How to Keep Kids Safe in Hot Weather

As weather extremes become more common with global warming, families traveling in summer need to be ready for intense heat waves. While the same precautions apply at home as well, when you’re traveling, you may not have all the clothing and supplies — hats, sunscreen, after-sun products, favorite drinks — you have at home.

When the heat is intense, resist the temptation to keep going in order to see and do all the things you planned for the trip. Remember kids’ bodies can’t regulate temperature as well as yours can, so don’t judge their heat tolerance by your own. The younger they are, the less able they are to withstand heat extremes.

Plan your days to do the outdoor activities in the morning and evening, the coolest parts of the day. Spend the hottest midday hours indoors, preferably in air-conditioned buildings or at least in the shade. In cities, forego the sidewalk café and restaurant tables for lunch and take advantage of air-conditioned interior rooms if they’re available.

Stop often for drinks and encourage kids to drink water; identify local bottled drinks they like and keep those on hand. Use the stroller to carry bottled water, juices and non-carbonated drinks (you don’t want warm orange soda spurting all over you when it’s opened).

Speaking of strollers, remember heat is more intense closer to the ground, especially when it’s radiated from pavement. The awning that protects a child from the sun may also be interfering with air circulation, so check a child’s skin temperature often.

Sunlight is not only a concern as a source of added heat, but also for sunburn. Be prepared with sunscreens appropriate to kids’ ages (BadgerBalm produces a wide range of age- and activity-specific sunscreens and after-sun creams, including those formulated especially for babies). Follow instructions for reapplying to be sure it stays effective.

Dress children and infants in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothes to maximize airflow and increase heat reflection (dark colors absorb and retain heat). Try to keep hats on everyone to protect from both sun and heat, although you may need to bring some extras for smaller ones, notorious for disposing of hats when you’re not looking.

With a little preparation and flexibility in your daily plans, your family can enjoy a vacation in hot climates or even during a heatwave.