Friend's taken baby to the beach today!

[ItsTheHumidity21]

I just seen my friend post a photo on social media of her and her baby at the beach. AIBU to think she is irresponsible for doing that? She's in a hotter part of the country in the south east. The beach actually looked empty in the background which you would think might have said something to her.

I guess I'm on the other extreme. I'm a worrier about my children (I have a toddler and baby) and we're inside with windows closed, curtains drawn, fans on, ice lollies out and Disney films on. Just makes me anxious and kind of angry that someone could do that to their baby.

I don't think it's a very sensible idea to take a baby to the beach in 40-degree heat, but I doubt it's that hot by the coast. I'm in Kent and I wouldn't let my toddler out in the garden in this heat, but I absolutely would go to the beach if it was nearer 30 and we had sunscreen, hats, water and something to make shade.

@gogohmm

i think the point is that other countries who are used to those kind of temperatures, have the infrastructure to support it.

In a country where it’s unprecedented, they may not. E.g - the ability to tackle a wildfire, transport systems that are designed to cope with extreme heat.

If it says on the news that we should take care, and are emergency services could get very stretched then surely we should listen?

They interviewed some NHS staff on the news last night - the conditions they are coping with/keeping their patients cool.

Personally I wouldn’t make an unnecessary journey, because I can’t just ‘expect’ service if say - I have an accident/my car breaks down etc etc - when services are pushed. So if I can do a bit to help by keeping safe, I will.

Just for information, sun strength is dependent purely on time of day, time of year, and cloud cover. The sun is less strong today than on the 21st June, despite the higher temperatures.

It's probably a bit cooler at the coast and more cloudy. It doesn't mean they will be sat there all day in the full sun.

UK houses are designed to keep heat in

This keeps being said. It works both ways. If you house is badly insulated it lets heat OUT. If your house is badly insulated it lets heat IN.

If you have a good level of insulation and modern double glazing, it keeps the heat in, and the heat out!

For her maybe. For someone in a flay or particularly hot house no,you friends flat is uninhabitable at the moment.

I saw a picture on someone's timeline of school children outside in the mid day heat no hats on having a picnic! God dammed stupid if you ask me!

It's why I hate FB.

You will find on the hottest of days there is no sea breeze!

Be reasonable....this is a baby we're talking about! Not everyone wants to "stay locked in till winter" either! These are extreme temperatures we are talking about and babies can't regulate their body temp!

I'd bet you'd be up in arms if someone had taken their dog for a walk! 🙄

I don't see why you're blaming yourself. Surely your husband is capable of packing his own snacks!

Your friend is being dumb.

posters who don’t realise how hot it is are being dumb.

hottest temp ever recorded for Orlando…lower than we will get today

hottest recorded temp for Hawaii, lower than we will get today.

i could go on and on with stats for you that would show you how hot it is, our bodies aren’t used to it, our roads and buildings aren’t made for it, not like the hot countries you go to where everything is white to reflect the sun, and materials used are different.

people just need to be sensible, it’s just two days

*missdemeanors
Which bit of the NHS advice is this friend of yours not following?

@missdemeanors being out between 11 and 3, her baby is under 6 months*

How do you know she was out between those hours?

Are people really not letting their toddlers out in the garden even? Mine's been out but is covered in sun cream and in the paddling pool, under the shade of a parasol and trees. We have lots of cold drinks to hand too obviously. I'd assumed that would be okay?

I grew up with an anxious and risk averse mother. Her constant refrain was that things were dangerous, we should only do what was safe. The only bits of my childhood I remember with great happiness were the times I stayed with my two grannys and my aunts who let me cuddle farm animals, didn't make me wash and let me eat and do what I wanted. Don't judge.

This thread is funny. I grew up in a really hot American city, with no a/c in a time when no a/c was common. I can hand on heart say we did not spend months on end sitting in the dark watching TV and eating ice cream! There was some of that, sure, but a beach day was a frequent treat as well. And if not the beach then play parks, picnics, BBQs etc. The difference I suppose is that we would always seek shade. Heat becomes your normal eventually and you just get on with life.

I'm only mentioning this is respose to all of the people commenting that people in hot countries don't go to the beach when it's super hot out.

I'm only mentioning this is respose to all of the people commenting that people in hot countries don't go to the beach when it's super hot out.

I know. 🙄Of course they do.

The difference is you actually grew up in that climate. And you would know what to do eg seek shade. People who live countries that reach 40 degrees so try and shelter from the sun when it is that bad. They do more things v early morning or late at night. Also, like I’ve already said, they are used to it.

And they keep babies sheltered about out of the sun. I’m talking about babies.

And they keep babies sheltered about out of the sun. I’m talking about babies.

Yes. And they do also take babies and small children to the beach.

I was at the beach at the weekend (wasn't too hot here actually) with my 11.5mo and she had a pop up tent, hat and sun cream on and we didn't stay too long as I was worried she was getting too hot. There was a family there with a younger baby (looked it anyway) walking around with it in the full midday sun, no hat on and completely naked 🤷🏻‍♀️
You just have to let people get on with what they want to do.
Aslong as your friend has them in suncream, as shaded as possible then there's not much that can be done. I wouldn't be out in this though, it's too hot.

But people do this all the time when they go on holiday.

This is exactly what I thought. If I'd said it was my friend's dog, I'm sure the reaction would have been different. But yes, babies can't regulate their body temperature!

I want to know how she’s carrying all this stuff to the beach with the baby! Parasol, cool box, paddling pool, baby……She’d need five arms (which is why I’m not a fan of the beach.

Just use a buggy or cart? My buggy can be pushed over sand, with a bit of effort. Lots of people use this kind of thing. www.exxpozed.com/nordisk-cotton-canvas-wagon?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3sT7oo2F-QIVFbaWCh39RQHvEAQYAiABEgIsWPD_BwE#!?variant=1082957

Personally, I wouldn't go to the beach today as being heat-safe sounds like a lot of effort with a baby, but there are ways to do this kind of thing sensibly.

It's not a risk I'd take.

We had someone pass out in the park from heat exhaustion yesterday lunchtime. They were taking their usual route home from work. They had a drink bottle which clearly wasn't enough. Sat down on a bench because they felt dizzy and collapsed. That could have.ended really badly somewhere where they were likely to be alone. Especially if they had a child with the.

Yes I know we can take precautions etc but nobody knows how their body is going to react to an extreme change in their surroundings......and I know hot countries manage year round but you'll still find in those places they'll follow the age.old.advice.of trying to.stay indoors when the sun's.at its hottest.