Warm weather is conducive to long walks, picnics or frenzy on the beach. However, when you go outdoors with your toddler, you need to remember that each of these activities carries a risk of sunstroke.
While adults are aware of the consequences of being out in the sun, children often forget about the hat, proper hydration or another layer of sunscreen. And that’s the role of the caregiver – you need to think about these issues when the hot weather has no mercy on us.
It might seem that this solution is too simple to be true. However, you surely remember your guardians telling you when you were a child to put something on your head. Even if it annoyed you a lot, they were right – sometimes we need to repeat old wisdom. Sunstroke causes excessive overheating of the body, especially around the head.
This is why it is so important that your child wears some sort of headgear. If you want to make sure he really likes it, the easiest way is to let him choose what he wants to wear. A hat, scarf or cap in their favorite colors or with their favorite cartoon motif will definitely make them more willing to wear it.
It is important to make sure that your child also covers his head in the shade. If the cover also protects the neck from overheating, it will be an advantage.
Pay attention to the materials in which you dress your child. Let them be light, thin and airy. Linen, viscose and cotton will work great, their properties will allow you to safely enjoy the warm days.
Are you worried about the beach, a trip to the lake or even to the garden, where your little one will splash in an inflatable pool? Special swimsuits with UV filters are becoming more and more popular, and you can protect a three-month old baby with them!
Although children sometimes have no patience, it’s better not to give in to them when they want to go outside during the hours when the sun shines most intensely. What time are we talking about? To be precise, it’s about the hours between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is the time when it’s better to stay at home and wait for the biggest heat.
If you do not have such an opportunity, make sure to spend time in the shade or at least rest from the sun’s rays. It is assumed that toddlers should not spend more than fifteen minutes in the sun. After that time, it is imperative that they take a break.
Does your child want to go back to playing? Keep in mind that while he or she wants to have fun, you have to use common sense. Take care of a few basic things during the break.
Even if your child insists that he doesn’t want to drink at all, it is extremely important to give him water (e.g. with lemon, mint or fruit) or cool tea during the break. Fizzy drinks are strongly discouraged, as they do not quench thirst in hot weather. It is also a good idea to cool down your body by spraying it with water and then applying another layer of sunscreen. Speaking of sunscreen…
You can find a whole bunch of sunscreens at drugstores. It is very important to choose a sunscreen with the right SPF. The higher the value, the better it will protect your child from UV radiation. That is why we recommend sunscreens with an SPF of 50 for toddlers that are not yet three years old. If your child tends to tan red or has very fair skin, older children can also use them, although you can safely buy a cream with an SPF of 30.
Apply the cream not only on the face of the toddler, but also on other parts of the body that are exposed to the harmful rays of the sun. Does your toddler complain that he wants to go out and play? Make this necessary activity fun too and let your child lubricate you while you lubricate his skin!
It’s best to apply sunscreen about 15 to 20 minutes before going out, and repeat the application every two to three hours.
Featured Photo: Freepik
