Baby Safety Tips
for the Great Outdoors

These baby safety tips will help you brave the elements and emerge with your infant from the protective winter cocoon of your home. Introduce your baby to the wonders of the world with the least worries possible.

Barbecues, cicada chirps, the rhythm of neighborhood lawnmowers...all carry fond childhood memories of lazy summer days.

Since the backyard seems to be merely an extension of the living room during those warm summer months, it makes sense to have it as childproof as "outdoors" can be.

(Of course, if you haven't yet followed the baby safety tips for your home, do that first and then work on the backyard.)

Baby Safety Tips to Keep Cool

{Photo by Nichole Manner}

The hot sun can be a formidable (and dangerous) opponent. Besides the need for basic sun protection, you must also be aware of the possibility of your baby overheating.

Perspiration is your body's way of regulating heat. Unfortunately, this cooling system is underdeveloped in an infant. He can get overheated much faster than you can. This is why you should never leave your baby in a hot room or parked car for even just a few minutes.

One of the simplest things you can do to help keep him cool in the scorching summer is to choose in light colored clothing. Shades of light green, blue, pink, or yellow do not attract as much of the sun's heat.

Dehydration is a huge concern when it comes to your baby's health. Because a baby's sweat glands have not yet fully developed, you shouldn't rely on the absence of sweat to warn you of dehydration. Instead, watch for a flushed face, warm skin, rapid breathing, and restlessness.

Infants under 6 months should not drink water, so be sure to provide extra formula or breastmilk in effort to keep her hydrated. If your baby is over 6 months, give her a few ounces of water to drink from a sippy cup or bottle. You should also increase her formula or breastmilk intake for the day.

If you are using an infant carrier outdoors, be particularly aware of potential overheating. Your baby's body heat and the closeness of the fabric can warm her up quickly. Purchase a carrier that is made from a lightweight nylon fabric instead of a heavy material like denim. Remove her if she shows signs of dehydration or overheating.

A fever of 105 degrees F or above is always serious and could be the beginning of heatstroke. Call 911, give him acetaminophen (Tylenol), remove his clothes, and sponge-bathe him with lukewarm water until the paramedics arrive.

Baby Safety Tips for the Outdoor Kitchen

When I moved to Wisconsin, one of the things I had to learn was the art of grilling. Next to the Packers (which is a whole other topic), grilled burgers and brats (an evolved hot dog) on Sunday is a tradition of almost religious importance. It is not uncommon to look over the fence and see neighbor after neighbor hunched over delicious-smelling grills.

Like the kitchen oven, the grill should always be a no-touch zone. Both electric and gas grills take a long time to cool down. Maintain a 3-foot child-free radius at all times around the grill by using a sturdy safety gate to prevent accidental burns.

Keep lighter fluid, matches, charcoal, propane, electrical starters, and cooking utensils out of reach at all times.

Baby Safety Tips for Water

{Photo by Krista Hazuka}

The most common cause of death for children under one is drowning. You should never, ever, turn your back on a child near water. Not even for a second. If you must turn away, take him with you.

Hazardous Buckets

Did you know that one of the top three locations of infant drownings are in buckets? (The others are tubs and toilets.) It takes only 1 inch of water in a 5 gallon bucket for an accidental drowning. Keep buckets turned upside down when not in use.

When you are using the buckets, have have two adults outside (one to wash, one to watch), or keep one adult inside with the baby. If you don't have another adult nearby, use the buckets when your infant is taking a nap or contained safely in an exersaucer.

Poolside Baby Safety Tips

Building a baby proof pool fence is a great idea. The more barriers around your pool the better. If your child is missing, those barriers may provide the vital seconds you need to reach her.

The Yard Guard Pool Gate/Door Alarm System will alert you if the pool door or gate has been opened by a wandering child.
The Safety Turtle Pool Alarm is excellent as a last defense. A comfortable wrist band worn by your child will trigger an alarm if he falls into the pool.

