Summer Infant Advice Needed

Wow! First off, congrats on the new baby. Next:
We white women got the idea to swadle our babies from the native American's who put their babies in papooses until age one. A baby needs the swaddling not just for body temp but to feel secure and safe. Use a light blanket or even a shawl. You are your babby's best judge so if you feel it is gettign to hot inhte late summer months then unwrap him/her and hold him/her close to your body.. smae secure effects will be felt.
Hope this helps

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I was told that if you are comfortable then so is the baby. Generally either you are holding the infant or they are in their car seat. (Extra heating source.) My son was born in Sept. 1999 and for the first two months wore shorts! I was not prepared for that. My youngest was born in July 2006 and had trouble maintaining his body temperature before he came home. I kept him dressed warm. I NEVER swaddled my children. I for one HATE to be wrapped up that tightly and I never had an issue with them sleeping, being happy, being warm, etc. My boss at work had problems after swaddling his son because then he was startled awake when his arms moved and touched him at night.

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both of mine were summer babies, one 6-11 the other 6-29. I put light clothes on them and sun hats when we went out, and wrapped them in a recieving blanket, but when the temp outside gets warmer than their body heat, I just stripped them down to diapers. I found it harder to keep them cool than to keep them warm enough.

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My sister's kids were both born in July. She just used a soft single blanket to wrap them in. They had on the light onsie with long sleeves. That should work.

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Our doctor told us to dress in easy to take of layers and then go by how we feel. If we're too hot take a layer off. If we're a bit chilly then add a blanket or sweater.

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Hi,
I have two two July babies,(7-21-05, 7-26-06) and last year was 106 on the day we brought her home. I just didn't use the hats, and put them both in a t-shirt and swaddled them with a very light blanket, or if we had the air conditioner on i would use a heavier blanket, and they both did good with that. Hope it helps you out. Best of luck!

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Hi M.,
My daughter was born last July 1st, and once we brought her home it was the hottest days of summer, every day in the 90s. We don't have AC, but we had fans on some when it got super hot. I found myself to be very hot especially when nursing, so I would get my husband to point the fan at my head, that way she wouldn't get chilled but I wouldn't over heat!
As for swaddling, we used some very nice home-made blankets of lightweight flannel. We would either put her in just a t-shirt and blankie, or a onesie and blankie. She never seemed to get too hot for sleeping or just lying around. However, I did try to nurse her once while she was wrapped in a blanket, and she was way too warm for that. And she only wore hats in the hospital. Otherwise, without air conditioning it was too warm for the hats, and she was absolutely fine. She was born full term though, so no preemie issues.
Best of luck with your new daughter!

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I had twins a few years ago (in early June) and found swaddling to be very helpful. They had lots of trouble regulating their temperature -- made worse since they were premature. My next baby (due around the same time as yours) will probably get swaddled quite a bit too. Just be sure you get light swaddling/ receiving blankets and they should be fine. (Onesies with booties underneath the swaddling are also helpful). I did not do much with hats once my twins came home. For one, they kept pulling them off and I was not entirely sure that they were doing much good.

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My little man was born mid May of 05. Our first. I was confused to. but we just kept him in the shade, in a onse and we kept our house pretty cool so we could swaddle him inside. He did just fine. Also, if your car has A/C, use it, and cover him with a blanket in the car. You will do just fine, your a mom and we have this thing called instinct (follow it)

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A light blanket is good for swaddling in the summer. Also don't put any clothes on the baby, just the diaper, if they really like to be swaddled. If you have the air conditioning on, it can be a little cold to the baby, so swaddling in the home is usally not a problem.

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Congrats!
My baby was born at the beginning of August. Usually wore a short sleeved onesie with socks or booties and cotton pants and if he still felt cool to touch, we put a cotton hat on him. After the first week, we didn't use the cotton hat anymore. In the first couple weeks, he liked to be swaddled with a receiving blanket, beyond that we didn't swaddle him much but used a lightweight longsleeved nightshirt that had the pockets that folded over the hands so he didn't scratch himself- there was elastic at the bottom so if he was cold he could keep his legs inside the night shirt but if warm could kick them out. I also kept in mind that the recommended room temperature for a sleeping baby is 65 degrees (to decrease risk of SIDS)- now that is cold to me, but not to my hubby. Other summer advice: be careful of the sun- a little is good for Vitamin D (especially if breastfeeding) but their skin is very sensitive. When I read up on how much sun a baby needs to get enough vitamin D for the day, I want to say it was like 3 or 4 minutes if in just a diaper, 14ish minutes if in clothing.

