Fifteen ways to celebrate spring

Sunny days, balmy nights, swimming... ice cream! Who doesn’t love the warmer months? Probably the child with sunburn, or the toddler tormented by itchy bites. Don’t be that parent!

1 BE SUN & SHADE SAVVY

The best way to avoid heat stress or heatstroke in babies and toddlers, according to Dr Peter Vincent, medical adviser to Netcare travel clinics, is to keep little bodies and especially heads covered when exposed to the sun.

Dr Irshad Mohummed Essack, a dermatologist, adds that it’s best to keep out of direct sunlight and move indoors or into shade between 10am and 2pm. “Or follow the shadow rule,” he says. When your shadow is shorter than you, it is time to seek shade.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that your child is fully protected in the shade. It does provide some relief, but Dr Essack explains that UV radiation (UVR) bounces off other surfaces, so the sun’s harmful rays can still reach shaded areas. “For example, you may be under an umbrella poolside, but the UVR will reflect off the pool’s surface, so you still need to cover up.”

2 PICK A GOOD SUNBLOCK

A good child-friendly sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50 is crucial whenever your child is exposed to sunlight. “Be generous in the application,” Dr Essack stresses.

“The SPF is derived by testing in a laboratory at a concentration of 0.2g/cm2. However, many of us don’t apply at that concentration, and therefore we are often not using enough to gain the protection that the packaging indicates.” Reapply any sunscreen every two to three hours, and at least every hour if your child is playing in water.

3 COVER UP

That little two-piece or swimming briefs may look cute on your toddler, but according to Dr Essack this is the worst choice for a swimsuit. “It only covers 5 percent of the child’s skin!” He recommends an all-in-one swimsuit made out of UV protection fabric. “Preferably one with a matching hat or cap that has a flap that covers the nape of the neck.”

Dr Essack adds that it’s best to choose a brand of swimwear for your little one that has been endorsed by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) or the Skin Cancer Foundation of SA, as some companies label their fabrics “UV protected”, but their claim may not have been adequately tested.

Babies who are exclusively breastfed do not need to drink extra water or juice when it gets hotter. That’s the word from the American Academy of Pediatrics, and it’s echoed by Esmé Nel Hough, spokesperson for La Leche League South Africa.

“As long as baby is allowed to breastfeed as needed, a baby can get all the liquids needed via breast milk, even in extremely hot, dry weather,” she explains.

“Partially breastfed babies might need to feed more often than usual,” Esmé says. “If this is not an option for mom, some experts recommend baby gets extra water.”

TODDLERS THRIVE ON MESSY PLAY. THE DIRTIER YOUR CHILD IS, THE MORE LEARNING HE HAS HADTHATDAY.

5 GET REFRESHINGLY HEALTHY

From watermelon and mint ice-lollies to homemade lemonade and fantastic fruit cups, spring is the time to eat cold fruit. Make your own lollies by freezing juice combos, and chill some rooibos and mix with juice for a fresh ice tea.

6 DRESS THE PART

Dress your children in cool cotton that covers as much of the body as possible, recommends Christine Klynhans, a midwife and lactation consultant. “Avoid synthetic materials as these often trap heat. And remember to put on a hat when going out in the sun,” she adds.

7 CARRY RIGHT

Carrying your baby in the heat can become sticky and uncomfortable for both of you. Opt for lightweight (preferably cotton) carriers, and make sure you get the right fit. “There really isn’t one carrier that works for all, as so many factors come into play – baby’s weight, baby’s age, mom’s build, back problems and, above all, baby’s temperament… Some babies love a carrier, and others get cranky very quickly,” Christine explains.

“I usually advise to borrow one or two from friends and give them a try before buying your own.”

8 KEEP IT COOL ON THE ROAD

It can get blisteringly hot on the road in summer, even on short trips to the shops. “It’s always a mission to keep babies and toddlers cool on the drive,” Christine says. She suggests putting up window covers to prevent direct sunlight on your child, using light air con – “but not too cold, as this will dry out airways” – and dressing baby in cool cotton clothes, preferably with long sleeves and legs. “While short sleeves and legs are great, it will actually be more uncomfortable if baby’s skin touches car seat material directly, as this is normally very synthetic, and they sweat a lot in it. Alternatively, you can cover the car seat with a cotton sheet.”

9 NO HOT WHEELS!

Children are at huge risk of heatstroke because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults’ bodies.

Add to this the rapid temperature increase in cars on hot days (it can get to 50°C within 10 to 20 minutes), and a day out can easily turn into a tragedy.

“It is criminal to leave a child in a hot car,” warns Dr Vincent.

“The high temperatures can suffocate your child to death.” The same goes for family pets.

10 KEEP IT COOL

Babies can get uncomfortably hot, even when you’re staying out of the sun and keeping them indoors. Christine recommends playing with water to cool down and using a fan or air con, but not anything that blows directly on baby. Never leave your baby alone around water of any kind.

