive period. It seems obvious, but there is actually a lot going on when we spend time together, especially for children. Quality time is the first step to raising happy children – it bonds us together and gives children a sense of identity and belonging. The memories that we make are formative sacred moments, little pearls that string together and can be called on throughout life to reconnect, anchor and bring us joy. Family time can be spent in nature swimming or exploring rock platforms, playing games or watching cricket. It doesn’t matter too much what it is and if you think back to your childhood it’s usually the long lazy feel of holidays, the unremarkable moments and memories that are the ones we treasure. 6. Create your own traditions Many of us approach the holidays with traditions that stem from our own upbringing. Whether it’s the food we look forward to every year, the present opening or the influx of family in the house, it’s a time where it works best to meld the old with the new. Traditions can be very emotional and it is a time to ask what traditions you want to create for your children while respecting the traditions that have meaning for partners and their family. 7. Let yourself get bored You’ve been busy all year so don’t just let yourself do nothing, let yourself get bored. Boredom has been shown to boost creativity in adults and kids. This doesn’t mean you should ignore your children, just tolerate a bit of flopping and moaning and nudge them in the right direction. Allowing the mind to wander off develops initiative and helps to problem solve. It also lets the nervous system recover and take the foot off the accelerator. From our family to yours over this holiday period, we hope you have a wonderful and relaxing time with your nearest and dearest. May this pause be bonding and enriching, filled with experiences and moments of connection, rest and joy. --- Nadine Richardson, mother, yoga teacher, doula, Director of The Birthing Institute and Creator and Founder of the world’s only scientifically verified childbirth education program, She Births® and host of The She Births® Show (Podcast & YouTube). Nadine is an inspiration to all parents, female entrepreneurs and people passionate about making birth better. We are delighted to have her as an ambassador for Boody. Start your preparation for birth today by downloading the She Births® App, access lots of free resources and enjoy listening to The She Births® Show Podcast. We have a special gift for the Boody community – 10% off the Full Online Program with the code boody10. Follow She Births® on Instagram now!
