Looking after babies and children in the sun

Here in the UK we are known to get a little excited when the sun decides to make an appearance. After all, it doesn’t feel that it is very often that we see it. This means that we all have a tendency to head outside to soak up every little bit that we can.

As adults, we are pretty adept at looking after ourselves in the sunshine, however, the same doesn’t seem to be able to be said for our little ones. The skin of young children and babies is incredibly sensitive, particularly to sunlight and, not only this but they are more likely to struggle with heatstroke with prolonged exposure to warm weather.

So, what can you do? We have put together some of the best hints, tricks and tips for parents wanting to keep their babies and young children cool and safe during the hot weather.

Keep them cool at night

Getting your little one to sleep at night when it is hot is not the easiest of things in the world. However, the trick here is to ensure that you have dressed them for the room temperature. You may find that a short baby grow or pyjamas that are made of shorts and t-shirt are the best approach to take.

Ventilate your home

If your home is just as hot as outside, then you are going to want to try and help to cool it down as best you can. A simple way to do this is to remember that heat rises, and therefore open the highest windows (or even better a loft hatch) as this will allow all that hot air that has built up to escape.

Give your little one a quick and cool bath

We know just how amazing it feels to hop into a cool shower after a long, hot, sweaty day. The same is true for your little one. Pop them in a cool bath before they head to bed and their body temperature will be brought right down. Just make sure that they don’t stay in there too long else they could get too cold.

Dress them in light clothes

No-one wants to be wearing heavy clothes in the hot weather, let alone your children. Dress them in light, loose clothes and they are going to instantly feel a whole lot better. Go one step further and make sure that you stay away from dark colours which absorb the heat and you will have a much happier, comfier child.

Always get them to wear a hat

It is easier said than done, we know, but it is incredibly important to cover your child’s head any way that you can. Get them to wear a hat during the hottest parts of the day as well as sitting in the shade. The more that you can keep the sun off of their head, the better that they are going to feel.

Opt to stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day

Whilst it may not always be possible, if you do want to brave the sunshine, then you need to try and avoid being out in it for extended periods of time between 12pm and 3pm. This is when the sun is at its strongest and when you and your little one has the greatest risk of sunstroke or sunburn.

As you can see, there are ways that you can enjoy the hot weather, without worrying about it causing a problem for your child. Why not try out some of these tips today and see if it makes them a whole lot happier and you a whole lot more relaxed?