Health Notebook: Summer time

During summer your baby needs some special care and attention, from his clothing to his skin. Thumeshni Mudeliar tells you how to look after your baby in the heat

DURING THE COLD winter months, parents often worry about their newborn catching colds and sniffles, but summer’s heat can also compromise the health and wellbeing of your baby. Hot conditions can cause skin rashes, heatstroke and the potential danger of dehydration.

Remember, your newborn’s body temperature control system is not yet adequately developed and it’s easy for him to overheat. For this reason, never leave him in a hot room or parked car – not even for a few minutes – as this can cause your baby’s temperature to rise rapidly. How you keep your newborn cool and comfortable therefore becomes vitally important.

CLOTHING

Dr Shaun Naidoo of One Care Medical in Johannesburg says dressing your baby in summer will obviously vary based on day-to-day temperatures, your home cooling system and whether baby is indoors or outdoors.

Use fabrics made from natural fibre like cotton to help keep your newborn cool. Cotton is light, breathes well and absorbs perspiration better than synthetic fabrics.

Clothing should be lightweight and loose-fitting. Sister Anna Cronje, a qualified nurse and midwife in private practice in Pretoria, says, “Depending on the age and weight of the baby they can be dressed in short sleeves. Don’t put baby beanies on their heads in hot weather.” Just keep warm clothing handy should the weather suddenly change – layers are the way to go.

Don’t overdress your baby as this can cause him to overheat. As a rule, dress your baby in one more layer of clothing than what you have on. So if you are just wearing a T-shirt, your baby should be dressed in a vest and a T-shirt.

SKIN SAVVY

Your newborn’s skin is very delicate and can easily burn. When going outdoors, Sister Anna warns that your baby should

not be exposed to direct sunlight. She adds that you cannot use sunscreen on delicate newborn skin.

Use a cloth nappy or special sunshade to shield him from the sun, especially when he is strapped into a pram, car seat or carrier. Stay in the shade as much as possible or keep under an umbrella or tent area when outdoors.

Ensure your baby has a sun hat on with a wide brim to help shield his face from sunlight and the heat. Don’t leave baby exposed on cloudy or overcast days as harmful sun rays can sneak through the clouds and do damage.

Keep in mind that if you are hot, then your baby probably is too. Pay attention to your newborn’s demeanour. If he seems sluggish he may be overheating.

HEAT RASH

Newborn skin is prone to rashes and spots, but heat rash is something else. When your newborn is dressed too warmly or has been out in the sun, he can overheat, causing his sensitive skin to break out into a heat rash – a pimply, itchy rash on the body. It is caused when your baby sweats to cool down and his skin pores get clogged.

The aim is to keep your newborn cool by removing excessive clothing, giving him lukewarm baths and giving him enough fluids. If the rash persists after a few days and your baby develops a fever, see your doctor immediately.

KEEPING HYDRATED

In the heat, newborn babies often fall asleep at the breast. Strip your baby down to his nappy when feeding to keep him cool (and therefore awake). If it’s not the heat putting him to sleep it could be that he’s not getting milk. Sister Anna explains that your baby should suck and swallow, and if he is not, he should be put onto the second breast immediately.

Your newborn can lose fluids from perspiration when it’s hot and will need to be nursed frequently and for shorter periods of time. Remember that breastmilk is designed to meet all your baby’s hydration needs, so he does not need any other or extra liquids.

COOLING TIPS

Your newborn may find it difficult to settle off to sleep during hot days and nights. Keep his room cool by opening some windows or using an electric fan to try keep him comfortable. Just be sure to keep your baby away form any draughts and deflect the fan so the current is not blowing directly onto him. If you swaddle, remove one layer of clothing before doing so.

It can get unbearably hot, so keep a bottle of cool water and a facecloth handy so that you can quickly wipe your newborn down with a damp facecloth. If needs be, strip him down to his nappy for a bit to help him cope with the heat.

It’s important that you don’t forget to keep yourself cool, calm and comfortable too! Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially if you’re breastfeeding, and dress in lightweight fabrics. YB