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Stroller Accessories for Summer: The warmer months are great for venturing outdoors with your baby in the stroller, and although the sunny weather may be wonderful for you, it can cause inconvenience to your little one, especially from the heat.
Summer is usually the time to indulge in outdoor activities, play sports, bond with other families; its the time for holidays and to pursue various hobbies. People eagerly look forward to the summer, especially in cold countries.
During summer, it’s common to see strollers at nearly all parks on a warm/hot summer day.
While summers are great for venturing outdoors with your family, it can also get very hot, especially those 2-3 hours in the afternoon. It can make kids irritable and cause heat-related illnesses (especially in kids).
As the temperature starts to rise, so can the tempers as overheated kids become uncomfortable and cranky.
Parents should also be aware that compared to toddlers, babies find it difficult to deal with heat.
So the challenge for you is to make the kids comfortable and keep them safe from the scorching sun. So, whether you’re strolling, running, or exploring new vacation spots, make sure you have these stroller accessories that are specifically designed for the summer heat.
Top Stroller Accessories for Summer
Here are the top baby stroller accessories for summer.
- Stroller Canopies / Hoods
Protect your little one from the harsh sun. These are must-have during summers when you step outdoors during the day time. - Stroller Cooling Fans
Another useful accessory required for those hot, humid, sunny days: - Stroller Seat Liners
Keep your baby comfortable in the stroller in the hot weather. - Rain Covers / Weather Shields
Rain cover, in case the weather forecast says its going to rain, and you have planned an outing. - Stroller Travel Bags
These help you conveniently transport your stroller when you’re on a vacation or moving cities.- JL Childress Standard and Dual Stroller Travel Bag
- Bugaboo Comfort Transport Bag
- More Stroller Travel Bags
Here are some more useful accessories / products (for summer).
- Sunscreen: “must have” for parents for a trip to the beach to any outdoor adventure during summer.
- Stroller Hooks & Connectors
- Stroller Lock
- Stroller Handle for Kids
- Stroller Toys
- Stroller Parasol to provide shade
- Stroller cleaning kit
- Stokke Xplory summer kit
- Universal Stroller Organizer
- Cup Holders
- Snack Trays
- Maclaren Insulated Pannier
As the mercury rises, young children are likely to be affected the most with heat related illnesses. While leaving kids in a hot car is a ‘strict no’, strollers can also pose a risk if used improperly.
No doubt, strollers are of great help to parents, but doctors say that heat can build up inside of the stroller if kids are left in them too long, posing a risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
While children naturally cool off (differently depending on their age), babies are unable to get rid of excess body heat as easily as the older children (because babies don’t sweat as much.)
Signs of heat exhaustion
As parents, you should always look for any signs of heat exhaustion (because toddlers and babies cannot always communicate with words.)
Here are some of the symptoms that your baby is probably exhausted due to the heat:
- Signs of fussiness & irritability
- They become excessively thirsty
- Feeling of dizziness and nausea
- Some children may turn red and their skin may be hot to touch
- Some kids may begin breathing rapidly
Do not cover with blanket
Now here’s something that will come as a shock to most parents; you should never put a blanket over a Stroller or Car Seat (to protect from the sun) as it can turn into a potential Death Trap.
At any cost, avoid covering the car seat or stroller with a blanket to provide shade. Its a very serious mistake because a blanket traps heat inside (green house like effect), and can cause serious health hazard to your little one.
Putting even a light blanket over the baby’s pram is dangerous – it could expose your child to heatstroke or sudden infant death syndrome. With a blanket, the inside of a pram can become very hot (just like a thermos), and your kids may not be able to breathe.
Babies are unable to regulate their body temperature (they don’t sweat as much as grown-ups), which puts them at more risk of overheating, which could lead to heatstroke and cot death – a condition that kills hundreds of babies around the world each year.
With the blanket on, it also becomes difficult for you (parents/caretaker) to see if the baby is showing any signs of discomfort. So. make sure your children always has sufficient access to fresh air.
Products that can help keep your baby cool in the stroller:
More tips to keep babies and children cool in summer
Here are some more things to consider to keep your little one cool during the summer months, so they don’t get irritable when you’re enjoying the outdoor.
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- Use Light ClothingYou should dress your kids appropriately for the hot weather outside (and even when you’re at home).
