Posted by Keri Hartwright Last updated 16th June 2022 reading time
The heat is difficult for us all to cope with, but extreme heat can be stressful for new parents who are really worried about their new arrival.
I often get asked on first aid courses about how to dress the baby, what to do if the room is too hot and so on. So I thought I would share my top tips,
Top Tips
How often should they be fed?
If the baby is breast fed keep offering the breast more often than usual, remember that breast milk is both their food and their drink.
If they are bottle fed keep offering the feed as normal. Â If they are still needing feeds offer some cooled boiled water (www.nhs.uk).
Signs of dehydration would include
Less wet nappies
the baby becoming floppy and lethargic
The skin may look paler than normal
They may have dry lips.
What should they wear?
Knowing how to dress them can be tricky, in the heat it is a bit easier than the cold as you can dress them in light clothing at home.
When out and about keep their limbs covered with loose fitting clothing and put a hat on their head.
Do not put a blanket over their buggy to provide shade as it can cause them to over heat.
How can I deal with a hot room?
The recommended temperature is 18 degrees, but during hot spells rooms can get really hot at night.
A few things you can do are
Keep the curtains closed during the day
Ventilate the room using a fan which circulates cool air.
Sometimes there is little you can do about the temperature.
Enjoy the sun, follow the usual advice about avoiding the heat of the day, taking plenty of fluids and keeping covered and you should be okay.
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