DO’S AND DON’TS Essential summer safety tips for parents

By Heidi Christianson

Summer is here and with that comes safety reminders specifically for the season. Below are Let Mommy Sleep’s top tips for sun, swim, and essential summer safety tips for parents.

Infant Care Do’s and Don’ts

Most experts do not recommend putting sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months. When compared to older babies and children, younger infants have a higher surface area to body weight ratio, putting them at greater risk when exposed to the chemicals. Plus, infants have immature, sensitive skin that can easily break out or respond poorly to chemicals. Here’s how you can protect your baby without sunscreen: skin. Hats should have a wide brim to protect the face, ears, and neck.

• Avoid peak sunlight hours (typically between 10 a.m.-2 p.m.) to minimize exposure to harmful UV rays.

• Since younger babies have not fully developed sweat glands, be sure to constantly monitor your infant for signs of overheating.

• Keep baby hydrated by offering breast milk or formula. Bring a cooler and follow safety instructions when storing liquids.

• Watch baby’s urine for signs of dehydration. If urine appears darker or less than usual, the baby could be at risk for dehydration and should be moved to a cooler location.

Sunscreen Safety for Older Babies and Kids

For children ages 6 months or older, the Environmental Working Group has a list of safest sunscreens for children that meet its safety standards. This means these sunscreens provide adequate sun protection while avoiding ingredients linked to known health harms. These chemicals have endocrine-disrupting effects which means they interfere with normal functioning of the endocrine system. This affects the reproductive and other biological processes regulated by the designed materials. Abstract ideas taught in elementary—like (a+b+c)3—tie back to preschool hands-on work, like this Trinomial Cube. Recognition brings joy

Montessori children love math. Why?

Learn more at montessoriacademyidaho.com endocrine system. You can find the list at https://www.ewg. org/sunscreen/best-sunscreens/baby-kids-sunscreens.

Pools, the ocean, rivers and lakes can all be fun places for a family swim. What is more, swimming is healthy for us in many ways. Before heading out though, take time to learn or refresh yourself on the basics of swim safety, sun safety, and drowning prevention.

Swim Safety and Drowning Prevention

There is no substitute for active supervision when children are around water. This means no phones! Additionally, an adult should be within arm’s reach of a child when providing active supervision.

More Swimming Safety Tips

Adults need to be water watchers! As SafeKids.org says, when there is more than one adult watching the children, using a water watcher schedule is an excellent idea. For example, each adult can take a 15-minute shift as the person in charge of supervision. Then after 15 minutes, the next adult takes their shift. This way, while all adults are most likely watching, each adult who is “on” knows that they must watch without distraction.

Drain Safety

Backyard and public pools have drainage and suction outlets. Teach kids never to play or swim near them as the suction may be stronger than the child’s ability to get away from them. Replace flat drain covers with dome-shaped ones to minimize risk, and if there are broken, loose or missing drain covers, do not allow kids to swim until the covers are fixed.

Open Water Swimming

Swimming in open water is different from swimming in a controlled area like a pool. Natural lakes, rivers and oceans have sudden drop-offs, currents and undertows that can take children by surprise. Educate children to never go near or in water without an adult actively supervising, and make sure kids swim only in areas designated as safe in the event there are dangers below the surface we cannot otherwise see.

Drowning

Despite what we see in the movies and television, drowning often happens quietly. Several of the signs happen underwater, where we cannot see the swimmer struggling. Children should never be unsupervised while swimming and adults should know the physical signs that a child is having trouble in water. These are the signs that someone is struggling in water:

• The head tilted back in a position to try to get air.

• The mouth is at water level.

• Vertical body – upright instead of horizontal.

• Facing land – a drowning person is usually facing land.

• “Ladder climbing” – a drowning person looks like they are climbing a ladder.

Summer can be full of adventure. Understanding safety can make these adventures even more fun for kids and their families. Happy summer, everyone!

Heidi Christianson, RRT, NPS, agency director/owner of Let Mommy Sleep of Idaho. Go to letmommysleep.com/idaho for more information.