Summer Safety for Babies and Young Children – What Every Parent Should Know

Special thanks to & Breathe First Aid for providing this information

Summer is such a fun season with little ones. Paddling pools, beach days, BBQs and long warm evenings. But it is also the time of year when we see the highest rates of water and heat-related injuries in children under five. The tricky thing is that emergencies often happen in really ordinary moments parents do not expect.

Here is what makes the biggest difference when it comes to keeping babies and young children safe around pools and in the NZ sun this summer.

Pool Safety for Babies and Young Children

Drowning is quick, silent and does not look dramatic. Over 80 percent of the time when a little one drowns, it happens when an adult is nearby but they did not expect their child to be in the water. That is why pool safety is not just about what happens in the water. It is also about keeping the whole environment around the water safe.

And for under fives, the most important safety tool you have is active, close supervision. This means staying within arm’s reach, choosing one adult to be the water watcher, and keeping phones and long chats for later.

Key pool safety habits to keep in mind:

• Keep little ones within arm’s reach in and around water
• One adult is always the designated water watcher
• Avoid distractions like phones, books or long conversations
• Bright swimwear makes children easier to spot
• Make sure the pool gate is closed and latched at all times
• Empty paddling pools and tip out buckets or water trays right after use
• Remove pool toys so toddlers are not tempted to lean in

Let’s also talk about flotation gear, because this trips up a lot of families. Wearable flotation devices are not recommended for pool play. They can give children a false sense of water confidence and also teach them to be in the drowning position when in the water (this is when little ones are always upright in the water).

Life jackets should always be reserved for open water environments such as being on a boat or in a kayak.

And finally, being ready for an emergency really matters. Knowing what drowning can look like, knowing the warning signs of drowning after an event, as well as having basic CPR skills can make a life-saving difference when things do go wrong.

Sun Safety for Babies and Young Children in New Zealand

New Zealand’s sun is no joke. Because of our clearer air and changes in the ozone layer, UV levels here can get extremely high, often up to 15 in summer. That means little ones can burn in less than 10 minutes, even when it is cloudy.

Babies and toddlers have thinner, more sensitive skin that burns faster and gets damaged more easily. So sun safety needs to be more than just sunscreen.

Simple sun safety habits that make a big difference:

• Stay shaded whenever possible, especially between 10am and 4pm
• Use UPF 50 plus long sleeve swimwear
• Choose wide-brim hats that cover the face, ears and neck
• Pop on sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays
• Keep sunscreen as your backup layer
• Choose SPF 30 plus broad-spectrum and reapply every two hours
• Reapply after swimming and towelling off

Babies Under Six Months Need Extra Protection

Young babies should not be in direct sun at all if you can avoid it. Shade, clothing and hats are your main tools at this age. Sunscreen should only be used sparingly and as a backup when there is no other choice.

Hot days also increase the risk of dehydration and overheating, so offer milk feeds more often and watch nappies to make sure baby is still weeing regularly. Babies under six months should never be given water, as it can cause dangerous changes in their sodium levels.

Prams can heat up fast, so avoid dry muslins over the top as they trap heat. A damp, breathable cloth and a little airflow work much better to keep things cool.

Most parents whose children experience a water or sun-related emergency never thought it would happen to them. Emergencies do not wait until you feel ready. They are unexpected, fast and often silent.

& Breathe First Aid, teach families how to manage emergencies in a way that is clear, simple and stress-free so you know exactly what to do when your little one needs you most.

Learn More with & Breathe First Aid

Want to know more about how to protect your little one in the sun?

Grab their free eight-page Sun Safety Guide, including sunscreen recommendations from hundreds of parents.

Want step-by-step, practical emergency skills you will actually remember?

Explore their Baby and Child First Aid courses and feel confident knowing how to manage choking, drowning, fevers, serious sicknesses, allergic reactions, an unresponsive child and more.

Visit: andbreathefirstaid.co.nz

Written by Charlotte Young, paediatric ICU nurse, first aid educator, mum of two and co-founder of & Breathe First Aid