How to help babies who don't like the heat cope?

[hanni]

I have the worlds grumpiest sweatiest baby today! He won't sleep, won't stop whinging, doesn't want to do anything. Help me! He's in nothing but a vest and we're inside in the shade but it's still so hot.

How do you help your baby cope with the heat?

 

[_Meep_]

It's awful isn't it??? My baby was born on 11th July last year and it was so hot, I was convinced she wasn't going to survive! I remember looking at other people's older children walking around in their sun hats and summer clothes and wondering (tearfully) how they'd managed to stay alive, and more to the point, how I was going to keep my newborn going ... looking back on it, I can see how crazy my post-partum thoughts were to begin with!

Anyway, she's still here. In those first couple of sweltering months, she spent a lot of her time feeding in a nappy in front of an air-con unit, or a fan. She slept in just a nappy, with the air-con going. If a blanket was needed, we used a muslin cloth to keep air circulating. A Gro Egg thermometer helped us keep an eye on just how warm it was getting in our room.

I'd say offer offer offer - breast or bottle, whichever you are using, because dehydration is a bigger worry than anything in this heat - keep an eye on his nappy output. Keep clothes to a minimum, or don't dress him at all. Maybe get one of those little handheld fans for when you're out and about. Keeping him in the shade, like you are, is best, and the less time spent in sweaty car seats/strollers the better! A tepid bath, maybe 1-2 degrees below the recommended 37 might be nice for him, as long as he isn't in there too long.

Finally, at the end of the day, the heat will pass. Making sure he is hydrated and as cool as possible, especially at night, is the most important thing.

 

[Rhio92]

Saskia is like this! I've just a breastfed her pretty much all the time and given lots of baths x

 

[hanni]

Thank you ladies!

I think we cracked it by getting his little paddling pool out. He had great fun splashing about on his belly and it wore him out enough to have a good 2 hour nap instead of being fussy and fighting his sleep. He's down to just his nappy with a muslin cloth.

He's been drinking his usual amount and I've been trying to encourage more but he's not fussed.

Holding him now and he is roasting the poor baby! Been trying not to pick him up too much, he gets so sweaty.
We've got some of those fans at the in laws so my OH is going to go and pick them up.

I do wonder how people manage it when you see babies happily playing in the sun, dominic acts like you've just pepper sprayed him when you take him outside, even with a hat on! We had to put the parasol directly over him and have it in the shade just so he'd be content in his paddling pool.

Makes me wonder how people manage holidays with young babies. Dominic is definitely not keen, I could think of nothing worse!

 

[_Meep_]

Mine's a sweater too, especially at night! I was horrified to find an almost dry nappy this morning, but after a big boob feed and a little very diluted squash she has done several big wees ...

It's so stressful trying to keep them comfortable and hydrated - there's no way I'd consider a holiday until she's much older! Aagggh!

Glad your little lad felt happier after a splash about in his pool.

 

[Wannabe Mommy]

You can try wetting a cloth and sticking it in the fridge or freezer then let them chew on It once it's nice and cold.

Light airy cotton clothes.

Last year I was stripping Lexi down and putting a towel under her so it didn't matter if she wee'd.

 

[Andypanda6570]

I know this may be a dumb question ( So forgive me) but do you all not have air conditioning ?

 

[_Meep_]

Lol, we have one air con unit. Are you in America? In the UK there just isn't the need for it really. Heatwaves do happen here, but they are generally short (and not at all sweet).

 

[Andypanda6570]

Lol, we have one air con unit. Are you in America? In the UK there just isn't the need for it really. Heatwaves do happen here, but they are generally short (and not at all sweet).

Yes, I am in America.. Our Summer June, July and August is so hot, sometimes you can't even go outside.. Not all days but most days are hot and humid, I hate it..

I could deal with it during the day, but I can't sleep in heat..

 

[hanni]

You can try wetting a cloth and sticking it in the fridge or freezer then let them chew on It once it's nice and cold.

Light airy cotton clothes.

Last year I was stripping Lexi down and putting a towel under her so it didn't matter if she wee'd.

That's such a good idea!

 

[hanni]

I know this may be a dumb question ( So forgive me) but do you all not have air conditioning ?

We don't have any. We literally only have about 2/3 weeks of the year (if that!) Where it's hot enough to need it, the rest of the time it rains! Hence why we're all struggling so much with the heat.

 

[Andypanda6570]

I know this may be a dumb question ( So forgive me) but do you all not have air conditioning ?

We don't have any. We literally only have about 2/3 weeks of the year (if that!) Where it's hot enough to need it, the rest of the time it rains! Hence why we're all struggling so much with the heat.

WOW..Do you all have a Summer? Sorry, I have no idea of the weather there.. I hate the heat and we have it a good 3 months ( June July and August) but it is also hot in May and a little in the beginning of September so it is really 4 months.., it is horrible.. Hope your baby boy is cool now, that would drive me crazy to see them hot.. Although when I was raising my 3 sons there was a time we didn't have air an conditionerI had a 2 yr. old and a newborn.. I wanted to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge..It is awful. Hope you all get some relief XXO

 

[_Meep_]

We do have summer lol but temperatures rarely reach 30+ (Celsius) so we don't usually need air con. We had highs of 35-36 in some areas this past week though and everyone has been flopping about dying! We are just not used to it!