Baby Squids Summer Checklist for Staying Cool!

Babies and young children are more sensitive to summer than adults and during hotter weather, extra care should always be taken. We’ve put this checklist and top tips together to help you and your little people stay safe and happy in the heat! It’s often tricky to know what’s going on with little ones. Combined heat reactions with teething and summer broken sleep patterns, its a constant cycle of checks! 

So, here’s our Baby Squids Summer Checklist of what to monitor and some helpful hints to help keep you and little ones cooler and more comfortable.

WHAT TO MONITOR:

Tiredness & grumpiness – more than normal! Sleep patterns can be all over the place in the heat, for them and us! Restlessness can sometimes be a sign of dehydration too so keep an eye of their mood and top up on sleep and nap times when you can!

Watch for wetness…or rather dryness: Be mindful of signs of dehydration and pay attention to how often they wee, if the have fewer wet nappies.

Dizziness and clumsiness – coordination can become slow with dehydration so keep a close eye on how clumsy they are and be prepared for a few more bumps and ouchies than normal.

Sickness – not just the usual post feed reflux. This can be a serious sign of dehydration so seek medical advice ASAP.

Babies and young children may not show early signs and symptoms of the effects of heat. They may just look unwell or be more irritable than usual. Babies may seem floppy, have drier skin, and refuse to drink, or have fewer wet nappies than usual. The soft spot on top of a baby’s head (fontanelle) may also be lower than usual.

Other things to look out for:

1. Sweating a lot or have pale and clammy skin
2. Heat rash
3. Flushed cheeks and skin
4. Dry mouth and lips
5. High temperature
6. Constantly thirsty
7. Breathing fast
8. Fast, accelerated resting heartbeat
   
   

TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION

The signs of heat stress/heat stroke need to be taken seriously – and acted on swiftly! Be prepared to call 111 or head to A&E if you see them in yourself or your infant and act fast to prevent them escalating. 

HYDRATION:

• Offer frequent breastfeeds or formula top-ups: little ones don’t always know they are thirsty so be aware of offering more frequently. Consider offering sips of water (for babies 6+ months) small sips of water can be helpful in addition to milk feeds. Put a muslin/cloth between you and the baby while you nurse to help reduce sweating.
• Babies tend to eat less when it’s hot but more often, so keep offering!
• According to the NHS website, fully breastfed babies do not need any water until they’ve started eating solid foods. Be aware that during hot weather, they may want to breastfeed more than usual.
• If you’re bottle feeding, as well as their usual milk feeds, you can give your baby a little cooled boiled water. If your baby wakes at night, they’ll probably want milk. If they have had their usual milk feeds, try cooled boiled water as well.
• Remember you can ask your health visitor or 111 health professional for advice about any baby care issue, so its always better to seek advice and never assume.
• Set up a hydration station for toddlers and make it fun and a game to monitor what they drink and how ofter. Its a good way of keeping a record for them – and you!
• Add ice, frozen fruit or coconut water for extra chill! Frozen lollies made from plain water or from very diluted fruit juice to help keep everyone hydrated.
• Eat light & cool and water rich foods. The perfect time to introduce little ones to watermelon! Fresh juicy fruits, cool yogurt and cucumber are summer wins!
• And for you – eat little, light and more often. 
• KEEP DRINKING plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty! Chasing after little people can be thirsty work! But we can get so focussed on them, we don’t think about our own hydration. First signs of dehydration for adults are weeing less and bright orange or darker urine so switch these body’s own warning signs into action and get guzzling! 
• COMING TO OUR LESSONS? Bring a plastic or aluminium bottle of water only to poolside and take little sips throughout the class. Don’t use glass bottles. And keep it to water, in case of spillages – we dont want to have to shut the pools for iced lattes in the pools that will contaminate the water readings and mean we can’t teach!

WATER FUN:

• Go swimming! Come to a class! Lots of paddling pool time and cool bath play! Splashy fun all the way! And always with active adult supervision! 
• Use a fine mist spray bottle (for older babies) A light mist of water can help cool them and you – down.
• Consider cool baths or lukewarm water sponging. A cooler (but not cold) bath before bedtime can also help regulate temperature.  
• Keep yourself cool by using wet towels on your wrists or neck, putting your feet in a bucket of cool water (which feels lovely when you’re breast feeding!) and taking cool but not cold showers – especially together with little ones. 

TIMING:

• Try to do as little as possible during the hottest part of the day when the sun is the strongest between 11am – 3pm.
• Focus on keeping baby calm, so low energy activities and simple, quieter games and lots of story time.
• Opt for early morning and evening playtime, walks and outdoor fun and always seek the shade of a tree. Concrete can retain heat as it’s a conductor so water down your patio to help cool it down. Go the back roads, stay away from busy motorways and choose quieter streets. Walk on the pavement thats in the shade. 

CLOTHING:

• Dress your baby in lightweight, breathable clothing that is loose-fitting, light-colored and natural fabrics like cotton. Stay away from synthetic fabrics, especially pajamas!
• Be mindful of the baby’s body heat when using slings: Choose lightweight fabrics and be aware that the baby is receiving your body heat. 
• Pop a cotton sun hat on! Little ones can wear a broad brimmed hat to help keep cool.
• Regularly check your baby’s temperature. Feel their chest or the back of their neck as their hands and feet will be cooler than the rest of their body.

OUT & ABOUT:

• Don’t cover the buggy with a blanket or muslin as it can make it too hot under there and the air can’t circulate. 
• Try not to leave babies to sleep in a pram in hot weather – prams can be hot and airless so make sure air can circulate around your baby and remove any padding around your baby’s pram.
• Try to park buggy up in the shade/indoors as much as possible.
• Use a cotton sheet instead of a picnic blanket.
• Plan ahead and visit the local public places which are cooler than home – consider the library, local swimming pool or a shady park.
• Travel the back roads, stay away from busy motorways in peak times and choose quiet streets to walk along. Less traffic and walking on the pavement side thats in the shade all helps.
• Keep a couple of damp flannels handy (in a zip lock bag in the nappy bag if out & about) to moisten baby’s skin and back of the neck, ankles and wrists – try it on yourself too, it feels SO GOOD!

AT HOME:

• Keep rooms as clear and clutter free as possible. Store blankets and plastic toys away from baby’s room, try to keep spaces open to help to circulate airflow.
• Cover mattresses and waterproof sheets with a towel or layers of cotton sheets to absorb perspiration and prevent prickly heat rash.
• Avoid swaddling your baby too heavily or use thin muslin.
• Put your baby to bed in just a nappy and loose fitting vest. This can help them to feel cool, lightly covered, secure and safe. 
• Use a thermometer to check the baby’s room is c.20°C degrees and try to maintain this temperature so it’s cooler but not too extreme.
• Keep windows open at night if its safe and close windows and blinds or curtains to prevent the room heating up during the day.
• Use car windshield shade visor at windows at home if it’s blasted by the sun all day.
• Avoid daytime cooking and baking. If needed, cook your meals during evening as you do not want to be using your oven and heating up your house more during the heat! 
• Find a fan with a box/mesh cage around the blades and lightly drape a small damp (not dripping wet!) cloth over it – like a pillowcase. When the air blows through the damp fabric the water evaporates and cools the air. 
• Pop a frozen water bottle infront of an open window or fan to help cool the air flow temp cool – you’ll be amazed at how quickly this can help bring the room temperature down.
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We’d love to know if you have any tips too? Share in the comments below!

Lets stay cool together!