It is important to keep cool during the day- with this weather set to stay put for a while here are some of our top tips and helpful information.
- Avoid synthetic fabrics that trap heat; opt for loose natural fibres like cotton or muslin
- Give babies as much nappy-free time as possible
- Stay in the shade and encourage your child to spend some quiet time to prevent him sweating too much
- Playing in a paddling pool will keep kiddies cool. Keep it in the shade and supervise their play
- Use a mini fan if you are out and about
- Use cold, wet flannels, or give them a tepid bath or shower to cool their skin. Let them air dry rather than using towels
- Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids
Let’s talk heatstroke and how to avoid it
On a warm day, never sit in a stationary car with your baby for too long. Even with the windows open temperatures can rise frighteningly quickly.
Prams can become hot and airless so keep a careful eye on your baby if she falls asleep in her pram.
Heat exhaustion occurs when the temperature inside the body rises to 37-40°C (98.6-104°F). At that temperature, the levels of water and salt in the body begin to drop causing nausea, faintness and heavy sweating.
It can be very difficult to spot these symptoms in a young child, especially if they are crying and seem red in the face and sweaty as a result of a tantrum.
If left untreated the temperature may rise above 40°C (104°F) which is classed as classic heatstroke. In severe cases this can result in organ failure, brain damage and death.
Early symptoms of heatstroke can include mental confusion, hyperventilation (rapid shallow breathing) and loss of consciousness. These too can be difficult to spot in a baby or young child so the thermometer has to be your initial guide. Heatstroke is very serious and should be treated as a medical emergency.