Summer is fast approaching and even if the temperatures haven't reached boiling point yet, I wanted to share this important tip with you.
At this point we all know it isn't safe to leave a baby in the car - even for just a minute a minute or two. But have you ever considered the dangers of the stroller?
It's not uncommon for parents to seek shade for their little ones in strollers. We all want to keep them shaded from the hot sun. According to the Mayo Clinic sunscreen is ok to use on babies older than 6 months but younger babies should use other forms of sun protection. It’s worth repeating every year that stroller covers in the summer can do much more harm than good. Even a baby blanket draped over the stroller.
"It gets extremely hot down in the pram, something like a thermos. There is also bad circulation of the air and it is hard to see the baby with a cover over the pram," Svante Norgren, pediatrician at the Astrid Lindgren Children's hospital in Stockholm, says in an interview with Swedish newspaper, the Svenska Dagbladet.
It's important to keep in mind that babies and young children are especially vulnerable to heat stroke. They sweat less thus reducing their bodies’ ability to cool down. They are at risk of overheating and developing a heat-related illness. Heat can also make existing illnesses worse.
So what can we use?
The Mayo Clinic states that the best way to protect babies from the sun is to keep them in the shade as much as possible. In addition, dress your baby in protective clothing, a hat with a brim and sunglasses. Make sure he or she doesn't get overheated, however. You can also provide shade for your baby by using an umbrella or pop-up tent.