Pediatrics Articles

Baby and the heat: how to help your baby survive the heat?

2013-07-25

You were looking forward to the summer time to enjoy the bright sun, green grass and long walks with the baby on fresh air. However, the long-awaited warmth again becomes like a sweltering inferno, it becomes increasingly difficult to breathe, the asphalt melts, and with it your hopes for a carefree vacation. You begin to suspect that weather forecasters will soon record new temperature records, there is already a queue lined up in the park for refreshing kvass and ice cream, and your little one begins to cry more often, sleep worse, sweat more and behave restlessly on the street.

For a small child with his imperfect thermoregulation and delicate skin, extreme heat threatens heatstroke and sunburn, and overheating is much more dangerous for him than hypothermia. How to protect your baby from the heat? How to help your baby survive the heat? We hasten to reassure you that you can adapt to any climate surprises.

Let's create coolness in the apartment

In the heat, the atmosphere in the apartment truly “heats up”, so your main task is to prevent the room from overheating. First of all, remember that the coolest time of day during the summer heat is the evening and morning hours. In this regard, open windows only when dusk falls or in the early morning (around 5 o'clock the air is fresh, clean and cool). There is no need to do this during the day, as you will only raise the temperature in the rooms. If the windows of your apartment face the sunny side, use thick curtains or close the blinds to prevent bright rays from heating the air. Wet cleaning should be carried out more often, and it is better to use cold water for these purposes. Air conditioning and fan - good means fight the heat. Use technology wisely: first cool the room by leaving it for a while with your baby, then return to the pleasant coolness. It is not recommended to stay with a baby in a room with the air conditioner on.

Little tricks:

• you can humidify the air in the apartment using a spray bottle, spraying water several times a day, as well as wetting the leaves indoor plants;
• You can reduce the stuffiness a little by placing containers of water on the cabinets - this is also a way to increase the humidity level;
• Another way to refresh the atmosphere in the apartment is to hang a sheet soaked in water on the balcony or window during evening or morning ventilation.

Changing your walking routine

As soon as the daytime temperature exceeds 28 0 C, the time for walking with the baby will have to be adjusted. You will no longer be able to walk with your baby at lunchtime, as this can lead to overheating and sunburn. The optimal time for exercise is before 11 a.m. and after 5 p.m. The most radically minded experts recommend going out no later than 8 a.m., and by 10 a.m. already “hiding” at home. Go to a public garden or a shady park, do not walk near the highway (hot asphalt, exhaust fumes and noise are not the best companions for a baby). You should be aware that a dense forest can be very humid and stuffy in the heat, so a place with a moderate number of trees and good air ventilation will be best for you.

Little tricks:

• Take wet wipes for a walk - you can wipe your baby with them if he sweats;
• keep a bottle of water ready;
• put a fan in the stroller - if the baby becomes completely stuffy, you can refresh him a little;
• Prepare a cotton handkerchief and a bottle of cool water. If signs of overheating occur, wet a handkerchief and place it on the baby's head (covering the forehead).

We bathe and dry ourselves

Water treatments are a real lifesaver for parents of a baby who has a hard time surviving the heat. In the summer heat, it is allowed to increase the number of daily baths up to 3-4 times. The most important thing is to monitor the temperature of the water, avoid the temptation to make it too cool, and after the next bath, dry your baby thoroughly. Damp skin combined with the occasional draft can add unnecessary problems to your skin. Meanwhile, you can wipe the baby with a damp towel several times a day. Don’t forget to wash your little one by wetting his face with water, wash your child more often, but don’t expect any good from soap and shampoos - use such hygiene products no more than once a day.

Little tricks:

• when going to the dacha, do not forget to take a small baby bath with you; it can be placed right in the garden;
• If your baby can’t sit up yet, buy a bath slide. This will allow you to use less water for bathing, and also free your hands to play during water procedures.

The right clothes

If we are talking about standard summer weather, then preference should be given to light suits made of cotton or linen. Natural materials are well ventilated, allow the baby's skin to breathe and do not allow UV rays to pass through. Clothes must be light colors And loose fit. Fabric that fits tightly to the body is easily damaged in the heat delicate skin baby. If the heat is too strong, then at home you should completely abandon not only clothes, but also disposable diapers. The baby does not need to wear any shoes or socks. If the baby is in the open sun, do not forget about a hat. A light-colored Panama hat provides excellent protection from overheating, and its wide brim or visor protects the child’s eyes from the sun’s rays.

Little tricks:

• To prevent a “baby surprise” from ruining your bed or sofa while your baby is resting without a diaper, purchase special disposable absorbent diapers.

