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Have fun during the summer while protecting your baby from the most common health and safety risks.
Summer time is a fantastic time to play together as a family and create wonderful memories, but the sun and heat of summer can also create some risks for infants. A few simple prevention measures will help everyone in the family to enjoy summer activities safely. Limit Sun ExposureBabies have sensitive skin and sunburn easily, however that does not mean that they need to be left out of the fun. Limit the time that your baby is in direct sunlight. Use sunhats, stroller covers, umbrellas, and other items to help shade your baby from the son. Use a sunblock that was made for babies on infants over 6 months old, and sparingly on infants under 6 months. Stay Cool and HydratedBabies dehydrate and overheat more easily than adults because they are smaller. Watch for signs that your baby may be overheating or dehydrated while you are outside. If your baby becomes overly sleepy or fussy, it may be a sign that she needs to cool off. Give your baby plenty of water or formula to help her stay hydrated. Breastfed babies should be nursed more often to ensure that they are getting enough fluids. A small amount of water or juice can be given to babies to help keep their fluids up but don’t overdo it. Water SafetyWater can be a major safety hazard for babies if safety precautions are not followed. Do not become overconfident in floatation devices. Infant rafts and other floatation devices are never foolproof and your baby should be supervised at all time. Infants can drown even in shallow water. If your baby is prone to ear infections, try to limit the amount of water that she gets in her ears. Chlorine in pools can irritate a baby’s sensitive skin. Be sure and rinse your baby’s skin with clean water after swimming and immediately apply whatever skin cream you typically use on your baby. Stranger DangerIt’s a sad fact in today’s world that amusement parks or other crowded locations carry the added risk of kidnapping. While this is unlikely to happen, it is important to be aware of the risk and take a few basic precautions. Watch your infant at all times. If you are using a stroller, be sure and keep it close by. Mobile toddlers should be watched closely. Consider using a harness or stroller to keep your toddler safe. Toddlers are too young to understand what they should do if they get lost. Personalized child safety tattoos can be ordered with your child’s name and phone number in case of an emergency. As an alternative, you could place an index card with your contact information in your child’s pocket in case you are separated. Infants and toddlers love being a part of the things you do as a family. By taking a few basic precautions, your infant can enjoy summer activities safely.
The copyright of the article Infant Summer Safety in Infant & Toddler Health is owned by Rachel Lister. Permission to republish Infant Summer Safety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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