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Top Tips for Keeping Your Baby Cool in the Summer

With the summer finally upon us, most of us are pleased to welcome the warmer weather, but we also know how challenging it can be to keep your child cool in the heat. Here are some top tips on keeping babies and children cool in the summer months.

a baby playing with water to Keep Cool during summer

Prevent your child from overheating

Babies and children in their early years can struggle to regulate their body temperature, this is exacerbated even more so when we have warm days. We know how uncomfortable this can feel, the excessive sweating, breathing and thirst are just some of the side effects of being too warm. Therefore it is important on hot days to prevent your baby and child from overheating. 

Here are some tips on how to do just that:

  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (cold water- give them great independence skills by letting the older children practice pouring their own water in open cups )
  • Eat cold/frozen foods (popsicles, frozen fruit, smoothies, salads-have a fun cooking activity by making the frozen fruit or smoothies with your children)
  • Stay in the shade (go into the woods- gaze up at the beautiful canopies of trees and see what birds you can find)
  • Avoid peak heat hours (11:00 am – 2:00 pm)
  • Dress accordingly (light, loose, airy clothing)
  • Get wet! (Use this as an opportunity to introduce fun water play, and introduce mathematical language by pouring and tipping water jugs. Spray some cool water on their feet/hands.)
  • Never put a blanket over your baby’s car seat/pushchair, this may provide shade but due to the fabric of the blanket it will in fact make the baby warmer
  • Invest in a fan to clip onto your pram to direct a cool wind on your baby

Keep your baby hydrated

The NHS recommends that infants under six months old shouldn’t drink water so it may seem harder to keep them hydrated. If you are breastfeeding, you will probably find that your baby wants to feed more throughout the day/night to quench their thirst. We also suggest for slightly older babies to have their water bottle filled as much as possible, if it is there in front of them they will be more likely to drink from it. For older children, again use this as a great opportunity to teach great independence skills by letting them try to pour their own water into their cups.

Cool your “hot zones” 

There are pressure points in your body that can quickly add to the heat your body is producing. When you’re super hot, try applying a little ice pack or a bottle filled with iced water to these specific spots and that will help your child cool down immediately. Use this opportunity to teach children vocabulary of their body parts.

  • Temples
  • Neck
  • Ankles
  • Behind the knees
  • Wrists
  • Bends of your elbow

Keep your baby’s or child’s room cool in summer

Think about how you feel on warm nights, often restless with the heat, your baby and child will feel the same. You need to ensure their room is kept cool so they are able to get a good night’s sleep – as well as you! 

Here are some suggestions on how you can do this:

  • Use a thermometer to measure the temperature in their room
  • Invest in a fan or a portable air conditioning unit to reduce the temperature in their room
  • Dress your baby appropriately for the weather, just a nappy or underwear may be all that’s required!
  • Don’t worry about using a blanket
  • Keep their blinds or curtains closed throughout the day to block out sunlight

The signs of heatstroke in children 

Babies and toddlers have an increased risk of overheating as they are not as efficient at regulating their body temperature. It’s important to know the first signs of heatstroke or heat exhaustion and constantly be on the lookout for any symptoms if you’re going to spend time in the summer heat.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion can include stomach and leg cramps, thirst, being tired, or cool moist skin. Touch your children often to feel the texture and temperature of their skin. If you notice any of these things, act immediately to cool your child down to prevent heat stroke.

The symptoms of heatstroke in children include:

  • a high temperature of 103F (39.4 C) degrees and above without sweating
  • headache, which can cause irritability
  • restlessness
  • lethargy
  • vomiting
  • breathing that is shallow and quick
  • unconsciousness
  • dizziness or confusion

Remember that sweating, being red-faced, thirsty, and warm are normal reactions to heat. It is when your child shows any abnormal reactions (such as those listed above), that the situation becomes incredibly dangerous. Act immediately to get your child help.

Make sure you take all the precautions you can to keep your baby cool so that they can enjoy and make the most of the summer. Remember to use your thermometer at night to check on their room temperature, and don’t forget, even though creating shade for them with a muslin or blanket might seem like a good idea, it will actually make them warmer.

Get in touch

Here at All About children, we consciously make sure the children at our nursery are always as comfortable as possible. If you’d like to find out more information on keeping your baby cool in summer or how we do this, please contact us today.

