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Best-selling author of the #1 parent guides Happiest Baby on the Block & Happiest Toddler on the Block and creator of SNOO, the popular award-winning safe baby bed, offers important tips to keep your newborns and toddlers safe and "happiest" throughout the summer months.
It's summertime, and the living is easy…for kids, at least! For parents, all of that playground, pool and frolicking can bring seasonal worries…ranging from scrapes and sunburns to more scary stuff, like drowning risks. However, by following a few common-sense safety tips, you can all enjoy some fun in the sun!
Suit up with sun protection.
Slather up toddlers and big kids in sunscreen if you'll be outdoors…and reapply it every two hours! To properly cover your child's body, you need to use about an ounce of sunscreen (that's about a shot glass worth!) For a kid's face, you need about a half a teaspoon. Use mineral sunscreens when you can, and steer clear of aerosol spray sunscreens, which can cause coughing and wheezing in kids. Babies under 6 months shouldn't wear sunscreen at all. Protect your lovebug in other ways: Find a shady place to sit, use a stroller canopy and dress your little one in a sun hat and loose-fitting clothing that cover their arms and legs.
Protect your little ones from mosquitoes (and other pests!)
Bug bites are on the rise…and with that, so are bug-borne diseases! If you'll be spending time outdoors in a spot also frequented by mosquitoes, ticks, or other creepy-crawlies, you'll want to make sure you're keeping your precious little ones protected. Keep bug bites away by wearing clothes they can't bite through (long sleeves and pants, in woven fabrics), and avoid peak hours for bugs (this tends to be evenings for mosquitoes). For infants, use a mosquito net—such as Shoo, which securely attaches to SNOO to keep out pests. Try avoid using chemical bug repellants…but if you must, apply it to your clothes instead of your skin (and really try to avoid using it on little kids and babies!)
Practice water safety.
Children under 5 are at the greatest risk for accidental drowning deaths, and research shows that many of these deaths happen when parents are distracted. An adult should supervise children at all times when they're around water, and never leave children unattended in the pool for even just a few minutes. Designate a specific person to be the pool supervisor…don't assume someone is keeping watch. Also, you can't rely on a child's flotation device or toys to keep your child afloat. However, you should make sure rescue equipment is on hand and accessible in the pool area. And of course, it's wise to enroll your child in swim lessons—and yourself in CPR training.
Be ready to childproof on-the-go.
Though lots of fun for parents, vacation homes and hotel rooms aren't always the most baby- or toddler-friendly destinations. As you're packing your suitcase, make sure you throw in a few childproofing tools, including socket covers or bandage tape to cover outlets and cotton balls or bumpers to use on sharp corners. When you first arrive at your destination, get down on hands and knees to give yourself a baby's-eye-view of the place. This will help you notice—and prevent—hazards like loose change that could be a choking risk, furniture that isn't properly anchored, or dangling cords.
Create a summer first aid kit.
Summertime means endless exploring…but all of that frolicking tends to come with more boo-boos than usual. Be prepared for an uptick in scrapes, splinters, sunburns, and other minor injuries by making a kit with a few extra supplies…like some extra bandages, ointments, sunscreen, pain reliever, aloe, etc.
Stay hydrated!
We know that it's important to stay hydrated when it's hot outside! Kids under 8 need about 4 to 6 glasses of water a day (more if they're active!). Offer water with meals and snacks and be sure to pack a water bottle if you'll be away from home. And for babies who can't yet have water, that means making sure they're getting plenty of breastmilk or formula.
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