You’d think dressing a newborn baby in the summer would be easy. After all, dressing a newborn baby in the winter is when you run the risk of freezing and frostbite. What’s the worst that can happen in the summer? They get a tan? Definitely not. Bad things can happen if your newborn baby is not dressed appropriately for the weather.
Here are some tips for how to dress a newborn in summer:
Summer often means lots of fun outdoor activities, like days at the beach, summertime barbecues, family reunions, and afternoon picnics in the park. While adults and children love long beautiful days soaking up the sunshine, newborn babies can overheat, get dehydrated, get sunburned, and even suffer sun damage.
Dress for the summer, but be prepared for temperature changes
Dressing for the summer can be tricky, as your newborn’s temperature can change in an instant.
Veteran mom Angie Rumpf shares a trick to keep baby comfortable at all times. “Layers! We live in Florida, so we must layer up a baby to make sure that they are dressed appropriately in any environment,” she told Mom.com.
She’s not wrong. Layers are the only way to keep that Goldilocks “just right” feeling for your newborn. Weather is finicky — from one moment to the next, a breeze could come through, the sun could dip behind the clouds, a storm could blow in, or the heat index could soar. You just never know, so it’s best to play it safe and dress your newborn in layers.
Look for signs of discomfort
When outside during the summer, check your baby often for overheating. Check for warm skin, heat rash, irritability, and tiredness. These are all signs of an overheated baby. You definitely don’t want your baby to suffer heat stroke.
Dr. Kathleen Alfano, former director of child research at Fisher-Price, stressed that parents know their own child best and should look for signs that they’re uncomfortable. “Have confidence in your own intuition,” Dr. Alfano said on the company’s website. “Moms quickly get used to reading their child’s comfort levels, and are able to tell when their baby is too hot or too cold.”
When the temperature is too hot, keep your baby inside and in the shade so they can stay cool. If there is no shade available, use an umbrella or get under a canopy or awning. But do not cover the stroller with a blanket. It’s dangerous. Last but not least, do not put sunscreen on children under the age of 6 months, as it is not approved by the FDA.
Tips for dressing your newborn in the summer
- White cotton onesie — The white cotton onesie is the one universal piece of all newborn baby’s outfits. They can be worn alone for tummy time in the park or you can add a layer.
- Shorts — Next, you can opt for a pair of lightweight knit or cotton shorts, pants, or a skirt. Not only do they complete an outfit, they also let baby’s legs stay exposed and free, to keep them cool.
- Sundresses — If you have a little girl, you can dress her in a lightweight cotton or seersucker sundress. Bonus: These dresses usually come with a lightweight matching pair of bloomers to cover her diaper.
- Put a hat on it — Newborn babies need to be kept in the shade, but if you’re out for a bit on the beach or somewhere soaking up some vitamin D, put a netted baseball cap or a little lightweight sunhat on your baby to keep the sun off their bald heads and the sun out of their eyes.
- The great indoors — If you are going indoors, in some homes (like ours) the temperature is kept quite frigid during those hot, long, exhausting summer months. It’s always a good idea to add a lightweight sweater, maybe some socks, and even a blanket. A lightweight sleeper or jumpsuit may also be an option for layering over the cotton onesie.
- Bedtime — No matter what season it is, dress your newborn baby for the climate inside the house they will be sleeping inside of, not for the temperature outside. If the house is cold, dress your baby in a long-sleeve onesie sleeper or cover her in a blanket. If the house is warmer, dress the baby newborn in something lighter.