We apply it to the breast more often and give water.

In hot weather, babies often lose their appetite. At the same time, they eat more often, but in small portions. In this situation, experts recommend putting breastfed babies to the breast, large quantity once a day than usual. Breast milk is not only food, but also a source of fluid. It is necessary for proper metabolism, quenching thirst and preventing dehydration.

For bottle-fed children, keep a bottle of regular drinking water on hand - the baby needs plenty of fluids, so it won’t be superfluous. The baby should be given water in between feedings, but not before the feeding itself. Let the child drink as much as he wants (the usual rate is about 60-100 ml.). Pediatricians warn that in the summer heat one should not give up breastfeeding and introduce complementary foods to infants. If the heat is extremely strong, it is best to continue feeding your little one with breast milk until the fall.

How to help your child cope with the heat. Particularly hot days are quite difficult for adults to endure. But for babies this test is even more difficult. Therefore, they require some care.

How to help your baby during the heat?

Below we suggest considering tips that will help your child cope with extreme heat.

How to dress newborns outside in the summer

For a baby, you need to buy clothes made exclusively from natural fabrics. Not only are such clothes absolutely harmless to the baby, they also provide good air circulation. This way, the baby's skin will breathe all the time. In addition, clothing should be completely comfortable. There is no need to wear small underwear or fasten it with all the buttons. After all, this leads to skin irritation.

How to help your child cope with the heat at home

For babies, you should also use cotton bedding. It absorbs moisture, including human sweat. This will allow your baby to sleep peacefully and not wake up again due to high heat.

As for drinking water, it all depends on whether you are breastfeeding your baby. considered more than just food. It also serves as a thirst quencher. If you are breastfeeding, be sure to consult your pediatrician. He will tell you exactly what norm is acceptable for a baby. During hot weather, the optimal dose of water per day is considered to be up to 60 ml. If you are not breastfeeding your baby, then by all means.

Don't forget to normalize the room temperature using an air conditioner or fan. This will significantly improve the baby's condition. But do not allow the air temperature to drop below 22 - 23 degrees.

Throughout the day, you can moisturize your baby with a spray. And when bathing, do not make the bath hot. For a baby, it will be enough to heat the water to 27 - 30 degrees.

How to walk with a baby in hot weather

Now let's look at safety measures while walking. In general, there is no need to take your baby outside during the hottest part of the day, namely from 11 am to 4 pm. In any case, it is necessary to wear a hat and clothing that will prevent overheating, heat stroke or burns. You can smear the baby's skin sunscreen. Walk with your child mostly in the shade.

If you are traveling in a car, place your baby in the middle so that the sun's rays do not fall on him through the windows. Since the skin is still very delicate, this can lead to burns.

Symptoms of overheating and dehydration in a baby

Typically, overheating and dehydration occurs if a child has been in the sun for a long time without a hat and has a lot of clothes on. Often the cause may be a lack of water.

If the baby has a fever, reddened skin, increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting and, in exceptional cases, loss of consciousness, then it may be heatstroke. To do this, move the baby to a cool place and apply a cold compress.

If this option does not work, then heatstroke has progressed to the next level - sunstroke. Typically characterized by headache, loss of consciousness, bluish facial skin, uneven pulse and difficulty breathing. This condition is life-threatening. In this case, call immediately ambulance! Keep moisturizing constantly before she arrives. cold water baby's head or apply compresses.

The problems that parents of babies under one year old face in the hot summer most often relate to a lack of information and uncertainty in choice. the right decision. Small child looks defenseless. I want to save him. This is a manifestation maternal instinct. It is psychologically easier for a mother if her child is securely covered in a stroller in any weather. She comes up with reasons: wind, dust, exhaust fumes. “The evil eye”, after all. And who can blame a mother or grandmother for being suspicious? Don't forget the magic of maternal intuition. History knows many cases when mothers saved their children thanks to a sudden instinct.

Where is the line between being overly concerned and being smart? In the summer you can see the following picture on the streets: a mother in a T-shirt is pushing a stroller with a child in a hat and under a cover that turns the stroller into a sauna. In summer, the child strengthens his immunity under sun and air baths. The best protection from the sun it is a shade, not a hat with a cape. One layer rule more clothes, than on yourself” should not be used in hot weather. The child, like his mother, should feel comfortable. A sleepless fidget in a stroller actively moves, this helps him warm up. Watch how an inquisitive child twirls and imagine how hot he is if he is wrapped up.

Overheating will not go away!

