When the weather changes more often than the balls at Wimbledon, how do you keep your kids cool, calm and collected throughout the day and night, and hold on to some shred of sanity yourself?
In my experience, when it comes to keeping kids cool during the summer three things are important: sun cream, water and clothing.
If you can keep your kids cool and protected from the sunshine, you’re on to a winner and the best ways to do that are to block it out, hydrate and maintain a regular body temperature.
With the forecast predicting soaring temperatures again this weekend, what will you be doing to help your kids cope with the heat? Here are my top tips for keeping everyone calm and collected this summer:
Sun cream – an absolute must and it should be 50+. Burnt skin is hell to deal with, not just because it hurts but because we all feel so much hotter with burned skin (naturally…).
My top tip for full and thorough coverage is to apply sun cream before any clothes go on. Apply it when your kids are completely starkers and you won’t miss any patches close to clothes. (I would always miss patches on the bottom of the bum/top of the thigh before I switched to this technique).
Reapply every four hours or so and immediately after swimming in the sea, pool or water fight. If they’re still at the age when getting their kit off is socially acceptable, get them naked again to reapply.
Water – keep drinking! Dehydration is not nice to deal with. Mild effects lead to tiredness and headaches. At worst you could be dealing with fits, brain damage and death. Of course that’s extreme, but even mild dehydration is uncomfortable and will make children irritable.
This year, we’re using the Little Squirts drink pouches again because they’re just so reliable and great fun. (We like the shark version the best.) These are fab because they fold down flat when not in use and go in the dishwasher, but any drinks container your kids can hold on to is fine.
I’m particularly keen on kids having their own bottles because it builds responsibility and independence. You’ll need to remind them to take a drink regularly (at least every hour), but pop the drink bottle into their own bag and they’ll love fishing around to take it out, and putting it safely back in again.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be water. Diluted squash is fine. Freezing drinks is another great idea – especially if you’re heading out for the day. Our lollipops are nothing more than frozen squash but the kids love the novelty of what is in effect, a drink on a stick! Fun drinking straws are another way to tempt reluctant drinkers.
Children will also take water from fruit and veggies. Melon, berries and cucumber have high water content and can be cooled easily in the fridge or cool box. Load up cocktail sticks with chunks of fruit and let the kids go at it!
Clothing – avoid synthetics like the plague! Natural materials rule during the hotter months. Merino wool is surprisingly effective for regulating body temperature because their wool is naturally breathable. A thin layer of merino wool in the summer can be more effective than a traditional cotton t-shirt. Give it a go. If wool’s not for you, silk and bamboo are equally effective.
Sunglasses, hats and visors are also essential. Watch out for girls with braided hair – the scalp will be exposed to the sun and is particularly sensitive. Slap on a hat to be sure her head’s not at risk. And don’t forget little ears – a floppy hat with a good brim will protect them from the sun.
It’s often tricky to know how cool to go at bedtime. Temperatures will drop and a cold child will wake during the night. Extra-loose options are advisable – oversized t-shirts for example. Double check before you turn in for the night to check they’re not too hot or cold. An extra blanket might be needed, or one less.
It can feel like quite a lot to remember all this advice, but these are basic tweaks to the routine and totally worth the effort. And let’s be honest – when the weather is really hot, there is no routine! So prioritise these keep-it-cool techniques to make the most of the good weather.
Here’s a recap plus some more top tips for keeping kids cool this summer:
1. Apply 50+ sun cream before the clothes go on! (Reapply at least every 4 hours)
2. Remind your kids to take a drink every hour (their own drinks bottles will help)
3. Freeze drinks or make lollipops for extra cooling refreshments
4. Fruits like melon and berries will tops kids up with extra fluid and vitamins
5. Dress in cool, loose fitting clothing (natural materials rule!)
6. The hottest part of the day is 11-3 – avoid it!
7. Invest in some shade with a parasol or play tent
8. Moisturise skin before bedtime to keep kids comfortable
9. Talc removes sand quickly and easily
10. Wet wipes are a parent’s best friend – pop them in the cool box for a refreshing wipe down at regular intervals
How are you keeping your kids cool this summer? Any more top cool tips? Share them with me in the comments.
Lisa is the managing director of what2buy4kids. Lisa’s wish is to make your job of finding a gift for the children in your life easier, or help you to take some of the time and frustration out of the search for that special gift for kids.
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