Moms with summer babies! Question...

[gigglebox]

What are the benefits of having a summer baby?

We are discussing out TTC date...and while hubs suggested we start now, I was thinking of waiting until November so a baby wouldn't be born in the summer.

If we conceive right away, my son will be 4 when the baby is born. I'm wondering how things like taking my son to outdoor activities will work...I'm worried about him/her overheating outside, or protecting him/her from the sun...having them in a baby carrier that i'm wearing and making them too hot...

I'd prefer to start TTC right away but not if a baby in the summer is miserable :/

 

[minties]

Changing their clothes and nappies is a lot nicer when it's hot. Both of mine were born during summer (well Sophie at the later end of spring).

They don't need so many layers, it's faster to dress them. Also going for a walk is easier without having to fluff aroundt with blankets and storm covers over strollers etc.

Sitting outside under a tree in the sun while baby lays on a blanket in the grass is always lovely and relaxing.

I never had any problems with either of mine overheating when baby wearing. Your body and baby's body are made to snuggle and the heat seems to regulate itself.

Also you get to see more of their chubby uncovered legs...always a bonus!

 

[gigglebox]

I DO love me some chubby baby legs!

 

[george83]

I did worry taking my lo out this year as there were some really hot days here but that was more about him getting caught in the sun without me realising rather than the heat. I didn't use my sling which I thought I would as I imagined the heat from being close to me and the weather would be too much. Other than that nothing would stop me. I much preferred my April and July babies than my January one - it's easier to get out and show baby off, there's more daylight so it's not so dark and depressing doing night feeds and cute outfits aren't hidden under coats or blankets

 

[gigglebox]

Good points about the clothes.

My son was an April baby and I think i just kept him indoors on warm/hot days...having a 4 year old also is a-whole-nother ball game!

 

[MindUtopia]

My daughter wasn't a summer baby (born in Feb), but hot summer days were no issue. It didn't stop us going out. I wore her in the wrap and in the carrier (just adjusted what we both wore, tried to stay out of direct sun at the hottest part of the day, etc.) and it was perfectly fine. It didn't ever stop us going out, so I wouldn't let that worry you and certainly, I think it would be easier to be outside in the summer with a new baby than in the cold, blustery winter. But the one thing that does come up as a concern for summer babies is age at the start of school. Babies born up to the end of August will start school a year earlier than their peers born in September and later, which isn't ideal for every kid (some will thrive and be fine, others struggle more than those that have an extra year in preschool). So that's something to think about. I would actually love a summer baby next time just so we could be outside more easily without having to deal with the cold, but the school start age is definitely a concern.

 

[Cattia]

My son was born at the end of April but in the middle of a heat wave. It was waaaay easier than my oldest daughter who was a December baby. With winter babies you are constantly dressing and undressing them to adjust for indoor and outdoor weather. You get them all wrapped up in pram suits then end up in a shop or someone's house where it's really warm. If they are asleep you end up waking then taking layers off. In the evening the house is hot with the heating on then it gets cold over night. Definitely summer babies are easier IMO!

 

[MamaLoCo]

Well, first, you never know when it's actually going to happen. We stopped using condoms/withdrawal on our wedding night on June 28 but didn't conceive until November. I live in Texas so summer sucks - period. I don't see pros or cons to it except that I don't have much laundry to do since she's usually just in a diaper unless we leave the house, then I just throw on a onesie.

I will say - 3rd trimester in the summer is MISERABLE

 

[gigglebox]

Thanks for all the input ladies

(Loco, we caught the egg first time we got pregnant...not sure if lightning would strike twice but we are taking that into consideration)c

 

[sheebee]

Ds1 is a July baby and ds2 is a January baby. For me the big disadvantage of a summer baby is the school starts age, the baby stages stuff really is insignificant (to me) in comparison to this.

 

[zorak]

I'm in San Diego , we are in the middle of a heat wave and I have an eleven week old ...

Honestly it doesn't change much regarding activities we do . I invested in a really good parasol for the stroller . I baby wear but choose not to in the extreme heat because it does make me and bubs warmer. We just avoid direct sunlight but still do things like go to the beach - we have a uv protective shelter .

I'm moving back to the UK soon and tbh I think dealing with the rain , cold etc is going to be a pain in the ass.

 

[zorak]

I'm in San Diego , we are in the middle of a heat wave and I have an eleven week old ...

Honestly it doesn't change much regarding activities we do . I invested in a really good parasol for the stroller . I baby wear but choose not to in the extreme heat because it does make me and bubs warmer. We just avoid direct sunlight but still do things like go to the beach - we have a uv protective shelter .

I'm moving back to the UK soon and tbh I think dealing with the rain , cold etc is going to be a pain in the ass.

Oo I always keep a little crochet blanket in the stroller. I throw it over baby when we go from the heat of the sun to air con.

 

[SillyMoo1983]

I have an August baby and a May baby. We were able to go on nice walks, sit in the garden, roll around on a blanket on the grass etc. As well as the cute tiny dresses of course! BUT my DD turned 4 only 10 days ago and she starts big school next week she's still so little! An advantage of a summer baby though is we can have birthday parties in the garden. And 5am with a newborn isn't quite so lonely feeling because at least the sun and the birds are awake with you I find it a bit miserable being up through the night when it's cold and dark.

 

[bumphope]

i also thought a newborn in summer was much easier than a winter baby because when they get to that 'it's 4am, let's get up' phase, it's winter, so at least they're not wondering why you're trying to get them to go back to sleep in daytime..... I don't know whether that's actually a truth or just our experience, a lot of our friends seemed to have a nightmare with their winter babies at 4-5 months when they woke ready to go in the middle of the night! X

 

[confused87com]

I've had a baby in march, December and June. Not had any issues with any. It was hard going out keeping a tiny baby warm enough but then we weren't outside much in winter and my newest summer baby just spend most time in just a vest. I wouldn't worry. Its The pregnancy I found harder in the warmer weather

 

[rwhite]

My daughter was born in autumn and it got cold pretty quickly...this winter has been a b*tch. I would have preferred a summer baby any day - winter makes it awful to get them undressed, and change their nappy...so as you can imagine, baths are a total hassle!

I do agree though that you can't necessarily plan when an intended baby will be born so just hope for the best, whatever season you'd prefer

 

[cherrished]

Both my sons are summer babies 1 on August 1st other August 13th ive never really had any issues just keep ontop of extra nappy changes and clothes, and lots of sun hats for extra hot days and I love Muslim clothes I use them as little blankets on the real hot days xx

 

[k4th]

Dd was a feb baby - pros were dark from 6pm, she fell into a very natural cycle of wanting to go down for the night early on. Cons - very cold when I took her out & night feeds led to very cold feet for me!! Oh & all birthdays need to be planned indoors which is more expensive!!

Ds is a July baby. Pros are summer birthdays, earlier school start (less nursery fees for us), lovely days out & much warmer & lighter night feeds for me. Cons are he doesn't settle well in the evenings (I'm thinking *maybe* because it's still very light even with curtains closed) & I hated being heavily pregnant in a heatwave.

I've never had an issue with ds overheating etc - a baby in just a nappy & baby grow has been just fine here when the room was 30 degrees.