How to Keep your Baby Cool this Summer
Baby it's Hot Outside!
We seem to wait SO long for summer to arrive and then when it finally does, we need to learn how to keep our babies cool and comfortable in the sometimes-unbearable heat (although, we never like to complain about the heat, since we'll soon enough be plunged back into the negative numbers on the thermometer!).
Here are a few suggestions from Fitmama Strong Online to help keep your baby cool over the summer months:
If your baby is younger than 6 months old, you may want to try to keep them out of the direct sunlight, since their skin has less melanin (the pigment the provides a tiny bit of protection from the sun).
When your baby gets a little older, you can begin to use sunscreen to help keep them safe from the sun, since keeping a moving baby out of the direct sun is a tough job for any mama! The Badger Baby's Natural Organic Sunscreen is one that's recommended, but if you have other recommendations, please leave them in the comments!
You can try sun-safe clothing when your babies are outside at the park and it's more difficult to find the shade of a tree.
When our kids were little, they loved splashing "in the pool". We had a green "turtle" pool, where a little water from the hose (usually quite cold!) did the trick. Usually, the adults get some benefits as well and at the end of a pool session, and manage to get pretty wet!
Giving your baby a cooler temperature bath before bed can often help them settle into a better sleep a little more easily.
Draw the blinds in your baby's room and the rest of your house to keep the rooms cool during the day.
If you're breastfeeding your baby, you might find that babies want to nurse more frequently on hotter days. Continue to breastfeed on demand to keep them well hydrated. Older babies might enjoy water from a sippy cup to stay hydrated.
Babywearing on hot days can be warm for both mom and baby! Choose your lightest fabric carrier and add a small towel between you and your baby to prevent the sweaty/sticky feeling. Babies might also feel more comfortable in just a diaper and a onesie, especially if you're outdoors. Try using an umbrella to provide a bit of shade.
A wide brim hat helps shade your baby's face and neck from the sun. Be warned, though, that it might turn into a little game of putting on, throwing off on the ground. Usually this is repeated multiple times! Not to worry, you'll get lots of exercise playing this game when you squat down to pick up the hat:)
A visit to the splash pad is also a fun way for both mama and baby to stay cool!
Sprinklers and home made slip and slides have been among the favourite water activities for our kids, once they were a bit older. When we see the smiles on their faces, we understand why!
If you have any other tips or tricks that you've used to keep your baby comfortable in the summer heat, please feel free to share them in the comments below.
Interested in joining us? Our classes are a great way to meet other new parents. Fitmama Strong Online has been operating classes online from our virtual studio since 2020. Our community is a thriving and welcoming space for you and your littles.
We offer Prenatal Fitness classes, live from our virtual studio. Our series of Prenatal classes includes On-Demand Prenatal Yoga classes. Our 30 minute live, online Express classes our our On-Demand library of pre-recorded workouts are a favourite for busy mamas who enjoy consistency in their workout regime.
If you’re new to Fitmama Strong Online, try one of our 3 Class Passes! You can use them at our postnatal Express Strong and Express Elevate classes. It doesn’t matter if your baby was born 6 weeks ago or 6 years ago, we have something for all postnatal members! Already been to Fitmama Strong classes? Grab a monthly membership and keep moving:)
Finally, we offer in-person Stroller Fitness and Babywearing Fitness through our Durham Region and Ottawa locations. We can’t wait to have you join us!
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