How To Dress Your Baby in The Summer Heat
Surviving the summer months with a newborn baby might seem daunting to you, especially if they’re your first baby. It’s commonly known that babies have a difficult time regulating their body temperature, and because of this, it means you’ll always need to adjust their clothing to make sure they aren’t too hot or cold.
Although the weather in the UK can be very hit-and-miss, it is still likely to be very warm for your little one. We have written this guide to help you understand what your little one needs to wear during the warmer months so they aren’t unhappy and uncomfortable.
1. Choice of Material
There are certain materials that are perfect for clothing in summertime, like cotton. Cotton is very light and durable, which means in the heat it will feel much cooler on the skin. There are many benefits to cotton clothing in summer for your little one, including breathability, lightweight and comfortable, absorbency, as well as natural and hypoallergenic.
2. Short Sleeves
If you’re out and about, the best way that you can dress your little one is in short sleeves and bottoms - so bodysuits will be the perfect option. There may be other worries surrounding having their skin out during this hot weather, but it’s important to make sure that the skin they have out is either in the shade or layered with the appropriate sun cream.
Here are a few other reasons why you should opt for short-sleeved bodysuits during summer:
- Temperature regulation - compared to adults, babies have a harder time regulating their temperature, wearing short-sleeved bodysuits and having their arms exposed reduces the risk of overheating.
- Air circulation - short-sleeved clothing allows for better ventilation and air circulation, helping to keep your baby cool and preventing sweat and moisture. Adequate airflow helps your baby maintain a comfortable body temperature and minimises any chances of heat rash or any other skin irritation.
- Flexibility - babies are naturally active, therefore short-sleeved bodysuits can give them more freedom of movement. With their arms unrestricted it makes it easier for them to explore and engage in activities like crawling, grabbing objects or learning to walk.
3. Layers
Even though your baby will probably be wearing short sleeves, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have additional layers with you as well. With a bodysuit as your base layer, you can take either a long-sleeve and leg sleepsuit or some trousers and a t-shirt - perfect if the weather changes and it becomes overcast and cloudy.
Layering also provides a convenient solution for transitioning between air-conditioned environments and outdoor heat, ensuring that babies stay cosy and content in changing weather conditions.
4. Feet Out
Babies lose a lot of their heat from their feet and their head, so to help your little one regulate and maintain their temperature let them go barefoot in the warmer weather. If however, your baby is already taking steps, then sandals would be the best option to protect their feet but allow some breathing room.
Having their feet out enables better air circulation, preventing the accumulation of moisture and sweat, which can lead to discomfort or skin irritation.
5. Extra Protection
For those really warm, sunny days extra precautions are always advised. The use of hats, sunglasses and suncream can keep your delicate newborn safe. Sun hats especially play a crucial role in protecting babies during the summer season. Their delicate skin is more vulnerable to the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sun hats provide a shield for their face, neck, and scalp, areas that are particularly sensitive to sunburn and sun damage.
6. Sleep Safety
When it comes to sleep safety, this is the most important thing to consider during the warmer weather. The rule when dressing your baby for bed throughout summer is that if the room is above 20 degrees you can dress your baby in a short-sleeve bodysuit with a 0.5 TOG sleeping bag, but if the room is hotter than 25 degrees you may want to just opt for a bodysuit or nappy.
The best way to work out what you should be dressing your baby into sleep is to think about what you’re wearing and add an extra layer to your little one.