11 DRINK UP!

Your toddler (from 1 year) will need to drink more fluids to stay hydrated in hot weather, especially if he’s active. Experts recommend that children who weigh less than 40kg drink 350ml of fluid every 30 minutes before they play or start any activities, and then top up with 150ml of fluids every 20 minutes thereafter. If your toddler’s still breastfeeding, Esmé suggests letting him drink on demand. “Toddlers who breastfeed without restriction can get all the fluids they need through breastfeeding,” she explains. If unrestricted breastfeeding is not an option for your toddler, you’ll need to top up with water or other fluids.

Dr Vincent urges parents to watch out for signs of dehydration in babies and toddlers during hot spells. Warning signs include thirst, a dry or sticky mouth, weakness, dizziness, irritability and extreme fatigue or lethargy. “But loss of weight is the most accurate measure of dehydration,” he says. Keep a stock of good rehydration fluid on hand in the summer months.

12 THE GREAT OUTDOORS

“Toddlers thrive on messy play. The dirtier your child is, the more learning he has had that day,” says Cheryl Fisher, a paediatric occupational therapist. “It’s also important for toddlers to spend plenty of time outdoors, feeling the grass and sand on their skin, so be sure to let them experience these sensations.”

She suggests a few super messy activities:

• Make play dough.

• Make sandcastles.

• Go gardening. “Get hands and feet dirty and wet, but if your little one is sensitive to tactile input, have a bucket of water and towel nearby in case of meltdowns.”

• Get baking. “Allow your toddler to help mix dough with their hands, and roll it out.”

• Head to the sandpit. “Include buckets and spades, and make mud out of sand. You can also have treasure hunts in the sand to find favourite objects.”

WATER WINGS CREATE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AND LITERALLY TAKE CHILDREN OUT OF THEIR DEPTH.

13 PUT YOUR GUARD UP

“Home pools must be fenced off with self-locking gates that open outwards,” says Nell White, a pioneer in infant swim teaching and the founder of the Aquatots swim programme. “A net over the pool is an added safety precaution – it’s not a better alternative to a fence,” she insists.

Go for layers of safety. The more you have in place to prevent drowning, the better. It’s more important to first teach babies and toddlers about safe behaviour around water than how to swim, Nell says. This includes how to flip onto their backs and float, holding onto the side of a pool and how to climb out, so that there’s no slipping backwards (arms, belly, then legs). “When in the pool, stay in shallow water no deeper than up to the child’s waist where they can play and rely on their own resources while maintaining close supervision,” she adds.

You and your child are going to enjoy the longer days so much more if you unglue your eyes from those little screens – and it could save your child’s life. “Drowning is silent and happens within seconds… Cellphones take more than seconds of attention away from the child; they should be packed away out of sight and out of mind,” Nell advises. Unfortunately, child snatching, getting lost and drowning are all dangers that parents need to be aware of when going to the beach or a public pool. The number one rule is to stay alert at all times and never take your eyes off your child. Nell adds that you can’t let your guard down near water, even if there’s a lifeguard on duty. And don’t think that it’s okay to leave your child alone in or near water because she’s got water wings on: “Water wings create a false sense of security and literally take children out of their depth. Water wings in the sea are also a big no-no,” she cautions. “The child should be standing and held by both hands by an adult when playing in the waves.” Another danger to watch out for is shallow water in lagoons or rivers. “It can be deceptive, especially on cloudy days when shady patches disguise deep holes and sudden depth,” she adds. “Containers and blow-up pools should never be left standing around with water or where they can collect water from rain, a dripping tap, a hosepipe, or any other way,” Nell stresses.

All containers should be emptied immediately after use. Bath tubs should also be emptied after use, and the toilet lid should be kept closed and the bathroom door closed too.

14 AVOID STINGS

Bees, fleas, wasps… Spring is when the bugs come out, some harmful, but most (thankfully) only annoying. Bear in mind though, that some children react badly to insect bites, so if your child seems to have an allergic reaction, it’s best to seek medical attention. “Ticks can pass on tick bite fever, so it’s essential to check your child’s body every evening,” Dr Vincent says. He adds that this is very important if you’re living or travelling along South Africa’s East Coast, where ticks are more prevalent. The other gogga to be aware of is the dreaded mosquito. Dr Vincent suggest using mosquito nets over cot and beds, insect repellent and burning insect repellent coils that are safe for children (check the package insert).

“Use phenergan cream on all bites to stop the itch and scratch routine,” he suggests. He sternly warns parents against taking children under 5 years to areas where there is a malaria risk. If travel is essential, or you live in a high risk area, “any change in feeding, vomiting, fever or irritability must be regarded as malaria and needs urgent medical intervention,” he says.

15 PLAY WITH WATER

Summer water games that follow all the safety rules are not only fun, they’re also great for your child’s development, Cheryl says. She recommends:

• Sit baby in a paddle pool, and simply splash.

• Give toddlers jugs, cups and/or buckets to pour water from one container to the next. This helps develop their concept of size and space.

• Run through sprinklers and jump into the puddly bits.

• Sail toy boats in a paddle pool.