A child up to one year old regulates his body temperature through breathing, so babies rarely sweat. In hot conditions, the sweat glands work, and the baby has problems with this. He is still small, his functions are not developed. Overheating is much more dangerous for a child than hypothermia.

Give your baby the opportunity to breathe fully - remove capes and excess clothing. Diseases arise from viruses and bacteria, not from wind. In 90% of cases, a hat in a closed stroller caresses the mother’s gaze, this is her peace of mind. It should be wisely separated from the real needs of the child. However, let's rehabilitate the cape! We live in the Urals, where parents go for a walk with a stroller at +21, and three hours later they escape from a drop of up to +9. Carry a light blanket and water bottles with you in the stroller bag, in its mesh. If your child’s age is ready for a “strolling” stroller, when choosing one, do not forget about a good sun canopy. A mosquito net is also needed. Especially if the stroller is bright. As Yu-Moms put it, it looks “inviting” to insects. A mosquito net will provide protection from the sun and is better than a diaper/cover in terms of breathability.

A lifehack for walking is a spray bottle. It will refresh your and your child's face, chest, and hands with water.
How to determine overheating? U healthy child limbs are normally cool to the touch, heat transfer is higher. If your hands and feet (touch yours, yours too!) are not cold, but cooler than the air, everything is fine. Sensibly warm - overheating. The face is red, the baby is worried and whining, the hair is wet? - into the shade! And home.

Often mothers trying to put their baby to sleep get tired and do not notice the obvious - for example, the baby in the stroller is hot, and his instinct of self-preservation is manifested by screaming. Passers-by look around, mom wants to quickly stop this torment, and she shakes and rolls the stroller. A person of any age falls asleep faster in cool conditions. Remove the cover and undress the child. You definitely don't need a hat inside the box. If you remove it, the child will immediately feel better. Use cotton diapers - you can tuck your baby in on all sides for comfort and a feeling of hugging.

Still overheated?

At the first signs of overheating, the child is transferred to a cool place, provided with air flow, and wiped with cool water from a carefully taken bottle. And go home, the walk has ceased to be useful. Panthenol ointment will help with sunburn.

Sun healer

The sun kills germs, strengthens the circulatory system and nervous system. Under the influence of sunlight, vitamin D is formed in the body. In fact, it is not a vitamin, but a steroid hormone, which is produced only under the influence of UV rays during an hour-long walk. And for the norm of vitamin D, the rays sliding along the arms or legs are enough - nature has thought of everything.

Replenishing water balance

Take a bottle of water for washing and a sippy cup with drinking water for a walk. Not juice, not compote, which for a child under one year of age is more of a food than a drink. You yourself may have noticed that after drinking compotes and juices you feel thirsty. Child over a year old should drink a lot during hot weather, over 6 months - depending on the frequency of feeding (breast/formula) outside.

The debate about whether it is necessary to supplement babies with food in hot weather continues unabated. Each mother decides this herself, filtering stereotypes. Mostly experienced mothers They agree with drinking without fanaticism: the child wants to drink a couple of spoons, but no, it’s not scary. An adult eats differently, he has a different metabolism - he experiences thirst in hot weather. A baby's lifestyle is completely different! Breast milk consists of 87% biologically active water. Find a way to breastfeed your baby outside if you're walking for a long time. Take a summer scarf with you if your clothing does not allow for the feeding process to be hidden from prying eyes.

A child under three months of age experiences periodic colic. There is no need to aggravate the imbalance in the intestines by eroding the microflora with water. Children on IV are given extra food within reason. In the times of grandmothers and mothers, the mixtures were of worse quality - thick, too sweet. They were worth drinking. Modern mixtures cannot be compared with those that were in the 70-80s.

Prickly heat

Miliaria looks like a small red rash on the neck, shoulders, back, perineum and armpits. When overheated, the child sweats, and the sweat glands, as we remember, cannot cope with the secretion of sweat and become clogged. Miliaria is not dangerous, but it does make the skin vulnerable to infection. In summer, shower your child more often and give him air baths. Air heals the skin. Do not use creams, oils and foams every time, so as not to wash away the fatty film from the skin. Itching due to prickly heat is reduced by soda compresses. For a glass of boiled water room temperature add 1 teaspoon of soda. Gauze soaked in it is applied to the rash. You can add a decoction to the bath bay leaf(1 tsp of leaves in 2 glasses of water, boil over low heat under a closed lid for 5 minutes, leave for 2 hours), wipe the miliaria with the same decoction.

A “diaper” child: what does he feel like in the heat?

