Summer born essentials/advice

[YorkshireIndie]

Expecting number 2 but this one will be a summer born. What essentials do I need? I have a summer hat, breast pads etc but I am now worried that I am missing the obvious. Do you still put a blanket on them when in a car seat or no blanket?

Feel rather stupid about this

I'd go with the usual gut instinct/common sense approach. If it's chilly - use a blanket. Baking hot - leave it off.

I think the key thing to be mindful of is sun protection. Snoozeshades/umbrellas for the pushchair that you can angle are good. I used to drape a light muslin over bare legs if I was using the baby carrier. A wide brimmed sunhat (on you) or a parasol can also be useful for providing shade while "baby wearing" or breastfeeding. I tried to aim for very light layers of clothing (to cover as much skin as possible, as cool as possible) and a sunhat for baby.

If very hot and breastfeeding, a muslin placed in between you both can make things much more comfortable.

We had cellular blankets in the car as we had the aircon on instead of open windows and then it got too chilly for DD.

At home lots of loose rompers/short sleeve vests and muslin squares for naps/lying in the moses basket.

Good parasol for the pram. Do not cover the pram with a blanket or muslin square, your baby will heat up underneath it.

Be careful when using a fan in the room when you have your baby there as well.

You will be very thirsy, especially if you breast feed. Make sure you have water around.

Babies will usually alert (cry) if too cold (and hypothermia won't be a big risk in the summer, presumably) but can often fail to alert if too hot (and therefore drowsy). So I always erred on the side of fewer layers and then added if required (which was rare).

Contact your local sling library to hire slings specifically designed to carry babies in hot weather and for tips on how to do so safely and comfortably 🙂

I’ve had two summer-borns. Remember never to drape a muslin over the pram as a sun shade. The temperature will rise to dangerously hot levels. Get a proper parasol or snooze-shade.

I have had two summer babies, one born in a heatwave. For you- a water bottle that won’t leak of it tips up and some lightweight clothes that are nursing friendly if you think you will bf. Snacks that you can eat easily that aren’t too much effort. I find I lose my appetite in the heat but you need to keep yourself fed and hydrated.

For baby a few short sleev rompers so they are not wearing lots of layers, a sun hat and some of those larger muslin blankets. When it was really hot mine wore just a nappy in the day. I also had very lightweight sleeping bags. I personally didn’t put a blanket on them on the car but we don’t have air con. Also think of some activities your older one can do in a heatwave so you can have them in ready to whip out!