Playing safe in the summer
Follow these common sense summer safety tips and have peace of mind as your child goes out and about this summer.
Water
Safety
- Never leave children alone in or near water, even for a moment.
- Make sure adults watching young children in a pool know resuscitation and can rescue a child if necessary.
- Surround your pool - on all four sides - with a sturdy five-foot fence.
- Make sure the gates self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach.
- Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a telephone near the pool.
- Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing "touch supervision."
Fun
in the Sun
- Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of the direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade or under a tree, umbrella, or the stroller canopy.
- Dress babies in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs and use brimmed hats.
- Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen even on cloudy days.
- The sun protection factor (SPF) should be at least 15.
- Try to keep children out of the sun between 10 am and 4 pm - that's when the sun's rays are strongest.
- For more detailed information on sun safety tips for families click here
- For your top Q&As on dealing with the heat, insects and food on the go click here
Bug
Safety - Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
- Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
- Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints.
- To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally with a credit card or your fingernail. You can also remove a stinger by pinching it out with a pair of tweezers or your fingers.
Playground
Safety
- Carefully maintain all equipment.
- Swings should be made of soft materials such as rubber, plastic or canvas.
- Make sure children cannot reach any moving parts that might pinch or trap any body part.
- Make sure metal slides are cool to prevent childrens' legs from getting burned.
Travel Safety
- Buckle up car seats and seat belts.
- Keep children entertained with car games, activity books and story tapes.
- Make periodic stops along the way.
- Keep supplies with you, such as snacks, water, a first aid kit and any medicines your child takes.
- Always use a car seat, starting with your baby's first ride home from the hospital. Help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up.
- Read the manufacturer's instructions and always keep them with the car seat.
- Read your vehicle owner's manual for more information on how to install the car seat.
- Put your child in the back seat. It is the safest place in the car because it is farthest away from a head-on crash (the most common type of crash).
- The harness system holds your child in the car seat and the seat belts hold the seat in the car. Attach both snugly to protect your child.
- Children in rear-facing car seats should never be placed in a front seat equipped with an air bag.
Read our essential car seat safety guide
With thanks to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Where to next?
- Buy your baby travel essentials from the babyworld shop
- For information on everything from how to have stress-free travel and summer safety tips, check out the rest of our travel section
- Share travel tips and get advice on our Travel discussion forum
- Have baby, will travel - Read how one couple and their baby go to Thailand for their holiday
