We did intend to write a blogpost today on a different topic, but with the UK in the middle of a heatwave, and temperatures likely exceeding all previous records, we thought it important to look at the impact of heat on the early years, children and young people.
If you do a Google search there is a lot, an awful lot, of advice on how to care for people when the weather is so hot. However, we wanted to be sure that the advice we are suggesting, comes from reputable sites as babies and children can become seriously ill in very hot weather.
The website we would recommend you visit is the NHS here. We’ve looked at Sun Safety and Keeping Cool (taken directly from the NHS Website), but don’t forget to keep baby hydrated, they can’t let you know but they can dehydrate quickly.
‘Sun Safety
Keep your baby cool and protect them from the sun.
- Babies less than 6 months old should be kept out of direct sunlight. Their skin contains too little melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their colour, and provides some protection from the sun.
- Older babies should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly in the summer and between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. If you go out when it’s hot, attach a parasol or sunshade to your baby’s pushchair to keep them out of direct sunlight.
- Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to your baby’s skin. Make sure the product also protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Many brands produce sunscreen specifically for babies and young children, as these products are less likely to contain additives that might irritate the skin. Apply the suncream regularly, particularly if your child is in and out of the sea or paddling pool.
- Make sure your child wears a sunhat with a wide brim or a long flap at the back to protect their head and neck from the sun.’
‘Keeping cool
Follow these tips to help keep your children cool and safe during hot weather.
- Playing in a paddling pool is a good way of keeping babies and children cool. Keep the pool in the shade during very hot weather and supervise the children carefully at all times.
- Run them a cool bath before bedtime.
- Keep your child’s bedroom cool during the day by closing blinds or curtains. You can also use a fan to circulate the air in the room.
- Keep nightwear and bedclothes to a minimum. If your baby kicks or pushes off the covers during the night, consider putting them in just a nappy with a single well-secured sheet that will not work loose and cover their face or get entangled during the night.
- A nursery thermometer will help you monitor the temperature of your baby’s room. Your baby will sleep most comfortably when their room is between 16C and 20C.’
