Advice Keeping Baby Cool at Outdoor Events

I'd recommend a sun hat, sun suit or rashguard outfit and either an umbrella or pop up shade tent. I have a mini pop up tent which folds flat down to about a 10" circle and when you take it out of the baggie it comes in, it instantly pops open to a little canopy/tent that baby can lay under if there is no other shade. You can find them at Target. It'll be a great time to show off baby! =)

I'd either plan on just a couple hours out, evening hours, or at least have a backup plan. Baby skin is real thin and sensitive and though they've been in your warm body in the heat, exposure to sun and it's heat is quite different. You want to dress the baby how YOU are comfortable. Overheating a baby is definitely not good for a baby (and a risk for SIDS as well) so you want to dress the baby how you would feel comfortable, like just a onesie in real warm weather. A blanket is good to help shade the baby in summer, but not to wrap a baby in when it's hot out and you are in a tank top. I know from experience that you can get burned by the sun while never stepping foot out of the shade. :) So even in the shade I wouldn't do too long with the baby. If it's breezy and comfortable out, I'd say go for it, but have a back up plan if it starts to get uncomfortable. Also, no sunscreen until 6 months old, so the baby will not have that kind of protection for his skin. While out, I'd shade him with a blanket, just be out for a couple hours give or take considering the weather. And for keeping him hydrated, drink plenty yourself if nursing so he stays hydrated by nursing or bring plenty of formula in small serving amounts if bottle feeding. No need for water when this young...they'll stay hydrated and get nutrition with nursing/formula. You may want to bring along a bug net too to keep the bugs away from the baby particularly for the evening when bugs are more active because no bug spray this young either. They make ones in all different sizes for bouncy seats/car seat carriers, strollers, pack n play, and double stroller size. Just be fleible and have a backup plan...maybe somebody's house or a hotel nearby for indoor breaks. Best wishes to you with your new baby!!

Each to his or her own, but I'd stay home with a newborn only a month old...Hang in there. Its almost about to start (motherhood!) Don't spend your energy or time worrying about this issue cause you cannot plan these things in advance being that you've had no experience being a mother yet and so much changes once you have that baby. Just focus on the essentials and having a good labor and delivery, not to mention recovery. Besides, just wait and see how tired you are. First time motherhood exhausts you and you may not want to go to something like that so soon after you deliver. I wouldn't have if someone paid me.

Breasfeeding often, whenever the baby has fists in mouth, (a sign of hunger- waiting til baby cries is too late!), will keep baby hydrated. And you will drink plenty of fluids yourself! Stay in the shade as much as possible, of course, and you can take a small washcloth to lightly wet the baby's skin to cool off. If you are going, take the baby! Maybe you have your own shade to set up... First and foremost, relax and have fun, and if you just sit in one comfy shady spot with baby most of the time, people will come to you and socialize. That's what usually happens! Let your hubby and others bring you what you need.
Hope all goes well!

My advice is to keep the baby at home. Either have one of your parents watch the baby or stay home. This is something people told me when I was pregnant and did not understand until after my son was born.

IF it's over 85 it's probably too hot. Also, if you go, take the baby out of the car carrier and put him into a stroller even if he's asleep because they don't breathe well(carriers) and the babies can easily get over heated. Also, make sure you have a bug net because there could be mosquitos and with west nile, I wouldn't take any chances.Dress him in just a onsie or really light cotton summer outfit andpull the stoller shade all the way down. Keep it in the shade too.
There's also nothing wrong with just your husband going, or you guys getting a family or trusted sitter for an hour or two with a bottle of expressed milk or formula.(he's not too little for a bottle, in fact, if you are breastfeeding and wait more than a week or two to give it to him, they may not ever want a bottle.eeeek!) and only going with a picture of the baby. Maybe you could use some adult time on your own by then, or you might not even feel like going due to the sleeplessness. If you think you're tired now...my daughter is 5 months old and we recently tried to go to a local baseball game with her and the two older girls. It was so hot that after 45 minutes we left, much to our other two being upset, but it was just too hot for the baby. It took us longer to drive there than we were there. We leave a lot of places because of the kids sometimes, or don't even get to go. The social dynamics really change.We've driven an hour and left some places after five minutes,completely missed Christmas due to sickness,left a wedding early,and have to tag team for events and parties because one of the kids couldn't go for some reason or another or were sick.

Our daughter was born May 3rd, and we took her to two different memorial day parties. For both, we dressed her lightly, kept a blanket nearby, kept her hydrated and kept the shades down on her stroller. We had some access to the hosts' homes in both cases. While they were primarily outside parties, no one had an issue with us bringing our daughter inside when it got too hot or she fell asleep. She also attended graduation parties, July 4 bbq's, labor day festivities, and several other parties over the summer - all without incident.

If you are prepared, there is no reason to stay home. I am a huge advocate of taking the baby out, early. Living in a bubble does not help you, and it does not benefit your child as much as some would have you belive. I have a very healthy, very social, and very happy 14 month old now. She is a generally good natured kid, but I believe part of it is that we have never excluded her from social events. She has gone to parties and restaurants since she was a few weeks old, and she continues to go. She is learning good public behavior at an early age. It is never too early to expose kids to the rest of _our_ lives -- after all, it is going to be a part of their life too.

I'll get off my soapbox - it won't hurt your baby to go as long as you are prepared. Make the outing short if you are nervous.

My daughter was only a few weeks old when we went to an outdoor festival in July. Our pediatrician told me to still keep a blanket nearby even though it was summer. He reminded me that the baby has been in a 98 degree body so if it's 85, you're sitting in the shade, and it's breezy, the baby could actually be chilly!! Obviously, don't sit in the sun. I'd bring an umbrella in case you're unable to find shade. In any case, I dressed her in a tank top/summer dress. She didn't seem to fuss and when the sun went down and the wind started to pick up, I put the blanket on her loosely and checked to make sure she wasn't sweating.

Hope this helps!
M.

It is recommended that the baby wait til their immune systems is up before being around large groups of people. (6-8 weeks) however if you are breastfeeding baby shoudl be fine. Keep baby shaded at all times. Some sun is ok in the very early hours or very late hours... and if baby is a little jaundice Vit D from the sunlight (or shade) is the best. Nurse often and keep baby in the shade definitely. Maybe on a blankie and just a diaper or a very lightweight top and bottoms sun hat etc. Nurse often and you drink plenty of fluids!! If you are formula feeding then maybe alternate with water. When the kids were babies I would take a couple frozen washcloths and put them in the diaper bag so they woudl thaw out as it heated and I could wipe them down. Don't feel guitly if you dont' feel the baby is ready! Use your mother instincts and ifyou don't want to take baby out stay home and enjoy the AC!! Good Lcuk!

When my daughter was just 6 weeks we went to Florida to visit family. It was late June, hot & humid. Being from that area I had to visit the beach even if for a little bit. Her doctor told us it was okay and to make sure we used plenty of baby sunscreen. We didn't stay long and we had and umbrella as well as a bonnet for when we ventured into the water with her. She was wearing a swim suit and her bonnet and I fed her when she wanted to make sure she had plenty of fluids. She did well and didn't suffer any adverse effects. So if this is something you want to enjoy with your hubby just go ahead and have fun. Just make sure that you are well prepared and keep in mind that you may have to limit the amount of time spent at the event.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it being too hot--after all, air conditioning didn't always exist! :) But just keep the little one in the shade, and wet the back of her neck if you feel she's too hot.

I'm willing to bet your husband will change his mind because, with a one month old, you both will be too exhausted to do anything!