With the approach of scorching summers, many new parents often wonder about how to keep their little ones safe in the heat. The summers can be especially harsh if it is your baby’s first summer, and every care must be taken to ensure that your baby doesn’t get a sunburn or fall sick or becomes uncomfortable due to the rising temperatures. While it may be tempting to do everything under the sun (yes, we used a pun) to protect your baby, a few simple tips when followed religiously can help prevent most summer problems in infants and babies. Summers bring in rising temperatures, increased humidity, overall discomfort and also insect bites. If we take these things into account, we can break down baby skin care tips into little habits that can help manage the scorching summer heat. Let’s take a look at all the baby skin care tips for summer:

• Choose airy and soft clothes

The baby’s clothes are a big part of the summer checklist for babies. While babies do need extra warmth and care, in very hot summers it’s best to dress them up in breathable clothes like those made of cotton. It may be tempting to dress up your baby in cute clothes, but your baby needs cotton and airy clothes that keep her cool and also prevent sweating. Choosing the right clothes will also ensure that your baby doesn’t get rashes or irritable skin, which can be very uncomfortable for babies.

• Use a sunscreen and other essentials when you step out

It’s best to avoid stepping out with your baby when the heat is at the peak – this includes mornings and noon. If you do have to step out or want to take the baby for a walk, choose the accessories and skin care products very carefully. Use a non-greasy baby safe sunscreen with a good SPF to prevent sunburns. Always keep the baby shielded from the harsh sunlight with a stroller cover or wide brimmed hats. Keeping walks to a minimum time and also choosing open areas with trees that provide shade can also help prevent the baby from getting too hot or uncomfortable.

• Keep baby hydrated

Dehydration is a common concern for babies in summer. As your infant or toddler cannot say much, they will not understand the importance of staying hydrated. If you are breastfeeding your baby, talk to your doctor and increase the feeding frequency to ensure that your baby is hydrated. However, if your baby is on formula feed, it’s a good idea to increase the hydration of the food or even give your baby some water from time to time, after consulting with your doctor. For older kids, choose water and fresh fruits’ juice to keep them hydrated. If the summers get too hot, consult your doctor on giving ORS and other such rehydrating drinks to your baby.

• Use insect repellent baby-safe cream

Insect bites can cause nasty rashes and great discomfort in babies. Unfortunately, summer is also the time when insects are all around us and are especially harsh on the little ones. Consult your doctor and choose a baby safe insect repellent cream when you decide to step out. You can use a net or an insect repellent machine to keep the bugs at bay inside your home. Apart from these, make sure that you do not keep stagnant water in the house and regularly throw out the trash and also any rotten fruits or vegetables, which can attract flies and other insects.

• Increase baths but reduce bath time

As summers approach, babies can get very sweaty and uncomfortable. To ease their discomfort, you can choose to bathe them twice a day or give them a sponge bath in the evening. However, more than two baths a day isn’t required or recommended. Keep bath time to 10 to 15 minutes and use gentle cleansers that do not dry out the skin. Make sure to check the water’s temperature and use lukewarm water that is comfortable to touch and feels warm but not hot. You can even use MamyPoko Extra Clean wipes to gently wash the baby’s skin to reduce the number of baths as well. All of these can help ensure that the baby’s skin stays hydrated and the baby is not uncomfortable.

• Use baby products that are light and not greasy

Even in summers, your baby will likely need an oil massage and a moisturizer after bath time. If you stay in a very humid area, you can ask your doctor about skipping the oil or using a light and non greasy oil for the baby’s massage time. While choosing a baby lotion, consult your doctor on the best creams for summers, that are light and do not leave a greasy residue. Excess moisture on the baby’s skin, especially in humid climate can cause rashes and make the baby uncomfortable.  

• Use an absorbent and comfortable diaper

Many parents choose not to use diapers for their baby in summers as they believe this will cause rashes. However, wet nappies and constant changing can disturb their resting and nap time and also cause them to catch a cold or flu. Thus, it’s better to choose a non-heavy and absorbent diaper like MamyPoko Pants that can soak up the urine and also stay light while preventing leakage. This can help the baby stay dry and comfortable, while preventing any cold or moisture loss from the skin. These diapers are gentle on the baby’s skin and do not cause rashes. While diapering, remember to use non-alcoholic baby wipes like MamyPoko wipes that are fortified with the goodness of natural ingredients, which prevents moisture loss and skin irritation.

• Ensure good ventilation indoors and outdoors

Good ventilation is the key to keeping a baby comfortable in the scorching summer heat. While stepping outside, make sure that you are carrying the baby in a summer equipped baby carrier. If you are using a stroller cover, ensure that it is either mesh or some other material that allows air to pass through and doesn’t heat up the stroller. While indoors, keep the room well ventilated by letting in the afternoon breeze from time to time, so the room’s air is circulated after being air conditioned all night or all day. You can use a mesh on the windows to let in the air but keep the bugs out.

• Keep the baby’s room temperature comfortable

We understand that it may be tempting to cool down the baby’s room in the summer but what is cool to you may be too cold for the baby. So ensure that you keep the temperature comfortable and keep checking on your baby for any signs of being too cold or too hot. Even at night, it’s best to use light covers that allow for ventilation and safe movement of the baby, rather than cranking down the temperature and wrapping up the baby completely.

Use these tips to keep your baby comfortable and calm in the summers!