Co-Director of The ORIGINS Project, Professor Desiree Silva, says children are more vulnerable in the hot weather and need to take extra care of their health to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat stress and heat stroke.
“Babies and young children are very sensitive to high temperatures and can get heat stress quickly. They may not show the early signs and symptoms that occur in adults, they may just look unwell or be more irritable than usual,” Professor Silva says.
“It is very important to watch babies and young children closely to keep them from getting dehydrated or overheated.
“Babies may also seem floppy, irritable, have drier skin, refuse to drink, have fewer wet nappies than usual, or have a lower, sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on the top of their head.”
Professor Silva says there are some simple steps parents can take to keep bubs happy and healthy this summer.
“When it comes to feeding during hot weather, breastfed babies, including expressed breastmilk-fed, may need extra breastmilk feeds. Formula-fed babies may need small amounts of cool, boiled water in between feeds. This also applies to older babies, especially if the baby is having other foods.
“In terms of sleeping arrangements, choose the coolest place in the house. Make sure the air can circulate around the bassinette or cot and remove any liners or padding. If you use a fan, do not point it towards your baby but use it to circulate air around the room. If you use an air conditioner, make sure the room does not get too cold – about 24 °C to 26 °C is low enough.
“Whilst travelling in the car, it’s important to remember the car can heat up to a dangerous temperature very quickly – so you should not leave your baby or child alone in the car, even if the air conditioner is on.
“You shouldn’t cover a capsule in a car with a rug or towel to shade your baby from the sun. Instead, consider using a window shield to protect your baby from the sun. Although it is tempting to leave babies asleep in their capsule, this is dangerous for your baby and not recommended.”