What Our Parents Say

Our girls are so happy at PlayPlus, we feel very fortunate to have found such a nurturing environment for them. The team are all incredibly kind and caring and know the children really well. The outside space is brilliant and we love it when they bring home all of their art work and show us what they’ve been up to with their friends!

Parent of Child

I love PlayPlus. I visited every single nursery in Hemel Hempstead before I finally decided on PlayPlus. I feel 100% comfortable and happy dropping our daughter here on my working days. Me and my partner liked that PlayPlus feels like a home from home. It is just off the a41 but also feels like it is nestled in countryside. There is a good amount of parking. There is a large garden at the back for the children to play in and a good sized garden in the front. The staff are friendly and welcoming and I particularly liked that the staff were experienced rather than school graduates. Our daughter at 3 years old can already count well, recite the alphabet and is competent with colours and shapes. She was speaking fluently by 2 years old which made our life a lot easier! There is no doubt that PlayPlus have helped our daughter develop and progress. So much so our younger daughter will be joining next month. I have and will continue to recommend PlayPlus to our friends and family

Parent of Child

Our daughter is soon to leave and, despite being keen to start school, she'll really miss coming here. She's been very here and always comes out smiling - especially going back after lockdown! The staff in both the baby unit and Kingsway are excellent and it's clear they really care about the children in their groups. The garden is also fantastic and it's great that the children get to spend so much time outside. Our son will be starting in the baby unit soon and we know we'll be leaving him in good hands.

Parent of Child

Friendly and relaxed atmosphere – it’s a home from home, the staff are brilliant, I couldn’t wish for more.

Parent of Child

Whatever time I drop my child into the nursery the staff are always playing and interacting with the children

Parent of Child

Very talented and caring staff. My son really loved this nursery. He learnt a lot in all aspects from communication, relationship building, being independent, to learning maths, shapes, letters, word, sentences etc. Really pleased with the development. Thanks to all the lovely staff, you are all the best.

Vaibhav H (Father of Child)

My daughter has been in the nursery since the Baby Room. It has been an incredible journey. Now she is in the pre-school and every day she is excited to go to the nursery. She loves the staff, her key worker, the other kids, the setting (especially the garden). She really enjoys all the activities organised through the week/day. She enjoys and has fun while learning. The staff encourage and support multilingual families making the kids feel proud they can speak more than one language. Now the staff are also getting her ready to go to school this September. The staff have always been amazing, very approachable, flexible and caring.

B C (Father of Child)

The staff are so kind and caring, they all know my daughter even those in different rooms. She skips in to see them every day and they are as excited as me when she does new things. It's a home away from home.

H G (Mother of Child)

I can't thank the staff enough for giving me peace of mind when my child is with them. The number and variety of activities each day is amazing and the fact they manage to get in the garden or go on trips - even in winter is fantastic. My child's development is streets ahead of his peers who don't attend nursery.

S H (Mother of Child)

The nursery has a lovely nurturing and vibrant atmosphere which my son loves. There is plenty of space for him to explore and learn via the vast range of toys and equipment they have. I know he is well cared for. I am always well informed and I work together with the nursery staff to give my son the best possible experience.

Claire F (Mother of Child) 

The care, consideration and attention my son receives is exemplary. Staff pay attention to his strengths and weaknesses and verbalise them to us and ideas for developing them are implemented. All staff demonstrate an excellent attitude and have excellent relationships with their designated children.

A D (Father of Child)

The staff were warm, caring and professional and the facilities are great. We felt like our daughter was part of a big family. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all working there.

E S (Mother of Child)

I have been impressed by the level of care given to my son since he started. The daily warm welcome of the staff makes both children and parents alike feel at ease. Seeing the smile on my boy's face as we drive into the car park is proof enough for me that the team are doing something right.

Alexander M (Father of Child)

My little girl has recently started and is absolutely loving her time at nursery. The settling in sessions were brilliant and really helped put my mind at ease, especially with me starting back at work. The ladies in the Baby Room are super friendly and enthusiastic and I can't thank them enough for their support in what could have been quite an emotional rollercoaster.

G W (Mother of Child)

Once I drop my son off into the Baby Room, I feel he's as safe and as well looked after as I do at home.

Laura R (Mother of Child)