Summer safety for babies and toddlers: Expert advice on heat and sun

Photo by Luke Southern via Unsplash.

Summer days can be a lot of fun for families, whether you’re splashing in cool water at a local pool, visiting a local spray park or splash pad, or having a picnic on the grass at a local playground. But the heat and the sun’s UV rays can impact all of us. So it’s important to learn about sun and heat safety for babies and kids.

When the heat index is above 90 degrees, it poses a significant health risk for children according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children, in fact, are much more susceptible to heat illness than adults as they have more trouble regulating body temperature.

High temperatures and extreme heat can cause children to experience dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke, some of which can be medical emergencies depending on the severity. Some estimates say roughly 9,000 high school athletes are treated for heat illness every year across the country.

As another hot summer begins, Kidsburgh talked with Dr. Joe Aracri, Chair of AHN Pediatric Institute. assistant chair of AHN Pediatrics. Just as we did last year, we asked Dr. Aracri: What is the main advice you’d want to share with parents of babies and small kids about sun safety and heat safety?

Summer Sun

Sunscreen is very important, Dr. Aracri says. But it’s used differently depending on a child’s age.

“Under the age of six months, we’re not recommending sunscreen over the whole body because it can be absorbed into the body,” he says. “You want to do the hands, feet and face.”

Cover the rest of the baby’s body with lightweight clothing and always use a hat. Also, keep babies in the shade as much as possible, to avoid significant sun exposure.

Older babies and toddlers can have sunscreen on their arms and legs (along with hands, feet and face). As with younger babies, dress them in lightweight clothing, make sure they spend time in the shade and always have them wear a hat in the sun.

Another key step that’s easy to forget but is important: Put sunscreen on your kids (and yourself!) a half hour before you’re going out into the sun, so that it can absorb and be effective once you go outside. Then reapply sunscreen at least every two hours and after swimming.

Summer Heat

Dressing kids in light clothing and keeping out of direct sunlight will help manage the impact of summer heat. It’s also important to keep kids very well hydrated, Dr. Aracri says. So keep plenty of cool water and other hydrating beverages around.

Heat doesn’t really get dangerous for kids until temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But it’s good to keep kids in a cool environment. If air conditioning isn’t available, it’s good to have a fan circulating the air where a child is sleeping or playing.

Rooms where kids sleep don’t have to be cold, Aracri says, but they should be “relatively comfortable with good air flow.”

For asthmatic children, hot temperatures can cause an increase in asthma attacks. Parents and caregivers should look out for signs like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath in their children, and ensure they have all the necessary preventions at-the-ready like inhalers and allergy medications.

For any concerns or questions, contact your pediatrician and go to your local emergency department if your child is having trouble breathing.