Amid a severe heatwave across Italy, pediatric specialists are urging parents to protect children from dehydration and heat stress. Luana Nosetti, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Insubria and head of the pediatric sleep commission of the Italian Society of Pediatrics, advises “more water, avoid sugary and coloured drinks and favour fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables.”
She recommends simple, light meals such as pasta with fresh tomato and basil, and suggests homemade smoothies or fruit salads with watermelon, melon or peach. Water intake should be age‑adjusted – about 150 ml per kilogram of body weight per day for infants under three months, decreasing gradually thereafter. Packaged fruit juices should be avoided in favour of freshly prepared juices consumed immediately.
Additional tips include keeping children’s rooms well‑ventilated and cool, dressing them in lightweight cotton clothing, and allowing flexible bedtime schedules to compensate for fragmented sleep caused by high temperatures.