BRITS are set to bake this week thanks to an impromptu heatwave set to cover most of the country.
Temperatures are set to reach 34C in some areas and while it might be the perfect time for adults to enjoy the sun, kids can have a hard time when it comes to unusually warm temperatures.
Lucy Shrimpton, The Sleep Nanny, has shared her easy tips on keeping your kids cool and safe this summer.
1. Keep your home cool
Create a breeze during the day by opening the windows.
Open your loft hatch to allow heat to escape. Pull curtains two thirds of the way across to block out hot sun.
Get a room thermometer so you know which rooms of your house are the hottest.
2. Dress your baby appropriately
If the room is very hot, for example over 25 degrees, a nappy and a thin vest may suffice.
If the temperature is between 20-23 degrees, a short baby grow or shorts and T-shirt or a nappy and a one tog sleep sock should be OK.
If the baby is too young for any kind of bedding, dress them in suitable clothing for the room temperature.
3. Accurately check your baby’s temperature
Hands and feet get colder than the rest of the body.
If you are unsure about your baby’s temperature, feel the back of their neck or use a thermometer.
4. Give them a refreshing bath
A slightly cooler bath than usual before bed will relieve clamminess and refresh them. Make it quick so they don’t get too cold.
5. Use appropriate bedding
Use cotton sheets only. Avoid waterproof mattress covers as they hold heat and will make your child sweat.
6. Put ice in your baby’s room
Place bottles of frozen water in your baby’s room. They will help cool the air as they melt overnight.
Place the iced bottles in front of an electric fan so cool air will circulate the room.
7. Refrigerate some water
Your child may need to drink more than usual.
Refrigerate cold water to be used during the night. Breastfed babies will stay hydrated on breast milk.
8. Keep baby calm
A calm baby will remain cooler than a frustrated one.
Maintain a calming bedtime routine and dab a cold flannel on your child’s head to soothe them.
9. Move rooms
If you cannot keep your child cool in their own room, move them temporarily to a different one.
Bear in mind that the temperature will drop throughout the night.
10. Put yourself in their shoes
Babies will be comfortable dressed for temperatures as you would dress yourself. Remember, you can pull the covers off but they cannot.