Keeping little ones safe this summer
After a long, cold, virus-heavy winter, many parents will be looking forward to summer – warmer days, fewer illnesses, and time outside with the kids. But after last year’s record-high temperatures, it’s important to remember that summer has dangers too.
Babies, with their delicate skin and inability to regulate temperature, are particularly sensitive to harsh sun and heat. Make sure you’re aware and prepared before summer starts, so you can protect your wee ones – no matter how hot it gets.
Here’s our summer safety toolkit:
Safer with sunscreen
Babies and small children have delicate skin that burns easily, so sunscreen is a non-negotiable in the summer months. Even if your children hate the application process, it’s still something that has to be done. If you make it a regular part of their morning routine, they’ll get used to it eventually.
• Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF30+ at minimum.
• Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you go outside, and remember to reapply every 3-4 hours.
• Use plenty – apply sunscreen thickly, and don’t miss areas like the back of the arms or ears.
• Keep bottles of sunscreen everywhere – the car, the baby bag, grandparents’ house – so you’re never caught without it.
• Don’t forget sunscreen on cloudy days – 80% of rays penetrate through cloud cover, so you can still get burnt.
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Shade solutions
Sunscreen is a must if you’re out in the sunshine, but it’s not the only way to prevent sunburn or overheating. Staying indoors or in the shade during the hottest part of the day helps you avoid the heat altogether while dressing appropriately keeps you – and your children – safe and comfortable.
• Try to avoid the sun between 11am-4pm, when UV rays are strongest.
• Dress your children in loose, dark-coloured or UV-protective clothing and swimwear – the sun’s rays can penetrate light, thin fabrics.
• Choose long-sleeved swimwear.
• Make sure your babies and children always wear hats – full brim is best.
• Use a sunshade or cover for your pram – but make sure it’s not preventing airflow to your baby, or she could overheat.
• Use a shade cloth or stick-on shade in the car, to keep your baby’s seat out of the sun.
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Overheating and hydration
During the summer months, it’s important to keep babies and children hydrated and cool as much as possible. Because they’re less developed than adults, babies and small children can’t regulate their body temperature properly, which means they’re more susceptible to overheating.
During record high temperatures, overheating and dehydration can be a real concern for smaller babies. Although it’s less common in New Zealand’s fairly temperate climate, babies have died of heat exhaustion in extreme weather
• Keep small children indoors, preferably with air conditioning on, during very high temperatures.
• Make sure children drink plenty of fluids – homemade ice-blocks are a great way to get more liquid into them.
• Give breastfed babies more frequent feeds – your milk will naturally be less concentrated to keep your baby hydrated. Drink more water yourself.
• Bottle-fed babies should also be given more feeds – you can offer small amounts of water if you’re concerned about dehydration.
• Dress babies and children lightly for sleep, and use a fan or air conditioning to keep the temperature in their room down.
• Never leave a baby or child alone in the car, as temperatures can rise extremely rapidly.
• If your baby or child is showing signs of dehydration or heatstroke – including lethargy, a dry mouth, fewer wet nappies, or a sunken fontanelle – seek medical treatment immediately.
If it all sounds a bit alarming, don’t worry. Summer should be a time of fun and relaxation, even when you do have small children. As long as you’re aware and well prepared, you – and your wee ones – should be fine.
