Going to the pool with a baby? Offer the baby additional water on hot days? When the heat is persistent, parents worry a lot – we asked a midwife what is good for the little ones.
Hot, hotter, danger! It’s the warmest day of the year, everyone longs to cool off. Especially those who have a baby or a small child at home are worried about how well the youngest ones can tolerate the heat when the temperature is above 30 degrees. echo24.de asked a midwife what needs to be considered.
Babies in the heat: Breast milk is enough for infants
“It’s best not to go out at all when it’s that hot,” says Marliese Hofmann-Kress, laughing a little herself. The midwife from Hardthausen am Kocher explains: “It would actually be best. But I know that for many in practice this is not feasible at all – for example, if there is an older child in the family and has to be taken to school or there are other obligations Babies seek out shade if possible. Hofmann-Kress points out that shade under trees is much more pleasant than the shade that a parasol can provide.
With the suncream it’s always something like that, the experienced midwife explains. Because the good products literally clog up the children, so that vitamin D can no longer be absorbed. Washing up again can often be tedious. Hofmann-Kress therefore likes to advise long clothing, which should of course be light. “The little one is warm anyway, whether in a T-shirt or a long-sleeved blouse or shirt.” The latter, however, offers protection.
Babies and toddlers do not tolerate heat as well – note the important things
Sunstroke or overheating in babies is even more likely than the risk of sunburn. The midwife can confirm that infants and small children do not heat up as quickly, but: The smallest sweating is not as pronounced as in adults and so they also lack part of the body’s own cooling function. The fluid balance of the little ones must also be taken into account, but in a different way than many people think.
Hofmann-Kress explains: “Breast milk consists of 87 percent water. In infants, the thirst can be sufficiently quenched. Water or tea does not necessarily have to be given separately.” She also does not necessarily recommend tea or water for children who are given bottles. Instead, the usual amount of powder can be diluted with a little more water than usual. In this way, the child takes in the usual amount of nutrients and additional liquid with one meal.
For example: If three spoonfuls of milk powder are usually mixed with 90 milliliters of water, the amount of water can be increased to 120 milliliters.
It is best to stay at home with small children and babies in extreme heat
“Even if it is difficult for many in terms of their daily routine, the best thing is really to avoid the hottest times,” says Hofmann-Kress. If you want to be outside, it is best to do so before 10 or 11 a.m. on hot days and then stay at home until 6 or 7 p.m. if at all possible. She can understand that many are looking to cool off in the outdoor pool, but she points out the way: into the car, air conditioning there, which must not be set too high, and from the outdoor pool many people first have to go back into the hot car.
Hardly anyone, by the way reach for the hot steering wheel can, he should note a very simple trick, which creates a remedy for others Tricks in the heat in the car.
Cooling off with water is fine for young children, she says. Hofman-Kress hopes that it goes without saying that extreme temperature differences and ice-cold water should be avoided. On hot days, she would give slightly older children lots of fruit, such as watermelon or apples.