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My little ones were always swaddled. In the warm weather I would strip them down to only their diaper and use a thermal blanket that breathes. Next I would fold the top corner down and the bottom corner up, this left the legs exposed for more air. After they would fall asleep I would gently let the blanket loose. My son like to be swaddled up to almost 1 year of age!

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M.,
Hi My daughter was born in April so she was a spring baby but during the summer we rapped her in a light blanket and if she got cold we would put another one on. and for the hates she had hers only if she was cold and when she got out of the bath. and she did fine. There were days that we even didn't need to put her in a blanket because it was too hot. I guess it depends on where you live and what the weather is little try light blankets first and if the baby gets cold.. check the hand feet legs arm and face. if they feel cold put another blanket on. I hope this helps. Best of luck,
S.

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My daughter was a summer baby (born June 16, 2006). We didn't use hats very often be she would only sleep swaddled. Keep in mind that the weather outside matters less than the temperature that you keep it inside your home. If you tend to blast the air conditioner, then I would suggest swaddling more and maybe the hat as well. Since we all like the AC on, expecially come July and Fall- I would stick to swaddling. The hat may be less important.

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Hi M.!

I'll tell you what the doctor told me. He said to wrap them according to how you personally feel. If you're too hot in a sweater, you take it off. He said that it works the same way with babies. I think you'll know too if the baby is swaddled too tight. They kick their blankets off of them and wriggle around with those sour little faces....
You're going to do great with a summer baby and have so much fun because you won't have to worry about all those blankets that you had to with your first one. woo hoo!!
God bless you and I wish you the best!!

T.
http://tinamccomb.stayinhomeandlovinit.com

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M.,
I had a summer baby, and worried about the same thing. I used a receiving blanket to swaddle him, but made sure he just had a onesie on underneath. That seemed to keep him cool enough, but not to the point of cold. The other thing that you have to remember is if the air is on in the house, then you do not need to worry about the baby getting to warm.
Remember that if you take the baby out during the day that the baby is covered so the sun does not get on the babies skin. You cannot use sunscreen, but a large rimmed hat, cute ones everywhere for girls, and a lite blanket draped over her should keep the sun off of her.
Need to talk feel free to email me @ ____@____.com

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HI M.,
I have both winter baby and summer baby.
I also faced the same concern only I am from tn and it is alot hotter there then here. By baby did just fine. Most of the time she was just in a onesie and recieving blanket. In the house it was a little bit different becuase we had central air. I would put warmer pjs on her just in case she got too cold. They will adjust to the temps. Just swaddle and use just a reciving blanket till you can tell better when your child is cold, hot or just comfy. go with your instincts. hope that helps.

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I had ALL summer babies. One, if you are using air conditioning, you can "swaddle-a-way" because the house will be too cool for the baby. If you do not use ac (I've been in both situations) then I have a couple of ideas.
1. A pamper only and a LIGHT WEIGHT rec. blanket is perfect for summer swaddling (carters are a generous size and perfect weight). Remember when they are new the rule of thumb is one layer more on them then you would ware.
2. I would put my children down with the receiver rolled around them - roll the rec. blanket like a log, long way. Now imagine the baby on her back tuck the roll just under her arm pit, down her ribs, go under the legs (against her hiney), and back up the other side. Like a letter U around her. Make sure its snug. This worked great. I hope I explained it clear;)
3. You can find SUPER light weight hats/bonnets which you will need so her head does not burn. Remember her baby buggy will got hot and she can't regulate her temp good so watch her close. And remember to avoid outside activities between 10&2 until she is bigger. And keep a damp wash cloth in a baggy for when you need to cool her down. It does NOT need to be cool, just damp.

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