Baby it's hot outside!

In Ottawa, we seem to wait SO long for summer to arrive and then when it finally does, we need to learn how to keep our babies cool and comfortable in the sometimes unbearable heat (although, we never like to complain about the heat, since we'll soon enough be plunged back into the negative numbers on the thermometer!).

Here are a few suggestions from FITMOM to help keep your baby cool:

1. If your baby is younger than 6 months old, you may want to try to keep them out of the direct sunlight, since their skin has less melanin (the pigment the provides a tiny bit of protection from the sun).

2. When your baby gets a little older, you can begin to use sunscreen to help keep them safe from the sun, since keeping a moving baby out of the direct sun is a tough job for any mom! The Badger Baby's Natural Organic Sunscreen is one that's recommended, but if you have other recommendations, please leave them in the comments!

3. You can try sun-safe clothing when your babies are outside at the park and it's more difficult to find the shade of a tree.

4. When my kids were little, they loved splashing "in the pool" (A fun fact: we actually had a real swimming pool in our backyard when we moved in, but we filled it in quite quickly!). Instead, we had the "turtle" pool, where a little water from the hose (usually quite cold!) did the trick. Usually, I saw some benefits as well and at the end of a pool session, was pretty wet myself!

5. Giving your baby a cooler temperature bath before bed can often help them settle into a better sleep a little more easily.

6. Draw the blinds in your baby's room and the rest of your house to keep the rooms cool during the day.

7. If you're breastfeeding your baby, you might find that babies want to nurse more frequently on hotter days. Continue to breastfeed on demand to keep them well hydrated. Older babies might enjoy water from a sippy cup to stay hydrated.

8. Babywearing on hot days can be warm for both mom and baby! Choose your lightest fabric carrier and add a small towel between you and your baby to prevent the sweaty/sticky feeling. Babies might also feel more comfortable in just a diaper and a onesie, especially if you're outdoors. Try using an umbrella to provide a bit of shade.

9. A wide brim hat helps shade your baby's face and neck from the sun. Be warned, though, that it might turn into a little game of putting on, throwing off on the ground. Usually this is repeated multiple times! Not to worry, you'll get lots of exercise playing this game when you squat down to pick up the hat:)

10. A visit to the splash pad is also a fun way for both mamma and baby to stay cool!

Sprinklers and home made slip and slides have been among the favourite water activities for my kids, once they were a bit older. When I see the smiles on their faces, I understand why!

If you have any other tips or tricks that you've used to keep your baby comfortable in the summer heat, please feel free to share them in the comments below.