In the summer, a child in a diaper often frightens passers-by with his appearance, who angrily suggest that the mother “try to put it on herself in this heat.” But inside the diaper, by definition, there cannot be a greenhouse effect from a combination of heat and humidity. Disposable diapers contain absorbents that absorb moisture, which is why they were invented. The diapers are not sealed, the materials are “breathable”. The greenhouse effect does not occur without airtightness. The diaper cools rather than overheats. If a baby experiences diaper rash, the reasons may be general overheating, a small diaper size, or an allergy to that brand. But the use of oilcloths and diapers, which quickly become wet, will provide a harmful greenhouse effect.

From birth, a person is ready to meet the sun, air, and wind. And even - oh, horror - various microbes. But he is completely unprepared for the fact that his temperature balance will be forcibly disrupted, interfering with the formation of immunity. Rely on your intuition, you are definitely the one best mom for your child, and you know what he needs!

Heat has a negative impact on a child's body. Children have a much harder time withstanding the heat than adults. After all, heat transfer has not yet been formed in babies. Therefore, it is very difficult for them to cope with the heat on their own. We'll give you good advice and we’ll tell you how to help your child cope with the heat.

Fighting the heat

Children have a much harder time withstanding the heat than adults. They cannot really explain what bothers them and what hurts them. That is why we, adults, must be as attentive as possible to the child’s body. After all, the main task of parents is to help their child during this difficult period and prevent heat stroke.

"Hot" rules

1. More liquid. If your child is a baby, try to breastfeed him as often as possible. There is no need to drink water separately. Your milk is quite capable of satisfying the baby's needs. If the child is artificial feeding- Offer some water and make sure that the mixture is not too concentrated. Older children should be given cool, but not cold juices, compotes and fruit drinks. Do not give lemonade or soda under any circumstances. These drinks do not quench your thirst.
2. Avoid overheating. When going for a walk with your baby, remember that you should wear one less layer of clothing on him than on yourself. Children's clothing should be light-colored, made from natural fabrics and loose fit. Don't forget about the child's hat.
3. Go to the toilet regularly. Always make sure your baby is writing. Avoid signs of dehydration such as dry lips, constipation.
4. In contact with water. Bathe your baby more often, or at least dry him with a damp towel. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to lather the child with soap or shower gel. The water temperature should be 32-33 degrees.
5. Down with the diapers. Even the most expensive and high-quality diaper can cause irritation in a child during hot weather. In addition, they begin to float the baby's bottom. Therefore, try to give them up altogether during the heat.
6. Walk carefully. During periods of extreme heat, it is recommended to go out in the sun with your baby only before 11-12 o’clock, then after 16-17. If you carry a baby in a stroller, do not under any circumstances block the access to oxygen. Using mosquito nets or hoods can lead to disaster. It is best to hide in the shade of trees and avoid direct sunlight. At the first sign of heat stroke ( elevated temperature, vomiting, weakness), consult a doctor immediately.
7. Apply creams. Unfortunately, today there are not many sunscreens for children under one year old. For them, the cream should have a protective factor of SPF 50, for older children - at least SPF 30.
8. Don't force me to eat. In hot weather, the child will eat less. This is fine. Don't force feed him. Offer him some fruit or compote. Under no circumstances should you start introducing complementary foods in hot weather.
9. Weather in the house. If you don't have air conditioning at home, ventilate your house more often. Don't forget to do wet cleaning too. In hot weather, it is extremely important to ensure optimal humidity. To humidify the air in the room, use a spray bottle. Water from it should be sprayed several times a day. A fan will help you cope with the heat.
10. A dream in a summer night. Your child should sleep naked, or at least in loose cotton clothes. The baby's bedding should also be made exclusively from natural fabrics.

So, as you understand, it is much more difficult for children to tolerate heat than for adults. And all because their heat exchange has not yet formed. It is very important to listen to the baby’s needs during this hot period. Give him more fluids, do water procedures, and also organize proper nutrition. Adhering to basic rules of behavior in the heat will help your little one avoid heatstroke and overheating. Read also:

The long-awaited summer has arrived, bringing with it sunny days, but at the same time, alas, heat and stuffiness. The “hot season” spares neither old nor young, but infants suffer the most from the summer heat. How can you help your baby survive the hot period?

Keeping your home cool

The main thing to do is to protect your home from the sun, dust and annoying insects. Hang blinds or dark curtains on the windows: bright light is unpleasant and even dangerous for the baby’s eyes, in addition, dark curtains will prolong his night’s sleep. Now you need to “strengthen” the window with protection from mosquitoes and flies, a proven method will help you with this - a mesh stretched over all openable windows.

