Within our Special Summer with children in Babies and more we will talk today about how to cope with those burning dayswhen it's very long, but very, very hot.
It is useful to keep in mind some practical tips that will help us children cope better with high temperatures, which, especially for them, can become dangerous.
When it is very hot, the loss of body water increases and there is a risk of dehydration and the fearsome heat stroke.
There are basic precautions that will help us prevent the most dangerous consequences of high temperatures and cope better. Taking these precautions will be essential to avoid discomfort for children and even serious health problems.
Keep the house as fresh as possible
A basic measure is to keep our house as fresh as possible. We can use air conditioning (sparingly and avoiding extreme contrasts) and fans. With that, if we take care, in addition, to keep awnings and blinds lowered in the daytime hours, we will prevent the house from being suffocating.
When these elements are not available we can always choose those traditional solutions that already helped our grandparents: lower awnings and blinds so that the sun does not enter, cause currents inside the house and even hang wet sheets on the windows to cool the air entering.
Also, refreshing neck and hands or taking a shower help a lot. Children can go barefoot as long as the floor is not very slippery, and we can keep it cool by passing a wet mop. And it is important to wear fresh clothes that do not squeeze, especially children, and, if they wear a diaper, we can even consider leaving them without him, which is really an annoying gadget.
Whenever possible you have to stay at home in the hottest hoursWell, there is no better protection than prevention.
Out of home
We are not going to be locked up at home all day, the children are going to ask us to go out to play, or maybe, there are commitments that we cannot postpone. Fundamental, dress appropriately: comfortable clothes and shoes, fresh and cool, hats or headwear if it is sunny and go well equipped with water to drink and keep children hydrated.
To go for a walk or play, it is preferable to choose the coolest hours of the day and avoid, above all, intense physical exercise if it's very hot.
We must know that our body has a way of keeping us cool when it is very hot: we begin to sweat, the capillaries dilate and can even increase the rate with which our heart beats.
However, the elderly and children, especially if they are not quite hydrated, can see that when there are very high temperatures this natural process fails and even a very serious problem occurs: the heat stroke.
When we go down the street very hot we must look for the shade and take breaks to drink and cool off, take advantage of the fountains to wet the little ones and enter, if necessary, in an establishment that has air conditioning, always taking into account that sudden temperature contrasts are not beneficial either.
And of course, when possible, go to the beach, the river or the pool, nothing better to spend a day of fire with the children
Hydration
It is very important, in the hot weather, always stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water. Rather than acting when there is dehydration, we should prevent it by offering children plenty of water and with the measures we have previously told you.
In the case of infants it is not necessary, rather it is incorrect, to offer them water. What needs to be done is to increase the intakes and leave them free access to the chest, so that they can quench their thirst with small shots of milk from the beginning as many times as they wish.
With babies who drink artificial milk, you must follow the same pattern of feeding on demand, but be especially attentive because they do not have the advantage of being able to hydrate with milk from the beginning of the teat.
There are fresh and high-water foods (gazpachos, juices, fruits, salads) and above all drink plenty of fluids. For example, watermelons and cucumbers are ideal for this time because of their high water content.
Summarizing, when it's very long, but very, very hot It is essential to prevent the adverse effects of high temperatures by avoiding going out in the sunniest hours, keeping our houses cool and above all, offering fresh food and plenty of water to children.
