Keeping baby in the shade

[Bab123y]

So, I've probably got waaaaaay over anxious about this.

Baby is 3 months old and with all the heatwaves and beautiful sunny days I've found it quite stressful as I'm always worried about there being enough shade.

Do you take this advice with a pinch of salt and let your baby in the sun for a short while, say 10/15 mins for a walk round the block in a sling etc or do you go out of your way to always keep your them in the shade?

Pushchair with a shade? I'd be worried about overheating in a sling, but then I never got on with them. Or a sunhat and long sleeves, if they're in the sling.

Always shade. I use a sun shade on the buggy for my toddler and a muslin over the carry cot to cover my newborn.

I do let my toddler play in the garden when it's sunny though.

Oh and, as PP says, I don't use the sling with my newborn as it's just too hot at the moment.

Thanks both. So I'm not being over anxious then? I stay mostly in the house on hot sunny days as we have no shade in the garden until 4pm. Baby hates the pram so rarely go in it but when we do there's a UV parasol that we use.

Guess it's woodland walks in the sling /carrier only then when we get days like this!

They won't over heat in a carrier. But just remember that the carrier counts as a layer. So if it's super hot, just a vest will do. Sun cream and a hat and plenty of milk. Of course aim for as much shade as possible, but your little one will not melt, burst into flames or get sun stroke from being in the sun for short periods of time.

@miltonj. Suncream on a three month old???

Absolutely. Why wouldn't you?

@miltonj I'm not worried about the heat more than there UV. The NHS says they have no pigment developed in the their skin to help ward off the effects of the UV light. But I'm also sure 3 months is too young for suncream to?

*I'm not worried about the heat, more the UV

Remember that people live in much hotter countries than the UK and many carry their babies.
Just check the baby frequently!

Generally not advised before 6m @miltonj

Definitely stay in on hot days in the afternoon (12-3) unless in total shade.

No, you’re not being over-anxious.

I think the vague official advice is 6 months for sun cream. But it's just cautious. If you're baby generally doesn't have skin problems, it shouldn't be a problem, just get the one designed for kids. Honestly, it will be fine.

Your

@Tibtab now I'm sorry if this comes across as offensive, I truly don't mean it to be, but in these countries I imagine they have some pigment in their skin because of their ethnicity? Forgive me if I'm being dumb and unintentionally rude /offensive (I truly do not mean to be) but pale white babies are more at risk from UV or not?

We had a pop up gazebo for the garden.
Sunshade over pram (check the baby is fully covered.

Its easier with a immobile three month old than a mobile 10 month old. Enjoy the summer where they stay where you put them as opposed to chasing after them with suncream, hats, t-shirt etc

Always shade.With a sun shade umbrella on the pram

I remember panicking about this when mine was tiny, as I used the sling a lot. I’d go for somewhere shaded though, and if just walking round the block etc then stick to the shaded side of the road.

If full sun is unavoidable (eg if you’re walking to a specific destination on a specific route) then make sure baby has a hat, light clothes, arms and legs covered if possible. They’ll be fine with a few minutes of direct sunshine if it’s unavoidable. I’d sometimes drape a light muslin over my shoulder too.

I would panic about this so often when my first was a baby. I was much more relaxed with my others.

Try to keep your baby in the shade as you already are. I used to lay a rug on the grass under a tree for shade or prop up an umbrella.

You'll get less anxious in time - as condescending as that sounds.

Ps congrats!

In hot countries, they still keep babies in the shade - it got close to 50C mid summer, and babies were covered in light clothes so skin never got exposed to the sun.
Avoidance is MUCH better than cream to prevent damage.

I’m in Singapore (average temp 35 degrees, very high UV) and I’m pale as a ghost. Shade is really important for babies and you are definitely not over anxious about this.

You can get pop up shades to use in the park, extra shades and umbrellas for the pram, or for a carrier a UV umbrella (like a normal umbrella but with a uv blocking layer) can be very handy. Best to also get a portable fan to attach to the pram or carry with you with the carrier. For my babies, I avoided the sun as much as possible, and mostly did shade + hats + light full sleeve and full leg clothing with UV protection (Bonds do very good baby cool bodysuits and very lightweight leggings). In extremis you can use zinc oxide sun cream on I think 3 month plus but better to wait until six.

Do not under any circumstances use a muslin over your pram as it can make it like an oven. I use a ray shade plus fan with a mesh backed pram seat to ensure proper airflow and shade for my little one.

I think in a carrier is fine as long as baby has a hat on and you’re in and out of the sun, not constantly walking in it x

I would much rather use suncream on exposed bits of baby than never going out in the sun!! How much of their skin is out if they're in a sling? Sun hat on, and don't lie them in full sun is pretty obvious but I can't imagine never leaving the house during summer. My first was born April 2018, just a month before the hottest summer in ages. Yes I kept her in the shade as much as possible, had a parasol in the garden and a UV tent for if we went to the beach or park, a sun shade on the pram but I can't say I completely avoided all sun light. That would be nuts. No wonder our children lack vitamin D!!!!!

I put suncream on my baby when she was under 6m. Sometimes it was unavoidable that she would be in the sun for a few minutes eg when walking somewhere or if breastfeeding (I don’t fit under her pram sunshade). I thought suncream was preferable to sunburn. She didn’t have a reaction to it so it was fine. In general though I did try my best to keep her out of the sun wherever possible, you’re right to be careful about this. I’m still careful now she’s 2 - either suncream and hat or shade, ideally both 😂

I used to use a sunshade on the pram (not a muslin / blanket sealing them in, ever - just in case you've not been told that!) I did used to clip a muslin or similar to the top of the sun shade and then to the handle of the pram so there was a big gap for airflow but direct overhead sun was blocked.

I also bought one of these to take out and about when I wasn't sure there would be shade and we'd be stopped in one place. Like for a picnic or similar. It was fantastic, we got so much use out of it, and even used it at night when we went camping.

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/koodi-sun-and-sleep-travel-cot-with-black-out-blinds-b7214.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6s2IBhCnARIsAP8RfAgu2I9JlDyiGWq42sH0PBolsjnI-AGtm-2dQkrnARrqlJ7DbueTO7IaApMZEALw_wcB