The next stage is the fight against dust, which instantly penetrates into the home due to open windows. The most reliable means from an unpleasant “guest” - wet cleaning. Ideally, this procedure should be carried out daily, but not less than once every two days.

Another summer “disaster” is stuffiness, so it is necessary to ensure optimal humidity. You can humidify the air in your apartment using a spray bottle, spraying water several times a day, as well as wetting the leaves of indoor plants. It will become noticeably easier for your baby, and you too, to breathe if you place containers of cold water on high cabinets - the fumes will overcome the stuffy atmosphere. Do not give up the benefits of civilization - turn on the fan, but avoid drafts.

On a walk

During the warm season, the child needs to spend a lot of time outdoors. On hot days, when the temperature outside reaches 30 degrees or higher, you must adhere to strict regime walks - before 11 o'clock in the morning and after 17 in the evening, when the sun's rays are not so intense. For promenades with your baby, choose parks and shady alleys, preferably away from roads, so that noise and exhaust fumes do not bother you. Before going out into the world, lubricate your child’s skin with children’s sunscreen with a high degree of ultraviolet protection - carefully read the instructions about the age at which the product can be used.

The best “outfit” for a baby in the summer heat is a light overalls made of natural fabrics (linen, cotton, knitwear), the same applies to bed linen. These materials, firstly, allow the child’s skin to “breathe”, and secondly, they almost do not allow harmful substances to pass through. ultra-violet rays. Six-month old baby wear thin trousers and a blouse so that your arms and legs are completely covered. A mandatory “attribute” is a hat, cap or panama hat; without it, the child risks getting sunstroke. But it is advisable to remove socks and shoes, provided that the baby does not leave the stroller. At this time, give up diapers - the kids feel hot and uncomfortable in them, remember the good old gauze diapers.

Many parents practice impromptu walks on the balcony. Pediatricians do not advise doing this: in a closed stroller the temperature can be much higher than “overboard”, and such exercise will bring nothing but torment to the child. But if you still continue to take the stroller and baby out onto the balcony in the evening, do not forget about the mosquito cape.

Summer menu for babies

In hot weather, infants' appetite changes: for proper metabolism, the body needs more fluid and, as a rule, less food. Babies on natural feeding, it is necessary to put it to the breast as often as possible (up to 15 times a day) - because of the heat, babies eat little by little and, in addition, they quench their thirst with mother's milk.

Offer your little one regular food more often boiled water . Keep in mind: manipulations with artificial mixtures(if you have already started “feeding” your child with them) are unacceptable: strictly follow the instructions on the packaging, any deviation from the norm - towards decreasing or increasing the powder per serving - threatens trouble for children's health. In general, it is better to start the transition to a new diet - mixtures or the so-called “common table” in advance or postpone until the fall, since in hot weather gastronomic innovations will inevitably result in digestive problems.

However, this does not prevent you from introducing new foods to your baby’s menu – vegetables and berries. Valid here general rule: We introduce any food gradually, monitoring the baby’s reaction, especially for “summer allergens” - strawberries, cherries, currants. If the diet of your fool, in addition to breast milk, already includes “adult” food, try to give him light foods (vegetable soups, jelly, decoctions and fruits) during the hours of the most intense heat, and more “heavier” dishes (vegetables, pureed meat, cereals) in the late afternoon.

Rescue in the water!

The best way to help your baby on “hot” days is to arrange water procedures. Treat the little ones with wet wiping more often (4-5 times a day). To do this, lower a soft terry mitten or towel into water (32-35 degrees), squeeze and rub one arm first, when dry, the other, then the legs, tummy and back in turn.

The most favorite and useful activity for a baby in the summer heat - bathing. No need to wait until evening to bathe your baby. As soon as you see that the child is sweating and his face is flushed, prepare a bath (water temperature 38-40 degrees). You shouldn’t use hygiene products every time you “rinse”: save soap and bath foam for the evening procedure, but about non-greasy baby cream Don’t forget – the sun and water dry out the baby’s delicate skin.

Easy-going parents are in a hurry to take their child to the sea in the first summer of his life. Pediatricians advise refraining from such a bold step, but if you still decide to change the climate during your vacation, try to keep the vacation long. Acclimatization for children takes a week or two, and in order for the vacation to bring joy to both you and the heir, you need to leave for at least a month and a half. Keep in mind: it is still better to avoid swimming in the sea - at a tender age, catching an infection is as easy as shelling pears.

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