Last updated on September 26th, 2022 at 10:41 am
This post contains affiliate links where you can purchase products and I may earn a commission with no extra charge to you.
As we are suffering, yes suffering, a heat wave AGAIN in the UK, many of us are wondering how to keep baby cool in this summer sun. Luckily, our heatwaves only last a few days compared to other countries. However, there are times when we need to venture out, instead of living indoors like vampires.
We need to think about ways of keeping Arthur cool or shaded whilst he’s in his pushchair. Here are some products and methods that I’ve used to help our baby keep cool in the heat.
The SnoozeShade ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of the best things I’ve purchased with how to keep baby cool is the SnoozeShade. It is an elasticated mesh material which uses velcro straps to attach to the frame of the pushchair. It’s absolutely brilliant as it fits over both his car seat and his bassinet pram. It also leaves a gap for air to flow through and there is a zip in the middle so that you can keep an eye on baby. I suppose this is, essentially, a safe adaptation of the blanket method (placing a blanket over the pushchair to shade baby – this is not safe as it traps heat inside the pushchair and babies can overheat!).
And if all of that isn’t enough to make you want to buy one, maybe this will convince you… A lady stopped me recently to tell me what a great invention the SnoozeShade was. She also said she wishes she’d had one when her children were babies.
Parasol ⭐️⭐️
I bought the parasol before I bought the SnoozeShade. I have to admit, I had high hopes for this when I was searching how to keep baby cool in the hot sun but it wasn’t as good as I expected. Not only did Lee and I have to assemble it ourselves (which was only slightly easier than an Ikea flatpack), it wasn’t flexible once attached. This meant that, whilst we were on a walk, I had to keep stopping and adjusting it.
No matter how many times I adjusted it, the sun still seemed to shine on Arthur. I ended up stressing in case his very young skin was getting burnt. Needless to say, I haven’t really used it since.
Granted, it could have been the particular brand I chose but, from conversations with other parents, it sounds as if this is a common problem amongst parasol-users.
On a positive note, the product itself was aesthetically pleasing and matched our pushchair. It had two clip-styles too as many only fit pushchairs with a cylindrical frame; ours was wider and there was a second clip that suited it.
Fan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You cannot beat a good old-fashioned handheld fan when it comes to cooling down a baby. There are so many available now that can be clipped onto the pushchair too. However, similarly to the parasol, be mindful of the clip-size when purchasing one. Many state that they are ‘universal’ but don’t actually fit the wider-framed pushchairs; not a problem if you’re happy to keep it in your carry-bag.
Although it rates highly when wondering how to keep baby cool in the heat, it’s also important to remember that the fan should not be directed at your baby for too long and in close proximity. It’s best to use this sporadically when out and about.
Cool Muslin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a tip that I came across within a Facebook group in a discussion about how to keep your baby cool in the summer. Many parents have suggested cooling down a baby’s mattress (whether this be in the Moses basket, cot/cotbed, pushchair etc) by placing a refrigerated muslin in there about ten minutes before putting baby in.
Now, this is a very cost-savvy way of cooling baby down and puts the large amount of muslins to good use. I say this because Lee and I were told throughout my pregnancy that we should “stock up on muslins” and we “can never have enough muslins”.
It’s also important to remember to take the muslin out before putting baby in to ensure safe sleeping. (NHS Safe Sleeping to reduce risk of SIDS).
Thermometers
We have three thermometers in our house to help us keep an eye on the temperature. We went a bit mad wondering how to keep baby cool in the heat! I also found guidance online from Sleeperific of what baby should be wearing as per the temperature in the house.
Sleep Safely with Teddy ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our first thermometer, ‘Sleep Safely with Teddy’, was provided by our Health Visitor through the NHS. We initially thought that it was stuck on 21o but since the hot weather has arrived, we’ve noticed it changing to show 24o and 27o.
Although not as accurate as the digital thermometers, it’s handy to have.
Nuby Penguin Bath and Room Thermometer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our Nuby penguin thermometer sits in Arthur’s nursery. It generally seems to be pretty accurate and can also be used to check the temperature of the bath water. However, we use the Schnuggle pebbly bath thermometer for Arthur’s baths.
TommeeTippee GroEgg ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We also have the TommeeTippee GroEgg2 in our bedroom which sits next to Arthur’s ‘Next to Me’ crib. It also acts as a nightlight which is handy. We have not seen the GroEgg go below 20o yet so it has only glowed yellow and red (during the heatwaves). This is good for recognising what Arthur should be wearing to bed.
Ours is the newest model of the GroEgg but you can also purchase the original from here. There is not much difference between prices though.
I hope you manage to keep your little ones cool and out of the direct sunlight. I also hope that some of my recommendations help in some way. If there’s one purchase I’d recommend, it’s definitely the SnoozeShade!
I would love to hear of any suggestions you may have on how to keep baby cool in the heat. Us Brits are not used to such heat so any recommendations will be very welcome. ?
In the meantime, feel free to check out my post that may help new parents: 10 Things To Do While Your Newborn Baby Sleeps
Loulabella xoxo
2 thoughts on “How to keep baby cool: 5 of the best tips”