Oh, summer— it’s the season for cookouts and beach trips, picnics and pool days. These seasonal occasions seem to be even more special when you’ve got a baby in tow.
While it can be tempting to doll up your little babies for every summertime event, it's important to be mindful of how to keep baby cool in hot weather. From baby girl rompers and sun hats to sunscreen and baby girl onesies, we've put together our top tips to keep your baby looking sweet as a watermelon and feeling cool as a cucumber all summer long.
Read on for our expert guide on how to dress baby in summer heat.
Before we get into how to dress baby girl in summer months, let's talk a little about why you need to be doing so with mindfulness and care at all times.
As soon as your little pea was born, they were likely whisked off to be washed, dried, and bundled before settling against you for body heat. This is because, unlike an adult or an older child, newborns and young babies have almost no ability to regulate their own body temperature. This inability is due to their:
Mindfully dressing your baby in cool, loose clothing is one of the best ways to help them maintain a normal body temperature in the warm weather.
When dressing your baby for summer—or any season—their infant skin should be one of the top considerations. That’s because a baby’s brand-new skin is extremely sensitive to sunlight due to:
Dressing your little babies in layers that cover their skin is the best way to prevent sunburn and heat rashes. For extra protection, opt for clothing that’s made with sun-protective fabric like UPF 50+. If you are wondering, “What is UPF clothing,” it is capable of blocking up to 98% of the sun’s UV rays.
Balancing summer skin protection with breathable outfits might seem like walking a tightrope.
So, what’s a parent to do?
Luckily, with a few tricks and summer baby essentials, dressing your baby for sun safety, cool comfort, and pure adorableness is totally achievable.
Summer wouldn’t be summer without somebody blasting the air-conditioning. While it can feel good to cool off in a temperature-controlled room on a sticky day, sometimes the temperature difference from outside to inside can be as much as forty degrees.
Luckily, layering isn’t just for sun safety. It will keep your baby cozy when you venture from the hot weather outside to the cool indoors.
A good rule to observe is that if you feel uncomfortable (either too hot or too cold), your baby probably does, too.
Certain places that you may visit tend to be chilly even on a sweltering day. So pack your diaper bag with an extra hat, blanket, or an adorable ruffle cardigan if you’re heading to:
Dressing a baby to stay cool means paying attention to fabrics, layers, and ambient conditions.
But the best baby clothes in the summer might be no clothes at all. When the temp is up and the sun is down, consider allowing your little bun to sleep or play indoors in nothing more than a diaper and a light muslin or cotton swaddle.
However, when you do need to dress your baby in more than a diaper and swaddle, try one of these cool summer clothing staples:
Look for garments made of high-quality and breathable fabrics like:
In some cases, the clothes that are best for keeping your baby cool often leave their tender skin exposed to the sun. Focus on dressing your baby in loose, light clothing made of high-quality natural fabrics when you head outside. But bring along some adjustable layers so that you can completely cover their skin when they’re in direct sunlight.
Some garments that work well for layering are:
Wherever you’re exploring in the summer months, don’t forget to be mindful of environmental dangers like:
So if you’re heading to a park, picnic, beach, or garden party, layer up so that your baby’s skin is properly covered.
If your outdoor adventures include a trip to the beach or lake, you’ll want to take a similar approach and look into the best beach essentials for toddlers and babies. The one difference? Dressing your little one in swimwear that’ll keep them safe from the sun—and stylish.
Luckily, RuffleButts makes it easy to accomplish both. Our entire baby girl swimsuit collection is made with UPF 50+ fabric, keeping them protected from the sun as they play in the sand, tide pools, and waves.
Beyond dressing your baby in a protective suit, keep these tips in mind before heading to the beach:
As with all parenting, dressing your baby will get easier in time. However, if your baby is a tiny summer newborn, all the rules of keeping them cool and covering them up are doubly important.
Because they’ll be sleeping many hours of the day and night, you need to remain alert to the temperature immediately around them. Try to keep them indoors as much as possible—not only to avoid the heat but the sun as well. And don’t worry about dressing them up too much. This is a good age to keep them in loose, comfy baby girl pajamas and onesies. A sleep sack might be preferable to a tight swaddle if their room tends to be warm.
Even if you’ve done your best to keep your baby cool and sun-safe, you’ll want to be constantly vigilant to watch for signs of danger from dehydration, overheating, and sun exposure.
Remember, babies can become more easily dehydrated or overheated than you.
Touch their skin often and feel underneath their clothing to keep an eye on their body temperature. Babies don’t sweat as much as adults and older children, so don’t use perspiration as a metric for gauging their temperature.
Be especially vigilant if your little one is spending more than a few minutes in a sling, car seat, or stroller as these can increase the temperature directly around their body.
Know the following symptoms that could indicate your baby might be suffering from too much sunshine or heat:
Taking your baby’s temperature with a thermometer may help you determine if they’re experiencing discomfort, but be aware that their body temperature can be impacted by numerous outside factors including time of day, clothing, and ambient temperature.
We know that keeping your baby comfortable, adorable, and sun-safe in the summertime can feel like a constant balancing act. Cover up too much and you risk overheating. Cover up too little and sunburn, bug bites, and rashes become a concern.
At RuffleButts we’re dedicated to helping you choose clothing for your baby that’s darling, unique, and appropriate for summer—or any season.
From cheerful baby girl rompers and colorful baby girl onesies to our signature RuffleButts baby bloomers to pair with little girl swing tops and cute toddler sundresses, all our clothing is designed with attention to fine details. Not to mention, they’re constructed with the top hand-me-down quality fabrics. Whether you’re shopping for comfy looks for your baby to snuggle into on a quiet summer morning at home or snazzy outfits to show off at the family reunion, trust RuffleButts. We’ve got the baby clothes that will keep your baby cool, covered, and absolutely adorable all summer long.
Is it your baby's first beach trip? Check out our blog on how to prepare for baby's first beach trip today!
Sources:
Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program. Newborn Thermoregulation.
Skin Cancer Foundation. Bringing Up A Sun Safe Baby. https://www.skincancer.org/blog/bringing-up-a-sun-safe-baby/#:~:text=Tiny%20Babies%2C%20Big%20Risk,and%20provides%20some%20sun%20protection
WebMD. 11 Common Causes of Skin Rashes. https://www.webmd.com/children/ss/slideshow-skin-irritants
