How often were you outside that first summer?
LO2 is due May 4th and I'm worried that because he'll be so young we won't be able to get outside a whole lot. Micah loves being outside and I'm really looking forward to taking him to the splash pad/beach/pool, but I know that babies shouldn't really be out in the sun like that, and shouldn't wear sunscreen until they're 6 months or something (I can't remember exactly how old). Also, how do you take care of the crazy toddler running around the splash pad (he'll only be 18-22 months) while still having to take care of the infant?
Should I just give up now and know that our playtime will be focused on indoor things, or at the very least, non-water things where I can contain Micah a bit more (the zoo, children's museum, park, etc.)?
Re: If you had a late spring/early summer baby
I hated having a May baby. It's so hot and humid here in the summer that you can't be outside very long, you can't hang at the beach, kid is too small, etc.
My ped allows you to put sunscreen on (they only recommend Blue Lizard).
It's too hot to baby wear - I didn't have a woven wrap though, so that may have made a difference.......
You can do outdoor things, but just in limited capacity.
GL!
My DD was born April 5th. We spent a lot of time outside that first summer, but in the shade. Also we went on a lot of walks and had the baby under the canopy in the stroller.
Also, my Pedi said that if there wasn't a way to avoid the sun completely, that she would prefer to see us use a baby sunscreen, instead of being in the sun with no sunscreen at all. And to just make sure to give the baby a bath that night to rinse off the sunscreen.
If my baby was due in May, I would still absolutely be outside in the summer time. I love summer and there's no way I could stay inside when it's so nice out!
DS was due on May 2 and came on April 30th. We were out a ton, but primarily b/c he was colicky and the only thing that kept us both sane was going on many walks a day. I think I did 3-4 walks with him in the Ergo every day while we sweated buckets all over each other. :-/
I'd focus on o n water things or get him a water table though. I can't imagine just sitting around outside with a newborn.
Well last summer we had triple-digit temps for a record number of days... It's also usually at 90% humidity or more here. So we didn't do anything all summer except hide inside. But we have hard summers here in south Texas.
DS was born last June, and we didn't go out a whole lot then. I have read that sunblock is ok to use on babies, because it doesn't absorb into their skin like sunscreen. So, you could look into that more if you want.
When we did go out, I just kept him in the shade as much as possible, and he did fine. In August, we spent an entire day outdoors at a zoo, and I couldn't keep him the shade all the time, and he was still fine.
I'd imagine it would be extra crazy and more difficult when you throw a toddler into the mix. Just try to go out with YH or someone else who can help you out.
x2 for the bolded part. We have a pool so we put up a gazebo thing so that i'd have shade for me and P (we don't have shade trees near the pool area) We spent 90% of the summer in the back yard. Get yourself a shady area and a pool (even if it's a $20 kiddie pool) and make your own fun! I can imagine that with 2u2, a water park or public beach may be tricky (but i'm a wimp, i'm sure it's do-able)
Loved loved loved loved having a May baby- we were outside pretty much every day of the summer- with obvious precautions. I live in PA so pretty warm summers- but never caused a problem
I am shooting for another May baby!
Cam 6.6.10 - Autism, Global Developmental Delay, Mixed Receptive/Expressive Communication Disorder
DD's birthday is the end of May and honestly, I didn't spend a ton of time outside that first summer, but I also didn't have an older child to entertain. We spent a lot of the first few months in my bedroom with the AC on nursing and attempting to get DD to nap!
Last summer I saw lots of Moms baby-wearing at the parks and splash parks with small infants. They mostly would set up in the shade and keep the baby covered in a carrier/wrap and sun hat. Of course, our summer's in Seattle are mostly in the 70's so we don't have dangerous heat very often. Even though I didn't spend a ton of time outdoors with DD, I think it would be a good time of the year to have a second baby
Not having to bundle up baby, worry about flu season, etc.
DD2: Lucia (Lucy) 07/13
DD was born May 14 and we were outside a lot during the summer. When DD was being colicky, going outside was one of the best remedies. We just tried to keep her shielded from the sun as much as possible, but we didn't use sunscreen.
*Also, we used the Aden + Anais muslin blankets and they were PERFECT for a spring/summer baby. Soft and cuddly, but lightweight.
Sorry, I didn't mean to P&R, but my internet has been terrible lately and it just stopped working last night.
Anyway, I wouldn't normally be concerned about being outside with the baby because I could put him in the stroller or wear him, etc. It's definitely adding in the toddler that has me worried! There's no leaving the baby in the infant carrier next to the pool while I "dip my feet." I have to chase Micah around!
Luckily, my H is off at least one day during the week so we might just have to always make that the day that we do something extra fun like that. Or I'll have to enlist the help of some friends to do big outings. I'm definitely looking forward to more outdoorsy things like walks, the zoo, etc., though!
And thanks for the info about the sunscreen. I was going to ask my pedi about it anyway but it's good to know!
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