Summer is just no fun with a baby, AIBU?

[Lelophants]

Maybe it's the added stressed of coronavirus or I'm just being grumpy. Or maybe summer just really isnt than fun with an 8 month old? When does it get good?

All these light days and yet I'm stuck upstairs in the dark for every naptime because he contact naps and that's the only place he'll sleep.

Too hot to go out any time other than first thing in the morning and if you miss it, you're stuck inside all day. Far too hot outside! Having to keep all the windows and curtains closed in the house to keep it cool and especially for night time. So bit dark and depressing. All the overheating anxiety.

Had all these visions of us being outside in the paddling pool, but so hard to get shade in our garden and terrified of him burning! Filling up the pool is a nightmare as have to get it over 30 degrees and then only in for a few minutes, then you lose that tiny bit of shade! And where to put them where you're filling it up?

Honestly find it all stressful and a disappointment! Give me cold brisk walks in a snow suit any day.

Yes I'm a grump. I hate seeing a beautiful day we can't enjoy.

Does it get better?

Also totally get there are worse things right now! This is lighthearted!

It hasn't actually been that hot this month. Most of the time the weather has been cooler than average apart from today when it is ridiculously hot.

You need a parasol or pram sun cover for your buggy so you can go out and about.

Unfortunately, if your garden faces South or West there is little you can do if you don't have trees or other structures that give shade.

I don't think you need to include the caveat that it's lighthearted in order to fend off critical comments. That's one of the depressing things about AIBU - people have to include biblically long OPs in case of "dripfeeding", and ensure they disclaim anything that could get attacked.

Back on topic - I'm surprised at your third paragraph. Are you in the UK? If so, has it really been too hot to do anything or is it just the last couple of days?

Just a handhold! 💐 - no practical advice sorry!

( I would be reaching out to my pastry stock! Maybe chocolate can deliver the same result!) 😂

I had an 8 month old this time last year, and he was absolutely fine sitting in a paddling pool of cool water. I took him out everywhere and pulled the sunshade on the pram down. Lots of sunscreen, and a hat. Ideally you don't just just not go out when it's hot - this time next year your toddler will want to be out all day every day and you can't park them in the shade!

I have a 7.5 month old and agree, although I've always preferred the colder weather!

The early morning and late evening walks are nice, but apart from that it's hard. My ds has spent most of the day in just his nappy. He's been happy enough but is getting hot and bothered now and it's a struggle to get him to bed. He's just rolling around in his cot with a fan on and the windows open for now and I'm letting him crack on!

I think you could do some things to make your life easier. I have a four year old and a seven month old, so we have to get out to exercise the eldest.

I don’t bother with naps in the dark. She sleeps in the sling, the buggy or in my arms - whenever we happen to be. I can’t sit in the dark when my four year old needs attention. Your baby will adapt to whatever is normal to them.

Can you get a huge parasol for your garden? And a playpen to put your baby in while you fill the pool. Not too much longer left of summer :)

When the kids leave home.

I felt same OP. Very glad that most of my babies were born in winter. Much easier to take care of them outside when older (age 6m+).

My DD was that age in the summer 2018 heatwave and we had a blast! Naps in the pushchair in the shade in the park, sitting in a paddling pool under a big parasol in the garden, using taking her for a walk as an excuse to go and buy iced coffee every day, I enjoyed my maternity leave so much.

I must admit I did stress a lot about the room temperature at night because her room gets the evening sun, but it never actually bothered her, it was purely hypothetical worry.

Well when mine was a baby we had a really good summer, really hot weather. We both loved it!

I found the summer holidays tedious even in normal times as many of the baby/ toddler activities stopped for the holidays.

This year must be exceptionally difficult for new mums with the absence od so many activites and support structures.

Yep, it’s a huge PITA. Hot weather isn’t fun until toddlerhood when they find it fun splashing about in paddling pools.

DD was 7-9 months old last summer. We survived through buggy naps under trees outside while I sunbathed, walks etc in the morning and lots of time outside under shade (big parasols, trees at local forest).

Now she’s 20 months it’s much easier. Slather in factor 50 and give her loads of water to play with. Only issue is getting her to keep a sunhat on!

Your post has reminded me that I’ve been finding the beach more rubbish than I expected with a baby. The moment I put her down she’s off trying to shovel sand in her mouth. She’s too young to enjoy paddling and icecreams, so it’s just a relentless battle to keep her from burning and eating the beach.

During the heatwave last year my DD was 5-6 weeks old. It was awful, our house has big south facing windows in the living room and our bedroom so it's like a greenhouse and I spent all day with the curtains shut while she slept in just a nappy on my lap. She was up until 1am while the thermometer in our room read 30 degrees
YANBU babies and heat don't mix.

Grass is always greener isn’t it.
My baby was born in August last year so most of her ‘babyhood’ was through winter.
She hated the pram as a tiny baby which meant she spent all her time in the sling, but it was impossible to keep her totally dry in the rain.
No free (outdoor) activities with mum friends.
Getting dark at 4:30pm made it feel like I’d done a whole night on my own before my husband got back from work.
We used to worry she’d get hot at night if the heating ticked on but we’d bundled her up.

We’ve loved this summer, spent loads of time outdoors. She’s learnt to walk outside so the landing was much softer (grass rather than our wooden floors). Picnics in the park 3+ days a weeks. An evening walk every day between dinner and bed.

Bit of factor 50, a good hat and off you go.

Literally wont sleep or feed in the buggy or anywhere else apart from upstairs in our room 🤣 but at least he sleeps now so that's something.

South facing garden and no trees - we probably do need a parasol!

We bought a sun shade but worry about him overheating a lot. Getting a bit bored of the same old walks and trying to escape the runners/lots of people having very non distant picnics.

Yeah I live in the uk - still find it gets quite hot around lunch time!

Maybe I'm also just no longer a summer person? I think I tend to get this FOMO feeling.

It can be tricky but we took a six month old to Spain and loved it! Even when a newborn we had a heatwave and were outside every day.

I wouldn't over worry about heat beyond being sensible as long as they are protected from sun etc. Doesn't help with the napping as luckily our's would nap in a pushchair or car

If he can sit up, give him a load of Tupperware, little cups, bits of tat, toys and fill up those and an ice cream carton (or whatever) with water and let him splash around with it and have fun trying to pour it etc. He'll get splashed so will cool down, but not sit in the water if you worry he will get too cold. It's easier I fine than when they are walking as I struggle to keep mine in the shade (and her her on!). I always end up a right sweaty stressy mess when it's hot and I'm trying to 'make the most' of the weather.

That's not said smugly btw - she didn't sleep through until 2 and won't nap anywhere EXCEPT a pushchair or car now!

Her hat** on

Have you tried using the baby bath outside for him to play in? Much quicker to fill and keep up to temp. I fill 3 watering can, 2 with water at the correct temp and one with slightly hotter water ready for the top up.

Hot summer ? Where do you live ! It’s quite a mild one with barely hot days !