A heat wave arrives: what precautions to take in babies and children

Suffocated Drowned So we will be these days in most of Spain due to the heat wave That comes to our country. Children are very vulnerable to high temperatures, that's why it is important to take precautions to avoid problems such as dehydration or heat stroke.

Here are some recommendations to keep in mind these days when the sun and heat squeeze hard.

Offer water frequently

Babies and children, because they have a higher percentage of water in their body and a weaker balance, dehydrate faster than adults. Hence the importance of water consumption in children. It is key to replenish frequently to the organism the water that is eliminated through the urine and sweat.

Do not wait until they are thirsty, nor cram them, but always keep within reach a bottle or canteen with fresh water so they can constantly hydrate.

The amount of daily water a child should drink is between 50-60 ml per kilo of weight, that is to say half a liter of water for a 10 kg baby, for example. We must anticipate the sensation of thirst. Experts recommend giving them water, juices or dairy every two hours.

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In babies under six months

One of the doubts that arise, especially in summer, and that we always explain is that it is not necessary to offer babies extra water who take exclusive breastfeeding, either maternal or artificial, before six months of age.

If you drink breast milk, it is enough to increase the intakes, that is, breastfeed more frequently. And if fed with artificial milk, the amount of water ingested in each bottle prepared is enough to prevent dehydration.

Put on hats, hats, glasses ...

Before very high temperatures, as we are having these days, the body's thermoregulation mechanism may be affected and not act properly.

Therefore, everything we have on hand to cover our children from the sun will be necessary, such as caps, hats, scarves or anything that protect them from direct sunlight on the head. Do not forget the use of glasses to protect the baby's eyes, since they are more sensitive than those of adults to ultraviolet radiation.

Put the smallest possible clothes of light and breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen and do not shelter him to sleep.

Refresh your skin

Generally, before six months we do not bathe a baby in the sea or in the pool, since his skin is very sensitive to saltpeter or chemicals used for water maintenance. But it doesn't mean that you can't cool him with a little tap water.

Put it first in your hand and pass it some water by the arms, the legs and especially, by the head and the nape, where the children usually sweat more. You can also use a water vaporizer.

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Always use sunscreen

Before six months it is preferable not to use it, because its skin is very delicate, unless it is specially formulated for the skin of the little ones. Otherwise, it is better not to expose the baby to the sun.

In older children, always use a cream with sun protection factor above 20 SPF (according to the most suitable for your skin type).

You should apply it throughout the body about twenty minutes before exposure to the sun, also in those places that we usually forget as ears, insteps and neck, and renew it every two hours.

Search the shadow

If you go to the pool or the beach, try to have a shaded area to cover the baby with parasols, umbrellas or tarpaulins, there are also very cool shops.

If not, look for the shade of a tree or stay indoors with the fan or the air conditioner on, taking care not to give the baby direct flow.

Avoid exposure in the hottest hours

When the sun squeezes do not do feats. Nothing to ride a bike at four in the afternoon or play football at noon. If you are going to do intense physical activity, better first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Between 11 in the morning and 6 in the afternoon avoid exposing the baby and children to direct sunlight. When it is not possible with older children, do not forget the advice we have given above.

Never leave it inside the car

In a closed car, the temperature increases dramatically, so much that an egg could be fried. They literally cook. Therefore, never leave, even for just a minute, your child in the car under the sunbeam.

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