Woohoo, we having a good summer so far! So I hope I’m not jinxing it by sending out my Top Tips to Surviving the Summer with a New Baby.
I love the sun, but unfortunately dealing with a heatwave can completely wreck a baby’s routine.
Hot, sticky weather can make breastfeeding and bottle-feeding feel impossible, your baby’s naps can go haywire, and your baby’s sleep is one long sweaty battle. If your baby is fussier, feeding less, or struggling to settle… it’s not you. It’s the heat.
Here are my Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Heatwave Baby!
Some simple, practical changes that make a big difference to keep your baby calm, engaging, well fed and sleeping peacefully.
1. Keep it cool for sleep
Try to keep your baby’s room below 23°C.
Keep blinds/curtains shut during the day, and windows open for airflow ( unless in super high muggy temperatures where keeping the windows shut keeps the heat out) At night, crack windows slightly for a breeze.
2. Fan it out
Use a quiet, oscillating fan for naps and bedtime. Point it to circulate air over the cot never directly on baby, keep your little one cool blow the airflow. My recommended fan at the moment is the Bioniare 16 inch pedestal fan, powerful, quiet and a third of the price of a Dyson.
3. Feed smart
Babies heat up when feeding. A cooler baby is more alert and likely to feed well. Try feeding in the coolest room, use cool water during nappy changes, strip washes and if it’s really hot, a tepid bath (31–33°C) can help wake them before feeds or cool them down after.
4. Frozen muslin magic
Soak a muslin in water, freeze flat, sandwich it in a towel, and lay it on your feeding pillow with a dry muslin on top, this game-changer keeps a baby’s body cool while feeding.
5. Dress down at bedtime
Ditch the baby sleep suit and dress in a vest onesie. Use lighter layers: a large muslin for tucking in, If swaddling, leave baby’s legs exposed to cool them down, if you use a sleeping bag- drop down to a 0-1 tog or ditch the sleeping bag.
REMEMBER: Feeding and digestion are the foundation of sleep. If your baby is feeding less or dosing off mid-feed in the heat, you might see more frequent wake ups overnight. These tips help protect feeding, weight gain and sleep.
For more summer tips or tailored support, I’m just a message away
You can also book a one-to-one call or browse my support packages here.
Stay cool and as always, trust your gut.
