Taking Care of Babies and Toddlers during Summer
Tips for Summer care for babies less than 6 months
1. Keep Baby hydrated
Babies shouldn’t be given water until he is about 6 months old. Giving water to young babies puts them at risk of diarrhea and malnutrition.
Breast milk and formula milk can be given more frequently to keep them hydrated and they can get all the water they need from Breast milk or formula.
2. Avoid the Scorching Sun
To keep babies safe from heat rash or heat stroke avoid going out in the sun from 11 am to 4 pm. Babies' skin tends to burn faster than adults, so it best to keep babies indoors during the peak sun.
3. Appropriate clothing
Do not use layers of clothes during summer as it will make baby hot. Cotton shorts and cotton dresses will make babies comfortable and better to avoid synthetic fabrics. Do not use any synthetic clothes for baby during the summer season. The clothes should be a little loose to make airflow easier.
For newborns just wrap him in light muslin or cotton wraps no heavy blanket.
4. Baby Massage during Summer
Massaging baby before the bath is always good, but you have to keep a few things in mind during the summer season.
Coconut oil is preferred for baby massage. Coconut oil provides a cooling effect on the body as it’s lighter in texture and easily absorbs into the skin. Sesame oil or almond oil can also be considered.
Avoid mustard oil during summer as it has warming properties.
Taking Care of Babies and Toddlers during Summer
1. Right Food for babies )above 6 months toddlers during summer months
For toddlers and babies above 6 months, we can give them fruit yogurt, smoothies, and tender coconut water to keep them cool. Other than that Cucumber, berries, mango also keeps toddlers hydrated.
Include lots of vegetables in the form of salad and avoid giving fried food or chips or roadside food items. While going outside its encouraged to carry a bottle of water containing glucose and avoid giving packaged fruit juices.
Instead, give homemade juices and drinks at regular intervals to keep them cool and hydrated.
2. Avoid outdoor play during peak sun time
It’s good not to take toddlers to the playground from morning 10 till 4 o’clock.
In case of emergency, traveling put sun shades in the car. Sunscreen can be applied to toddlers (above 6 months). Whenever you choose a sunscreen check that it is appropriate for the age-group.
3. Clothing for Toddlers during Summer
Light-colored clothes and cotton fabric is preferred during the hot summer. Onesie is best suited during the day for indoors.
Stay away from synthetic clothes even if there is a function or party. Loose-fitting cotton clothes should be the way to go during summer.
4. Diaper rash
In summer diaper rash is very common in toddlers, so cloth nappies can be used instead of Diapers during the day or if not traveling.
Wash off the bottom with lukewarm water frequently and apply diaper rash cream or petroleum jelly to prevent diaper rash. You may even apply a very thin layer of coconut oil.
Give a lot of air time to allow for the skin to breathe and recover from rashes in any.
5. Pool time for toddlers and kids
Water play is generally fun for toddlers and kids and what can be the best time to keep them entertained either in the pool or in bathtubs other than summer. At home, you can make bath time enjoyable for kids in their bathtubs by providing them bath toys and bathing books that are waterproof. Splish-splash-splosh and a cranky toddler will soon be happy after a bubble bath.
If planning to take kids on a pool, please be well equipped with all necessary items such as sunscreen, re-useable swimming nappies or disposable swimming nappies, hats, swim trunks or swimsuits, Swim earplugs to prevent middle ear infection, UV blocking sunglasses and a water bottle.
Do not leave toddlers or kids unattended either in a bathtub or in the pool. As parents, we should be aware of pool safety guidelines for better protection of our kids.
6. Beware of Bugs and Mosquitoes during Summer
It’s important to stay away from mosquitoes and bug bites this summer. Wearing light-colored clothing is one of the ways to keep mosquitoes at bay. Using mosquito repellents can provide relief too if not allergic to it.
So we need to keep our surrounding clean and hygienic to prevent bugs or mosquitoes to breed.
7. Points to keep in mind when keeping baby in air-conditioning
Air-conditioning can be tricky especially for babies and young children. It is best to keep babies in a well-ventilated and cool room rather than an air-conditioned room as much as possible. However, in current times, it is almost impossible to do without air-conditioning. Keep below points in mind when using AC for the baby or young children:
- Keep the temperature at a comfortable 24-26 degrees. The temperature should not be very low as that may cause the baby to catch a cold.
- Whenever going out of the AC room, switch off the AC for some time so that baby’s body has a chance to get acclimatize to normal temperature before going out of the room.
- Make baby sleep in a fully covered cotton onesie or body-suit, so that s/he does not catch a cold even if the blanket is off them while sleeping.
Follow these tips even when you are using air-conditioning in the car.
8. Using Talcum Powder for Babies and Toddlers during summer
Many parents prefer using talcum powder to make the baby comfortable during the hot summer months. You may use it sparingly, but it is considered not too good to use too much talc for babies. You may use very little of it after the bath.
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