Lounging on the beach! Hanging out by the pool! Soaking up the sun! All these activities scream summer, but look a little different with a newborn. My first was born in April, so my first summer of motherhood was with a newborn. It looked a little different but looking back at photos as I was writing this article, we still had some summer fun.
Safety First
Once you wrap your mind around the few safety factors, you can get started adapting your usual summer plans to mom life. For starters, there’s the added obstacles of regulating baby’s temperature and limiting sun exposure. As a reminder, it’s not recommended to apply sunscreen until 6 months old. Spending time outside means you’re keeping the baby from overheating or getting too cold in water. With these things in mind, I had to get creative because I didn’t want to spend the whole summer hiding inside. I figured out how to make it work and you can too. I have a very fond memory of being on a floaty in the pool with my baby snuggled up on my chest . . . holding an umbrella over us to make shade.
Making Adjustments
At first, I remember worrying a lot about the baby overheating. But as the summer went on we found what worked. We would start the car ahead of time to make sure it wasn’t too hot in the back seat. I tried to set up a beach tent outside but it turned into an oven, so a pop up tent was better. I was very careful not to completely cover the car seat with a blanket for shade. That can also trap heat and become dangerous. When we went to visit our friends and their kids, we made sure that there would be a shady spot while they played outside.
Our yard gets nice and shady around 4pm so we began a tradition that we still do today: playing outside during witching hour. It’s very true what they say about babies. If they’re upset, go outside or put them in water. The early evening, when it was starting to cool down, was a perfect time for a walk and stroller nap. The morning hours are also good for getting outside before it gets too hot.
Bucket List with a Baby
Here’s a few other things you can add to your summer bucket list. Many towns have outdoor music in the evenings. They start when it’s become cooler. And the timing works out nicely between feedings and that last nap and bedtime. I’ve also noticed that most ice cream places have some sort of shaded area, cuz you deserve a sweet treat mama!
Another fun memory I have is of going to The Flume Gorge in Lincoln, NH. Nature trails offer mostly shaded areas for walking. By dressing the baby in light layers, bringing along a sun hat and muslin blanket to help cover the rest of them, you can enjoy a walk and keep the baby covered. When they are itty bitty a cloth wrap is a great option. The baby’s body can be completely covered by the wrap and then a hat on top keeps them out of the sun. On super hot days, babies can go in the wrap in just their diaper as your body will keep them warm but wearing clothes could get too hot.
I hope you have a wonderful summer making memories with your new little family. Remember to be flexible and patient with yourself as you figure out what works in this new phase of life! Setting expectations low leaves less room for frustration and disappointment. And the moments that work out feel like a huge win!
