Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Baby Development – Safe and Healthy Summertime Tips for Tots

05.07.2008 | 5:12:21 pm | Posted by admin

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

Happy Independence Day! The 4^th of July marks the day of independence for the U.S., but it also kicks off the season of summertime activities. With barbecues and pool parties in full swing, there is lots of fun to be had but also a whole new set of parental worries. Here are a few tips to help keep kids safe and healthy throughout the summer.

Healthy Snacking
Without school and usual activities, spontaneity rules during the summer. There are lots of fun activities to do so even when schools out you may find your family still eating on the go. How can you maintain the healthy habits you’ve instilled over the winter months? To start, try to maintain a organic baby food, parenting regular eating schedule as best you can, keeping mealtimes within an hour of your little one’s usual eating time. Also, providing 3 meals and 2 healthy snacks helps boredom snacking to a minimum. If your neighbor invites the family over for a barbecue and your child has food allergies, be sure to pack your own snacks and bring a hearty side dish to share so that you can be sure the food is safe and allergen free.

Plenty of Produce
Speaking of healthy snacks, one of the best parts of summer is all the glorious produce that is abundant and right off the vine. From berries to greens, eating produce that is local and in season is both better for you and the environment. Visiting your local farmer’s market is great way to get organic produce at a great price; it also makes for a fun family activity. Fresh fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and nutrients, make great prep-free snacks, and can help keep kids’ immune systems healthy. The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) can tell you the peak season for produce in your area.

Pool Panache
Babies and toddlers seem to be endlessly fascinated with water, swimming pools being the pinnacle. Swimming is a great family activity on a hot summer day, yet safety is of utmost importance. It may sound redundant, but never leave a child near a pool unattended. During a pool party, lots of socializing can make it difficult to keep your eyes on your toddler. Designate an adult “pool watcher″ to be on guard at all times, and if everyone takes a shift it is an easy way to protect kids. Visit Baby Swimming for more pool safety tips for babies and toddlers.

Summer Skin
Being outdoors more in the summer brings up a key question- what is the best way to protect baby’s delicate skin from pesky bugs and too much sun? Most bug sprays and sun blocks on the market are laden with harmful chemicals that are too toxic for adults, let alone toddlers and babies. Just in time for summer, California Baby announces an organic bug spray made of essential oils. The Bug Blend baby bug repellent is free of pesticides and it is gluten free so it is safe for celiacs. When it comes to choosing an organic baby sun block, visit ehow.com for consumer reviews. Avoiding direct sun is also important by using a hat, covering up arms and legs, and of course, sitting in the shade. Many doctors do not recommend the use of sun block before a baby is 6 months old, so check with your pediatrician first.

Permalink

Email this article

Printer-friendly version

About this Blog:

The Baby Mum-Mum blog discusses everything to do with babies and parenting with a focus on child health and child development. Baby Mum-Mum is a healthy, easy to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and mothers around the world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste.

Announcement:

We are planning to make some improvements to this blog and we would like to hear from you about how we can provide more helpful information and a better service. Please contact us to let us know your thoughts.

We regret that the News Feeds are currently unavailable. This feature will be back shortly. We hope that any other inconveniences are limited, but please let us know if we anything doesn't work as you were expecting.

Syndicate this Blog: