Our little ones cannot be expected to recognize the effects of various seasons on their fragile human bodies. Their play and fun cannot be interrupted by blistering sun and sweltering heat or cold winds and pouring rain. Thus, their safety and good health fall on the reliable shoulders of their parents or guardians.

Summers in Gulf start sooner and last much longer than in other parts of the world, without any respite by monsoon rains. In such a scenario, adjusting to the climate by adapting safe habits can go a long way in ensuring the well-being of our children. Hence, to be better prepared for the onslaught of summers, let us get familiar with a few pointers on caring for children during summers, effects of extreme heat, identifying distress signals when to contact your pediatrician, and other related information.

General Advice Caring for Newborns and Infants

• Hot Motor Vehicles – Within 10 minutes, a car can heat up to 19 degrees and become even hotter than the outside temperature. Care should be taken to never leave children in a closed motor vehicle. A continuous rise in temperature may even cause death.
• Young children can be taught about rest periods and taking breaks to hydrate and cool off themselves or parents can ensure that they are regularly hydrated and rested.
• Avoid stepping out at peak hours between 10 am to 2 pm. And if unavoidable, dress the child in light-colored clothes, preferably a full-sleeve shirt and pants, and carry umbrellas, caps for protection.
• Dehydration can lead to loss of nutrients in the body, more so in the case of children. Summer fruits and vegetables are an essential part of your child’s healthy summer diet, which can keep the body hydrated while maintaining vitamin A and vitamin C nutrients in the body. This boosts immunity and protects your child from heatstroke.
• Make sure your child takes a bath regularly, washes hands, eyes, face, and other body parts frequently, and wears clean clothes, to avoid bad body odour, skin rashes, and other illnesses.

Caring for Newborns and Infants

• Clothing – Dress your baby preferably in pure cotton clothes as they are more absorbent than clothes made of synthetic fibers. If your baby’s skin is moist for long periods of time, she is prone to getting a prickly heat rash. Light colors have a tendency to remain cooler and should be preferred. Choose a time of the day when the baby is awake and you don’t expect her to poo, then designate it as nappy free time, as nappies can keep your baby quite warm in hot weather and cause her to sweat at the waist and leg band.

• Bathing – The water should neither be too cold nor very hot, just a little warm or maybe even room temperature for a newborn baby as it is ideal for baby to cool down. This can be checked by dipping your elbow in the water. They can also enjoy water play in small inflatable pool or bathtub but should never be left alone as babies can drown even in few inches of water.

• Feeding – Babies can be expected to wet six to eight nappies in twenty-four hours and they can get dehydrated faster than adults. If the baby is exclusively breastfed and younger than six months, extra water isn’t required but they may feed more frequently or at shorter periods at a time. Shorter feeds produce more foremilk which is thinner and more refreshing than fat-rich hindmilk. On the other hand, if the baby is formula-fed, she might require some water (which has been boiled and then cooled). Older babies on solids require adequate water.

• Skincare – In summers, it is better to use thin massage oils that wash off easily than thick oils which form a residual layer on skin which can trap sweat on the baby’s skin and lead to heat rash. Use of talcum powder isn’t recommended much as the small particles may enter and damage baby’s lungs and lead to breathing difficulties and if used, precautions should be practiced such as not creating clouds of powder, keeping it away from baby, not using it on face and not putting it on moist skin. Heat and humidity can also cause prickly heat rashes in the skin folds of nape of the neck, shoulder, back, nappy area. To provide relief, Calamine lotion can be used or a paste of Fuller’s Earth and rose water can be applied for ten minutes and then washed off.

Caring for Toddlers and Young children

• Nutrition – In summers, stored food often spoils quickly. So, store food at appropriate temperatures and in food grade plastic ware or glass utensils and taste the food to ensure its not spoilt before feeding to the child. While going out, carry the child’s home cooked food as much as possible and avoid all fizzy drinks, tea, coffee, packaged juice and energy drinks as they have excess amounts of sugar and/or caffeine. Children should be encouraged to drink water regularly.

• Skin care – Water resistant SPF30 sunscreen should be applied on all exposed body parts to protect from sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays as too much exposure can cause sunburn, skin and eye damage or even skin cancer later in life. Too little UV would lead to low vitamin D levels and winters can be utilized for adequate outdoor time under the sun. Toy sunglasses do not protect eyes from UV rays. Wrap-around sunglasses labelled AS 1067 have very good UV protection. Broad rim hats should be preferred over caps as they shade the face, neck and ears in a better manner.

• Daily/ Weekly routine – Familiarity in routine is comforting for children. Disruptions in daily habits lead to disruptive behavior. Entertainment forms that are a cool retreat from the heat can be incorporated in their weekly outings such as air-conditioned gaming centers, libraries, indoor playgrounds in malls, or swimming pools, to give respite from being locked indoors for long times.

Potential Effects of Extreme Heat

• Dehydration – Looking at an energetic and active child, it’s hard to identify dehydration. You can monitor the baby’s urine output and look for other signs like dry lips and mouth, dry tears, no wet diaper for six or more hours, unable to drink water, fever, excessive drowsiness and vomiting.
• Heat exhaustion – The body would record an elevated body temperature, usually less than 104˚F. The skin might feel cool and clammy with goose bumps, despite the heat. The child might feel dizziness and weakness and might faint. She might be irritable and complain of headache, muscle cramps, nausea and/or vomiting
• Heat cramps – painful muscle cramps in the child’s arms, legs, or abdomen.
• Heat stroke – Heat stroke is a medical emergency. The body temperature rises above 104˚ Fahrenheit. The child might exhibit confusion, disorientation and suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache and seizures. The skin would appear hot and flushed. She may lose consciousness. You might also notice absence of sweating in spite of the heat.
• Psychological Effect – Child’s mental health is equally important. Restricting them indoors all the time may result in anxiety or restlessness which can be addressed by offering alternative forms of entertainment such as indoor games and activities and ensuring to limit the screen time.

If suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke, as a first aid, the child should be brought to a cool, shaded place and cold wet towels or sponges should be applied or the child can be immersed in a tub. She can be given cool fluids that contain salt but avoid pushing fluids unless she is conscious and alert.

When to contact Pediatrician

If your child develops any of the following symptoms, it is best to take advise from your pediatrician, on the next course of action and to decide whether an immediate evaluation is required.

• Feeling faint​ and showing extreme tiredness (e.g., unusually sleepy, drowsy, or hard to arouse)
• Headache and fever
• Intense thirst and not urinating for many hours
• Vomiting and nausea
• Breathing faster or deeper than normal
• Skin numbness or tingling
• Muscle spasms and aches

With small precautions and extra care, the summers in Gulf can also be made an enjoyable time for your little ones just like other seasons.

 

Image Credit: Summer photo created by pvproductions – www.freepik.com