| By :
Mark Etinger
During the "dog days of August", especially in the midst of a heat wave, you may feel that you and your child are prisoners in your (hopefully) air conditioned residence. While it is important to be cautious and smart, you and your child may still enjoy a daily outing without melting into the pavement. Infants are unable to regulate their own body temperatures and toddlers and young children are very susceptible to the heat. It is important that you keep your newborn in a regulated climate so that he does not get overheated. If you two venture outdoors, make sure that he is well-protected from the sun, fully hydrated, and returned to a cool location as soon as possible. Toddlers are a bit more adaptable to the high temperatures, but they are still easily overheated and should therefore not be outdoors for extended periods of time. When you and your toddler go outside into the great heat, you need to have the appropriate provisions for both of you. Slather both you and your child in sweat-proof sunscreen before you even leave the house. Pack the sun tan lotion to take with you, so that it may be reapplied as needed. You may keep it in your diaper bag or, if that is packed to the seams, in the storage basket of your stroller. You will want to bring a cooler as well as your standard diaper bag; both may also be stored in storage compartment of the stroller for easy access. You should pack water, fruit, salted snacks, and perhaps a baby bottle of milk. Only pack the fruit and milk if you have an extremely efficient, leak-resistant cooler that will keep these items extremely cold. The cooler should keep frozen any ice that you pack in it. The best stroller in which to transport your child will be a lightweight stroller with the appropriate amenities, such as the aforementioned storage basket, and sunshade. The former will enable you to pack any and all necessary supplies and the latter will protect your child's skin for the direct, harsh UV rays of the sun. A lightweight stroller will also be the easiest type of stroller for you to maneuver in the heat. Despite its accoutrements, it weighs little, and is very portable. You will be able to lift a quality lightweight stroller with relative ease. It is also very portable; should you and your child get tired and decide to forego the rest of the walk, the stroller may be easily stored in the trunk of a taxi or other vehicle. With the proper precautions and planning, you and your baby may escape outside and enjoy the rest of the summer, despite the heat.
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