How to Look After Baby In Summer time?

By Poonam Sharma

1. Try to be indoors during the peak hours (10 am to 5 pm). But if you have to go out then make sure your baby is well protected from the heat as this is the time when effect of the heat is the most. Dress up baby in cool cotton clothes.

2. Do not use massage oils, petroleum jelly, lotions or other moisturisers in summer months as these can cause prickly heat or infantile eczema if not washed off properly. You can use coconut oil or olive oil as these are traditionally referred to as cooling oils. Just make sure that it is washed off completely and not left on your baby's skin.

3. Don’t take baby directly to an air conditioned room just after a bath. Some mothers are of the habit of taking unclothed baby to an air conditioned room right after a bath and this can make them ill. You must switch on the AC only after your baby is fully clothed and his hair dry. Dress up your baby in thicker cotton clothes and inner vest if you plan to keep him in the AC all day.

4. Avoid putting up diapers as babies can get heat rashes from them during summer months. You can instead switch to cloth nappies in good absorbent cotton. The cloth nappies will not only keep your baby cool but will also prevent nappy and heat rash.

5. Let baby indulge in some water play, put him/her in bath tub or small baby pool and let him/her splash water and enjoy with you around. Never ever leave baby unattended even for a minute.