Newborn heat safety and children's ear protection tips released for summer

Health experts advise parents that newborns are especially vulnerable to overheating in summer because their thermoregulation is undeveloped. Recommended measures include keeping infants in shade, scheduling walks for early morning or late afternoon, dressing them in lightweight long‑sleeved clothing or UPF‑rated garments, using broad‑brimmed hats, and limiting direct sun exposure. If sunscreen is necessary, only a small amount of mineral‑based product should be applied to limited skin areas after pediatric consultation. Parents should monitor the baby’s neck and chest for excessive warmth, reduced wet diapers, irritability, or lethargy, and seek medical help promptly if these signs appear.

Separate guidance addresses protecting children's ears during swimming or water play. Water trapped in the ear canal can swell earwax into a plug, leading to painful outer ear infections. Preventive steps include gently drying ears after baths or swimming with a cotton ball lightly dabbed in alcohol, avoiding deep insertion of cotton swabs, and refraining from using earplugs that can cause injury. Parents should watch for ear pain, swelling, discharge, fever, or hearing loss, and consult an ENT specialist if symptoms develop.