When hot weather strikes it signals fun, longer days and cool summer outfits. But as parents, heatwaves are also tricky because keeping babies and toddlers cool can be a worry.
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Of course during summer we as parents want to make the most of all that bright and beautiful sunshine with our children. Parents need to be aware of all the things you can do to keep your little one safe and cool in a heatwave so that you can just enjoy the fine weather.
The following are ten tips for keeping your children cool during the hot summer.
1. Keep them well hydrated
It is so important to drink plenty of water when it's really hot out. But don't feel guilty about giving them Gatorade either, especially if they're running around or playing sports outdoors.
2. Be sun smart
Keep young children out of the sun during the hottest part of the day: between 11am and 3pm. When you do go out, dress them in light colored, loose clothing. And use sunscreen with a factor of at least 30 to protect your child’s skin.
3. Make ice lollies
Buy or make ice lollies for your child to eat. This can be a fun summer activities. All you need is either a cheap lolly mould from somewhere like Lakeland or Tesco and some fruit juice. You could also make flavoured ice cubes and pop them into a small or large tray then let your child play with them.
4. Personal fans
Those cute, battery-operated handheld fans will bring about a much-needed breeze and will keep your kids entertained for at least five minutes. Plus, if everyone gets their own, they'll be less inclined to fight over them.
5. DIY splash pad
Spread out a clean tarp, place a sprinkler nearby and ta-da, their own splash pad! The water will eventually pool a bit, creating puddles to stomp on, sit in, or slide through. For some great creative free play, try turning your splash pad into an adorable frog pond complete with stones and logs to explore and discover.
6. Eat light
Prepare foods that don’t require cooking to avoid turning on the oven and creating more heat. Some great foods that don’t require cooking are salads, fruits and vegetables, which are all great sources of nutrition. Popsicles and frozen fruit are also a delicious way to cool down.
7. Freeze a bucket of water for play
Fill a bucket with water, freeze it, and let your kids use various methods to melt it. Pour water, use salt, try a magnifying glass to direct heat for a fun and a learning experience all in one.
8. Ventilate your home
If you’re out during the day, keep the curtains drawn to stop it heating up like a greenhouse. Open your loft hatch if you have one to allow heat to escape up through the roof. Ventilate bedrooms before you start the bedtime routine so that it’s more comfortable for sleeping.
9. Assist electric fans
Electric fans will often just blow the warm air around but place a large bowl of ice or some frozen water bottles in front of the fan to cool the air that circulates the room.
10. Keep active play during the cooler parts of the day
It's important not to disrupt your routine too much because of hot weather, but sometimes you may have to. An early morning run may feel punishing when you're nice and sleepy in bed, but it could be dangerous to exercise in the blazing midday sun and risk dehydration, heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Take temperature into consideration when planning your day and, if you can, limit physical activity to when it's cooler. If you do decide to workout or play sport, ,make sure to drink lots of water and take more breaks than usual to make sure you're not putting any extra stress on your body.
What tips do you have for keeping your children cool during the hot summer days?
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