How to Dress Your Baby for Summer: Tips and Guidelines for Canadian Parents

After a long cold winter, it's exciting to write about summer. We're looking at a hot summer this year, unlike last year, and that means learning to dress baby for summer.

As a Canadian parent, you want to make sure your baby stays comfortable in the summer heat. The good news, it's pretty simple - and less complicated than the layers needed for winter life. The bad news, you can only get so naked!

Dressing your baby appropriately is key to keeping them cool and happy. Here are some tips and guidelines to help you dress your baby for summer:

1. Protect Your Baby from the Sun

Babies have delicate skin that needs protection from the sun's harmful rays. However, Health Canada advises against using sunscreen on babies under 6 months of age without first consulting with a pediatrician. Instead, cover your baby up and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.

Here are some ways to keep your baby safe from the sun:

• Use a UV-protected hat with a wide brim and under-chin strap to protect the head, neck, and shoulders. The Baby So Soft hat is great for the smallest newborns, while the larger brimmed Jan & Jul Grow-with-me hats are a great choice as they grow offering the best shade.
• Keep your baby's skin covered and avoid prolonged or intense exposure to the sun - yes, covered with lightweight fabrics or UV swimwear.
• Avoid covering your baby's stroller or car seat with a blanket, which can cause overheating or breathing issues. Consider using an outdoor tent, or shade dome instead where air can move freely and not pen up.

2.Choose the Right Fabrics

The fabrics you choose for your baby's clothing can make a big difference in how comfortable they feel in the summer heat. Here are some tips for choosing the right fabrics:

• Use light, loose, and breathable fabrics like cotton.
• Avoid lycra, which can trap heat and cause discomfort.
• Choose clothes that fit loosely and allow air to circulate around your baby's body.

This new budgie collection from Villervalla features a nice lightweight summer fabric - and the fabrics in the Nest Designs clothing collection offers a similar softness and lightness perfect for warm summer days. 

3. Dress Your Baby in Layers

Canadian summers can be unpredictable, with temperature fluctuations throughout the day. Dressing your baby in layers is a good way to keep them comfortable in changing weather conditions.

It's why we hold onto some of our baby and kids fleece wear knowing very well that an August night can be a little chilly! Check the buy and sells for even earlier access to warm clothing before it hits retail!

Here are some tips for dressing your baby in layers:

• Use a light hoodie or cardigan for outdoor activities and remove it when you go back indoors or into the shade.
• Keep extra clothes in your diaper bag, including shorts, long pants, short-sleeved and long-sleeved tops.
• Stick with a light bodysuit for nighttime to avoid any loose clothing that could pose a hazard.

4. Protect your baby from insects

Summer is the season for outdoor activities, but it also means an increase in bugs such as mosquitoes, flies, and ticks. Protect your baby from insect bites by dressing them in lightweight and long-sleeved clothes. Also consider using mosquito nets, like this universal summer car seat cover for bugs.  

There are no bug sprays formulated to apply to babies skin under 6 months, but many families find the Buzzpatch Stickers to be a success to keep mosquitoes away..

5. Watch for Signs of Overheating 

In hot weather, it's important to watch for signs that your baby may be overheating. Here are some signs to watch out for:

• Being warm to the touch.
• Skin that is flushed or red.
• A rapid heartbeat or fast breathing.
• Vomiting or acting lethargic or unresponsive.
• Damp hair and/or sweaty neck.
• Heat rash, restlessness, or inability to sleep.
• Rectal temperature of 38° C/ 100.4° F or higher.

Keep your baby cool and comfortable this summer with Nest & Sprout's stylish and high-quality baby clothes!

Dressing your baby for summer can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. By keeping in mind the key themes discussed in this article - protecting delicate skin from the sun, dressing in light layers, using breathable fabrics, and monitoring for signs of overheating - you can ensure your little one stays cool and comfortable during those hot summer months.

My summer baby experience - it's not having a newborn in the summer, but rather managing a baby in the summer that is challenging. My first was born in July, and we just enjoyed some time at home in our diapers. My second, it was much more body-suits, hats, and loose clothing as she was 4-6 months old for the summer. And lots of super cute rompers!

At Nest & Sprout, we offer a wide variety of baby clothes that are perfect for summer, including light onesies, loose pants and tops, and UV-protected hats. Our clothing is made from high-quality materials and designed with both style and comfort in mind.