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Home > Early Days > Newborns in our Maltese Summers
 Newborns in our Maltese Summers
Newborn babies cannot control their body temperature. They lose heat quickly and overheat quickly too. In any case they obviously cannot tell you about it, so taking care of their body temperature is critical, especially in extreme temperatures. The Maltese summers are hot enough to require special care. To check their temperature, put your hand under their clothes and feel their chest. It should feel warm, not hot or cold. Gauging through the hands and feet is not enough as these tend to be cooler.
Dressing up the baby
Newborn babies should be dressed lightly in Summer. If indoors, a cotton onesie will be enough. When they are still a few weeks old, it is also important to put on a cap, mittens and socks. If the baby is born small, a baby-grow with full arms and legs will be needed too. If you have to go out, you should cover as much of the baby’s skin as possible with light cotton clothing. Use light coloured clothing that reflects light unlike darker ones that absorb it.
Travelling
Babies under 6 months should be left out of the sun completely. If you have to go out, try to do it early in the morning or later on in the evening. If travelling by car, make sure that you put shades on the windows. Remember that the sunrays that pass through glass are stronger. Pull up the shade of your car seat as well, if you have one. Never leave your newborn in a closed car. Cars heat up quickly and can be deadly for babies especially newborns.
If travelling on foot, put a shade on the pram. Most prams/pushchairs come with their own shade. If this is not enough, you can also buy separate small umbrellas/parasols that can be attached to the pram/pushchair. Do your best to keep your baby in the shade all the time. Put baby sun block cream on the baby’s skin. Sun block is very important to protect the baby’s delicate skin. Find a baby sunblock and use it even from newborn age if you are going out with the baby. Dress the baby in light cotton clothes but cover up as much skin as possible. Put on a wide brimmed hat so that their face is shaded too.
Dehydration
Make sure that the baby is drinking regularly. Breast fed babies will require more frequent feeds. They will not need additional water in between as nature compensates for hot temperature by adding more water to the breastmilk itself. Breastfeeding mothers should drink water regularly too, to keep up their milk supply. Bottle fed babies will require frequent bottles and some sips of water in between too. If you notice that the baby is not drinking or is producing less wet nappies, call your doctor immediately as it might be a sign of dehydration. Another sign of dehydration that you should look out for is a sunken fontanel. This is that little soft area that you feel on the top of the baby’s head, where the bones have not yet closed together. It should not feel sunken/depressed as that can be a sign of dehydration.
This article has been written with the help of Midwife Estelle Calleja.
Estelle can be found at her baby shop: The Lullaby, M’Scala. You can visit her at the baby shop for any further questions you may have. www.thelullaby.net
Related Topics:
> Caring for the Baby's Skin in Summer
> Sun, Sea and Beach for Toddlers
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