Summertime can be so fun with a new baby, but be sure to follow these safety tips to keep baby safe and healthy during the summer fun.

Car seat safety

There are 2 important safety tips to always remember regarding the car seat:

1. Never leave your baby in the car.

Every summer there are stories of these horrifically tragic deaths. Parents who swore it could never happen to them change their routines or swear they were only going to run in for a minute, and forget their baby in the hot car. Put a piece of duct tape across your steering wheel that says, “baby.” Put your purse and cell phone in the backseat next to the car seat so you’re forced to look back before getting out of the car. Do everything and anything you can to prevent this tragedy, because although you’re reading this and thinking, “that could never be me,” so did the moms who have had it happen.

2. Cool the car down before putting baby in the car seat.

The hardware and cushion of the car seat can become extremely hot when sitting in the sun. Placing your baby in the car seat without allowing it to cool can cause burns, so be mindful of the hot car and car seat before getting in. Use a visor and/or cool down the car before putting anyone in.

Avoid heat exhaustion

Infants are more susceptible to heat exhaustion than older children and adults, so be cautious with babies in hot weather. Dress them in light layers for the day so that you can remove clothing if it becomes hot outside. Keep water available at all times, and fan them or spray them gently with water to keep their body temperature at a normal level.

Beware of hot playground equipment

Even the littlest of infants love a ride on the swing, but playground equipment can also become extremely hot and dangerous when in direct sunlight. Test playground equipment before using to prevent burns. Pour cool water or place shade over the swing or equipment before using, or simply come back on a cooler day.

Use sunscreen and a hat

Try to keep baby out of the sun during the hottest time of the day, usually between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and even then apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going out. If you’ll be outside for an extended period of time, re-apply the sunscreen every 2 hours or according to the directions on the bottle. Babies have sensitive skin and may require sunscreen specially-formulated for babies, so be sure you have the right bottle when applying sunscreen to your baby.

Be vigilant around water

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in young children, and infants are not exempt from the danger. A simple turn to the other direction may be all the time it takes for an infant to roll into danger, even if they’ve never rolled before. Sadly, many drownings occur under the “supervision” of an adult who became briefly distracted by their phones, a conversation, or another child. Drowning does not usually sound how you'd expect - with yelling, splashing, etc. but is usually a quiet struggle that goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Vow this summer to make water time an undistracted time, with no phones, screens, or distractions of any kind.

Use lifejackets and flotation devices that fit securely around your baby rather than just on the arms where they can easily slip off.

Beware of summer germs and bugs

While it seems like older kids and adults catch germs easier during the cold season, many viruses and bacteria that infect babies easier thrive in warmer temperatures, like Hand foot, and mouth disease. Keep your winter vigilance with disinfecting and sanitizing.

Also, be mindful of bugs and bees. Bug bites can easily become infected, and staph infections often look like infected bug bites and can be very serious and resilient viruses.

What summer safety tips are most important to you?