Milkbank Blog
Keep Your Cool
Where I live summer last approximately twenty minutes. Okay, I’m exaggerting. It’s more like forty minutes. Well, that’s what it feels like anyway. We go from summer to a very mild spring and then WHAMO it’s summer and it’s ninety degrees in the shade.
People think we are crazy but we live in an old house that does not support air-conditioning. It would, technically, but not without us completely re-configuring the heating system of the house and let me tell you that is just not an option right now. We live very close to a very big lake, and because of that we get some relief; Temperatures are usually 10-15 degrees cooler where I live than the rest of the city. Still, once we have a few days of straight heat with high humidity and no breaks, my house is like a hot box.
I don’t know how you do it, people like to say to me. Frankly, I don’t know how either, I just do it.
Me, I can handle sweating while sitting perfectly still but it’s my little ones that I worry about. Babies and toddlers are particularly prone to dehydration since they don’t always recognize when it’s time to slow down. Here are some tips I keep in mind for my great, hot-but-way-too-short-summer-having state:
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend sunscreen for babies younger than six months. He’s old enough for it now, but even still if we go outside I make sure the baby is shaded either by the stroller cover and/or a wide brimmed hat.
Make sure an offer enough fluids. Add an extra feeding or bottle of formula if you’ve had a busy day or have been out in the heat. (Make sure you breastfeeding mama’s are drinking enough water too!)
Draw your shades during the prime sun hours to help keep the house cooled down as much as possible. Open as many windows as you can during the night.
For your older kids, break out the Popsicles. Offer cold drinks and light snacks throughout the day. Cold grapes or watermelon are usually a hit. Set up the sprinkler or the water table.
If all else fails, a trip to the mall to purchase an oscillating fan can always cool everyone down and provide a much needed break.
What are your summer time tricks to keep the mercury from rising?
Post your comment or question
