I consider safety the most important factor when photographing babies. As a newborn photographer and mother, I’ve learned a lot over the course of my profession and wondered why I didn’t know everything upon delivering my sweet boy. As moms, we are reading the latest “how to books”, listening to our favorite podcasts, and surfing the web to learn all that we could ever want to know and still, somehow, we miss some very important details.
Since the temps are officially high here in Sunny Arizona, I want to share with you a few things to keep your precious baby safe during these hot summer months.
Let’s keep your babes safe this summer!
Heat
Babies, even newborns, have sweat glands and sweat just like us when they’re hot. If we lived in a colder climate we’d bundle our babes up but living in the desert calls for different measures. Since they’re not able to tell us when they’re too hot, we need to be diligent in checking ourselves and we can do that by feeling the base of their neck, palms, and soles of their feet. If they’re damp, we back off the layers and the heat. CYH (Child and Youth Health
Skin Protection
Ideally you want to wait until your baby is 6 months of age before applying sunscreen. Shade and no direct sun exposure is recommended. Once she/he turns six months, make sure to apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that protects against UVA and UB exposure. If possible, apply it 30 minutes prior to being in the sun and don’t forget to reapply. Also, keep in mind that the sun is extremely intense during 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. FDA and Parents Magazine
Noise
The two things to focus on is common everyday sounds like loud toys, vacuum, hair dryer, etc. and loud events. A baby shouldn’t be too close to anything that emits a loud noise for an extended period of time. With July 4th coming up, keep in mind that fireworks are very loud and noise cancelling headphones are a great option to put on baby’s ears. General rule of thumb – if it’s hard to have a conversation because of the environment, then it’s too loud for a newborn. Dangerous Decibels
Clothing choices
Babies do best in 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit, especially when sleeping. Keep them in light airy clothing and don’t overwrap with multiple blankets. This is such a scary truth but worth talking about. Studies have shown that multiple layers or heavy clothing, heavy blankets, and warm room temperatures increase SIDS risk. Infants who are in danger of overheating feel hot to the touch. NIH SIDS Facts
Hydration
Experts say that a baby under 6 months of age shouldn’t drink anything other than breast milk or formula if bottle fed. I’ve read various articles on this. Some say feed extra ounces a day and others say that can interrupt their feed/sleep cycle. I say do your research and keep baby cool. At six months, hydrate like crazy and be creative if need be. NHS dehydration
I hope these tips help you have a safe and fun summer and I can’t wait to see your precious little one in my studio soon!!