Dress them light for those hot days of summer. You may choose pants or short skirts, tank tops…in the case of girls short dresses and linen. Choose footwear that are comfortable, considering the weather, you may opt for sandals and flip flops.
- Keep Your Baby HydratedDuring summers, first thing you need to do is to make sure your little one stay hydrated all the time. So carry water bottles (or juices depending on the age) and make sure your little one has it frequently.
- Avoid the Hottest Hours of the DayDuring the hot summer days, its better to take your little one out for a walk in the morning, or go outdoors later in the afternoon when the sun’s rays are less strong.
- Use a StrollerInstead of carrying your baby in a baby carrier, use a stroller. Your body gives off heat and the fabric of the carrier may make the baby hot.
A stroller is more comfortable, and you can even attach a stroller fan or a stroller cooler to keep the baby cool in the stroller (and its safe to use as well).
- Use Insect RepellentsUse insect cover for the stroller, or in-case if you’re not using a stroller, apply lotions (or carry sprays) to scare off insects during your outdoor walks or excursions. Check with your pediatrician about which lotions are good for the skin of your baby.
- Fill up the paddling poolIt’s time to dig out the paddling pool. Fill it up, keep it under the shade and set up a deck chair nearby for yourself. While its great fun for the kids, make sure you supervise the kids at all times.
- Play with water to cool things downEverything’s fun and also cooler if you involve water. Here are some fun things to do with your family to cool down:
- Go for a swim
- Place a sprinkler under the trampoline
- Play ‘under-the-hose’ limbo (assume the stream of water is the ‘pole’ and go underneath bending backwards).
- You can always have a water fight
- Use Light ClothingYou should dress your kids appropriately for the hot weather outside (and even when you’re at home).
- Use a nursery thermometerUse a nursery thermometer to check the temperature in your kids room. Babies sleep well when their room temperature is between 16°C and 20°C. So have a thermometer handy so that you can keep an eye on the temperature.
- Put ice in your baby’s roomYou can place bottles of frozen water in your baby’s room. Ice helps cool the air as they melt overnight. Try placing the iced bottles in front of an electric fan (or near any fan) as it will allow cool air to circulate within the room.
- Use Air conditioners / Coolers at HomeEnsure the room temperature is low and comfortable for the baby. Use fans, coolers or air conditioners at home. As far as possible, avoid directing them directly towards your little one (as they could catch a cold). It is also important to avoid annoying noises when they are about to sleep.
- Food and Refreshing BathsFeed them refreshing foods such as fruits, natural juices, salads – these help kids cope with high temperatures.
If it gets really hot, you should consider giving them a refreshing bath. A cool bath for the kids will get their temperature down before they go of to sleep.
Here are some more stroller safety tips for parents.
Here are few more things (checklist) to take care of, when you’re outdoor with your kids in summer.
- Take frequent breaks (from the stroller). Don’t keep your little one in the stroller for long periods of time.
- Spend plenty of time in the shade.
- Get your baby to walk frequently
- Concerned your child is suffering from heat exhaustion, head indoors and offer them fluids (breast milk or formula)
- In general, use lightweight strollers, preferably light in color. Avoid the color black, which absorbs and retains more heat.
- Avoid excess cushioning that might keep a lot of their skin from breathing normally.
- Use a stroller with a large canopy (you can even buy them separately), to provide ample shade on sunny days.
- You could also attach a small stroller cooling fan to the stroller (clips onto the handle bar of strollers)
So do take care of the above things, when you’re outdoor with your kid in a stroller on a hot day.
Enjoy the Outdoor
Summer is a great time to enjoy the beach, the pool, the park, and the mountains. The good weather during summer provides moments of leisure and fun. While caution is important, exposure to sun is also an excellent source of vitamin D, which helps in the absorption of calcium and improves the bone health of children.
Summer with those lovely long, warm days is like a treat after the long winter, however on certain days it can get too hot. These tips will help you keep things under control as the temperatures rise in summer.
Related: Healthy activities that you can indulge in, with your stroller
StrollerBoards is a family managed website with me (Ben) and my wife doing most of the work. We are proud parents of two wonderful kids and love reviewing baby travel gear. We have a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offer several practical solutions backed by extensive research. Our own experience with raising two children prompted us to share our knowledge. Read more.
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