keeping cool in the heat-suggestions please

[gio71]

Anyone else out there in a hot climate who can advise me what I should do to keep ds as comfortable as possible? Its 40 degrees at the moment, temp in the bedroom doesnt go below 30, we dont have aircon just one of those free standing fans. What is the thinking on leaving the fan on over night (as long as not directed at ds)? I am making sure he drinks as much as poss, he has a couple of cool baths a day. Any advice most welcome.

Cool baths/showers as you say.

Lots of water - soft drinks not good as they just make you more thirsty.

Very light meals.

Light, loose cotton clothing or nothing !

I keep all the shutters and windows closed during the day, and only open up at night to aerate the rooms but we do have a/c in the living room.If you keep the windows open during the day it just lets all the hot air in!

If possible take a siesta during the afternoon - then they can stay up later when it is cooler.

If you have to go out go early morning.

Where are you?

We're in Italy. Where are you Polly? Luckily ds seems in habit of naps in morning and pm. Then is awake til at least 11 but is too hot to sleep before then and it means we can go for walks in the evening, restaurants etc with him and enjoy the plus side of living here as a family.

wet flannels are good for keeping cool, not cold necessarily but just cool, if they are too cold the body has to heat up to alter the temperature which defeats the pupose.

Wow, 40deg with no AC is hot - respect to you! I'd definitely leave the fan on all night. I've read that if you hang a wet sheet in front of the fan, that will cool the air down even more.

You don't say how old ds is but a guide to where I live in Africa reckons putting a damp cover over yourself at night also helps. But I wouldn't do that with a very small child, and even with an older child I'd just do it until the child is cool enough to sleep.

Just ordered that chillow pillow speccy, thanks for that. Here's hoping!!

I'd second the advice about hanging a wet cloth (I use a muslin square) on the fan, so that it emits cool air rather than wafting warm air around.
I don't know how old your DS is; mine is 2.4, his room is currently 26-27° (our is 30...), and I've been doing this for a week. The fan isn't directly on him, but a little way away from his cot.
If that chillow thing is really as good as the blurb says, let us know!

Suppose it's a variation on the chillow pillow, but when the sun is out in summer, poor dd's west facing bedroom becomes like a sauna. I give her an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel to take to bed (the seasonal opposite of a hot water bottle ). The icepack combined with an oscillating fan seem to do the trick.

I'm in England, inside wearing a jumper. Outside it is drizzling.

I have no advice for you.

an adult needs to drink 1 litre of water for every 10 degrees of heat per day - must be less for little ones but the most important is the volume of liquid has to increase with the heat.

Eat little, light and often. Try to avoid heavy carbs as they heat the body (this may be local mumbo jumbo but seems to work).

Stick to the shade, get shades for the car and a car seat cover - at 40 degrees a seat belt buckle can cause a nasty burn, says she who learnt that the hard way - and think about shades/film for indoor windows. Go out morning and evening and avoid doing anything in the middle of the day.

Yes keep the fan on and yes the wet cloth trick works. In fact put the fan on a couple of hours before nap/bed.

Also let him sleep in just a nappy with a thin cover.

I don't envy you, I dread the aircon failing here (but I have 10 degrees on you!)

cool shower/bath just before bed, we also use to leave hair damp. other than that the same as PL

are you lot trying to rub it in??

was going to suggest the wet sheet thing that sue suggested. I also used to use wet flannels for wiping across the back of the neck, elbows,backs of knees, wrists - help cool the body down.

Used to let dds run around in just a vest and nappy when at home.

I used to soak a bandana in cold water and wear it over my hair - kept my head nice and cool and the sun off it, too.

I would put a towel down on the bed to sleep on, it absorbs the sweet better than sheets. I have done this in the past when in se asia with no ac and found it much more comfortable

Ceiling fans really rule in such weather, too.

re the fan and wet cloth idea where do you actually put the wet cloth? Over the fan itself? Does this not add to the humidity? (which I think is what is really draining me more than anything at the moment)?
Do feel guilty Mrs Scavo and Transparent moaning about heat when I am sitting watching UK floods on sky but am going back to UK in a week for a fortnight and can't wait to feel cool, damp air! (Just for a fortnight mind and then I'll be itching to get back to Italy and the sun! Never satisfied I guess).

make sure you go in bath with ds - it will cool your body temp right down, especially if you can leave the water to stand.

I drape the cloth over the front of the free-standing fan. But then the air in DS's room is too dry (according to poncy weather monitor thingy MIL gave me, there's only 30% humidity). Having also lived in steamy climes, I'd agree that you don't necessarily want to try this if you're already suffering from excess humidity! It was advice for the OP in Italy.

Oops, heat getting to me, you ARE the OP in Italy. Didn't realise you were suffering from humid heat, for some reason I don't associate that with Italy. Scrap the wet cloth idea then and go with the chillows and other tricks suggested here. I'm off to sit in front of a fan with a cool drink, clearly needed...

Can you get a freestanding plug-in dehumidifier? These were lifesavers when we lived in Hong Kong. You have to empty the reservoir once or twice a day but they make an enormous difference, especially if you don't have air con. They're sold everywhere in HK, they're about GBP50-100 (depending on volume) and they're generally about knee- or thigh-high.

And definitely keep all curtains and shutters closed until the sun has gone down. It may also be worth investing in blackout lining for your curtains - it's like a greyish silver plastic reflective foil, and it's more effective for blocking heat than curtains alone.