Swimming with yoru baby is a wonderful way to play together. Her excitement to be in the pool is infectious. And, of course, the swimsuit or trunks are adorable!

Don't rely on inflatable devices (inner tubes, water wings, etc.) to provide the parental protection only your sharp eyes can provide. Never keep tricycles or other toys close to the pool.

If you own a pool, I would strongly urge you (and possibly your entire family) to be trained in swimming, CPR, and basic first aid. If at all possible, keep a phone, emergency information, and a CPR or First Aid "cheat sheet" close by the pool for emergencies.

Hot Tub Baby Safety Tips

Hot tubs should be covered with self-latching locks when not in use. (They should have been provided when the tub was purchased. If they weren't, contact the manufacturer.)

Children should only spend limited amounts of time in hot tubs, because it will elevate their body temperature.

Baby Safety Tips for Yard Work

Keep your baby away from the garage as much as possible. Do not mow or weed-whack your lawn unless he is supervised or sleeping in the house.

Installing a fence and locked gate will prevent her from wandering outside the yard and weirdos from coming in. Use a gate alarm system to notify you if the gate is opened (from the inside or outside).

There are a whole host of mushrooms and plants that are poisonous outdoors (and indoors as well). Since 95% of everything babies touch end up in their mouth, keep a visual tally on all backyard exploring expeditions.

Baby Safety Tips to Keep Insects Away

{Photo by Katrinket}

I am a walking popsicle for mosquitoes. They eat me alive. Unfortunately, I have passed this sweet blood on to my children.

It seems like a lose-lose situation.

Without using insect repellant, Lauren and Elena and up looking (and suffering) like they have chicken pox all summer.

On the other hand, I have to consider whether those chemicals could do more harm than good.

Elena's constant slobber and hand-eating almost guarantees some of those chemicals will end up in her tummy.

One solution I've found to save your baby from those nasty, red, insanely-itchy welts is to use an Insect Repellent Band. The band can be attached to a stroller or other item (not baby's wrist to be chewed on!) and it will protect a 15 foot area. This product has been highly rated and recommended by moms around the world.

If you choose to use traditional bug spray, remember that DEET is a chemical and should not be used lightly. In fact, it should never be used on infants under 2 months old. Here are some other baby safety tips for using an chemical insect repellant around your baby.

If you choose to purchase a liquid insect repellant, make sure it's less than 10% DEET.
Apply the DEET product to your baby's clothes once a day rather than directly to his skin. This will eliminate the possibility of ingestion (babies put their hands in their mouths approximately 64 times an hour).
If you do choose to apply directly to the skin, spray it on your hands first, and then rub it on, avoiding his hands, eyes, and mouth. Immediately wash your hands with soap after application. It should never be applied to cuts, wounds, rashes, or sunburns.
When you come inside, wash everyone's skin with warm sudsy water and change clothing.

Elminate Mosquitoes Naturally

Get rid of the bugs around your home the natural way by installing a bat house somewhere on your property.

It's like a bird house, only for bats. Bats will feast on the bugs in your yard at night and keep your mosquito population to a minimum.

Other suggestions to naturally discourage mosquitoes are to...

Eliminate standing water (where mosquitoes breed).
Avoid dressing your child in bright colors or floral designs or using scented soaps or lotions - they attract bees and other insects.

Treating Bug Bites

If your infant does sustain some mosquito bites, dab them with a paste of baking soda and water. Cortisone cream, used sparingly, can also soothe the itching. Only place the cream in areas under clothing where there's no chance of your baby getting it into his mouth. Use the baking soda mixture on spots likely to be touched and slobbered on.

Your baby will learn all kinds of things about grass, water, caterpillars and butterflies this summer.

Help him avoid the lessons of sunburns, insect bites, and pool accidents by applying these baby safety tips to your outdoor forays. In doing so, you will be ensuring that he will have many happy summers to come.