How to take the best care of your baby in summer

Soaring temperatures and the harsh heat can make the summer seem relentless. It will make a tough time for you and your baby. The summer heat can be dangerous for your baby as their skin is very delicate and can easily get affected by the heat. Newborns and toddlers are more prone to heat rashes on their skin. You can follow a few precautions that help you and your baby get through the summer healthily.

Common problems during the summer are

• Dehydration,
• Diarrhea,
• Vomiting,
• Sunburn,
• Heatstroke,
• Prickly heat,
• Insect bites,
• Skin allergies and rashes.

Hygiene and cleanliness

The summer heat increases perspiration, possibly leading to skin infections or rashes. When you give a bath to your baby, take special care to wash the baby’s neck, underarms, and other visible folds in their body. You can increase the number of proper baths or sponge baths to keep the baby cool and clean. For good hygiene, you could wash the baby’s laundry in hot water with a mild disinfectant to get rid of germs. Frequently wiping hands if the baby keeps touching the face helps to maintain hygiene.

Hygiene and cleanliness

The summer heat increases perspiration, possibly leading to skin infections or rashes. When you give a bath to your baby, take special care to wash the baby’s neck, underarms, and other visible folds in their body. You can increase the number of proper baths or sponge baths to keep the baby cool and clean. For good hygiene, you could wash the baby’s laundry in hot water with a mild disinfectant to get rid of germs. Frequently wiping hands if the baby keeps touching the face helps to maintain hygiene.

Clothes

Keep your babies cool with comfortable clothing. Cotton and light, loose-fitting clothes are good for your baby. Use a summer hat to protect his/her face when you step out of the house. Keep your baby’s arms and legs covered with light clothes with breathable materials like cotton to protect them from mosquitoes.

Keep them at bay from direct sunlight

Newborns should be exposed to morning sunlight for at least 30 minutes and avoid it in peak summer heat. Newborns and infants below six months have very little melanin in their skin to protect against harmful sun rays. Melanin is a pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their colour and protects them from the sun. Avoid going out with a newborn and older infant between 11 am to 3 pm when the sun is at its strongest.

Avoid dehydration

Just like adults, babies and young children need plenty of water or fluids to avoid dehydration.

Breastfed babies do not require water until they have started solids. For older children, give plenty of fruits or fruit juices to help keep their fluid levels up.

Note: Undiluted fruit juices or smoothies should not be given to children until they are 5.

Oil body massage

Body massage is good for the baby’s growth. In summer, you need to choose an oil that is not very sticky for the baby’s delicate skin. Thick oil tends to remain on the skin, which later causes irritation or heat rashes to the baby. You need to be careful while washing off the oil during the bath as oil can block sweat pores which may cause prickly heat rash.