The heat and hot weather.....

[MummaSue]

Hey guys,

Just wondered how your little ones coped with the heat and hot weather. It was 29 degrees out our way yesterday and missy got soooooo cranky. I stripped her right down to her onesie but she was still really hot. I'm dreading summer if that is what she's going to be like!
Any tips or tricks? It's going to be a long summer if we have to stay in the air con all the time!!

I also just worry about her overheating. Don't want her to be uncomfortable.

Thanks
Sue x

[sasha]

S was a summer baby and this one will be too, so I'm thinking the same thing (although right now I'm thinking how not-clever it was to choose to be heavily pregnant through the hottest part of the year LOL) When they're tiny, lots of extra feeds, and make sure you're getting enough to drink too so you don't get dehydrated from her feeding more.


Even last year when they were both toddlers we used to make sure we got any errands or whatever done in the mornings and were back home by about 10 or 11 depending on how hot it was going to be. Sometimes I put wet facecloths in the fridge and then let them play with them. I also puree pie fruit (I think it's the Ardmona brand which has no added water or sugar - just apple or apricot) and put them in ice blocks for them to suck on; now they're older I make our own icey-poles with strawberries and yoghurt, or mango, or basically whatever soft fruit we have on hand (sometimes I make up lemon cordial and freeze that too).

If we have to go out, I get the car ready by opening it up for a few minutes to let the heat out before putting them in, and when they were really small, I'd put a freezer pack in their carseat for about 10 minutes (obviously I'd take it out again before putting the baby in the carseat!) I take a bottle of cold water and a handtowel with us, and then when we get back to the car, I wet the towel and wipe them down before putting them in the car - it always takes a while for our ancient car to get its airconditioning going!

[MummaSue]

Thanks so much for that. Some really helpful suggestions.

I just know that if we are getting 29 degrees in winter then summer is going to be a belter!!

Sue xxx

[~Hestia~]

Ooooh yes, last summer it got over 40 degreees several days in a row! I don't have air conditioning either but hopefully this year, fingers crossed!
Geez Moo would get so cranky too - he hated the hot weather.

We kept the curtains closed, thankfully we have very heavy ones so they really helped keep the heat out.
We had multiple fans going. Would set them up at different ends of a room.
Kept parts of the house shut off.
DH put some shade cloth up at the windows on the outside, made a big difference.
Got the car going with air con on to make it nice & cool before I put Moo in. Would only go out in the morning with him.
Put wet face washers in the freezer for Moo to suck on.
He pretty much just wore a nappy. Had him in a singlet at night with a muslin wrap. Your DD probably won't be wrapped by the time summer comes which will make things easier! I tried not wrapping Moo, or having his arms out but the only way he'd sleep was all tightly wrapped!
Had a fan blowing in his room but not blowing right on him. mainly to circulate the air in his room.
On the really hot days we put his bed in the kitchen which was the coolest room. He was only in a cradle which made it easier.
Offered extra breast feeds plus water frequently.
Towards the end of summer we started taking him to the local outdoor pool. We'd go for a little splash between breakfast & his morning nap. School had gone back so it was lovely & quiet, just other Mum's & bubs there!

That's all I can remember right now!

[MummaSue]

Thanks so much!!

[Taurean]

Great advice from the girls!

My only advice is aircon, aircon, aircon! LOL!

DD lived in singlet suits (onesies). She was in sleeping bags for sleeps so I used a .5 tog if we didn't have the aircon going and a 1.0 tog when the air was on and I knew her room was the right temp.

The pureed fruit ice blocks is a great tip! Increase her milk feeds and offer plenty of water. If she's on the move, put a couple of sippy cups around the house so she can help herself as well.

[Visitor7]

The others have already given great suggestions, so I can't add anything there. Just wanted to say that I have caved, and have finally put the air con on today for DD2 while she's asleep. It's getting so hot and muggy here already (btw, I'm in Cairns)

[~Hestia~]

It's so bizarre to hear you girls say it's getting hot! We're in the middle of cold, rain & wind in Geelong!

[Rivlas]

Send some of that weather down to Victoria, it is soooo overcast & cold here

[ss_storm]

It's so bizarre to hear you girls say it's getting hot! We're in the middle of cold, rain & wind in Geelong!

I know! It's like 9 degrees here today and cloudy again, it's taking 3 days for washing to dry inside...and then I read that people are putting their air con on! I'm thinking noooo it's freezing, talk of air con makes me even colder!