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holiday tips

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Top tips for dealing with the warm weather for kids & babies

This week we have been fortuante enough to speak to an expert from LloydsPharmacy who very kindly took the time to share her expert advice and guidance on dealing with these unusually warm tempartures we are having here.  These tip are also excellent to have if you are jetting off this summer too.

1. Sunburn

My pair are blue eyed, blonde and pale so preventing sunburn is very important, Rebecca has set out her top tips to prevent sunburn below:

sports

Pic Credit: Pixabay

We all know that sunburn is a huge risk factor for skin cancer, but did you know that much of the UV damage that leads to skin cancer happens in the early years of life. All children are at risk of UV damage, even those who tan easily.

  • Wear sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher in adults and SPF 30 or higher in kids and reapply every TWO hours.
  • Stick to the shade where you can to limit your exposure to UV rays. Babies under 6 months should be kept in the shade as much as possible. Make sure the shade casts a dark shadow.
  • Cover up as much sun-exposed skin as possible and wear a wide-brimmed hat made of cloth, or other close-woven material to give shade to the face, neck, head and ears.
  • Don’t forget to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses, sun exposure over time can lead to cataracts and cancer.
  • These tips apply whether you’re at home or away, UV damage is just as harmful from Irish sun as abroad. We’re getting an unusually hot spell right now but everyone needs to take just as much care on cloudy but bright days – up to 90% of UV rays can pass through cloud.

2.  Dehydration

I am always very aware at getting liquids into the boys during this heat. Some tips from Rebecca include:

  • Water should be given to counteract dehydration in hot or humid weather and should be drunk before you get to the stage of feeling thirsty.
  • Oral rehydration solutions such as Dioralyte replace salts, as well as water, lost through sweating.
  • Kids should be encouraged to drink water or a sports drink before, during and after any exercise in hot weather.
  • Adults should remember that tea, coffee and other caffeine containing drinks are diuretics and can worsen rather than help dehydration. The same goes for another diuretic, alcohol!
  • Children in cars need special attention as temperatures in cars can reach dangerously high levels very quickly. Children should never be left in a parked car.
  • If a child suddenly becomes dizzy, nauseated or weak in hot weather, bring them inside or at least in the shade. Give them lots of water or a sports drink and cool them down with a tepid shower or a sponge bath and fan air over their moist skin. Seek medical attention if their symptoms get worse or last for more than an hour.
  • Also avoid sun in the middle of the day, ideally between 11 and 4pm as sunburn stops your body from cooling itself down properly. Wear loose, light clothing that will allow the sweat to evaporate by allowing air to flow around the skin. Avoid dark clothing as this absorbs more heat than light colours.

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Fairy Travels

7 Activities to Ensure You Get the Most out of Your Family Holiday

aircraft wing

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Planning your summer holidays and wondering what to do to keep the kids entertained? Here are some tips and tricks to keep them happy, and keep you from tearing your hair out.

Be prepared

If this is your child’s first adventure on a plane or ferry, hype them up to the experience by injecting fun into what they can expect. There are new noises, sensations, and even rules to get to grips with when navigating ferry ports and seaports. Why not turn passport control and security checks into a game or, at the very least, a point of reward for best behaviour when you’ve passed through?

Everything edible

Okay, maybe not everything is edible, but knowing what treats are in store might be one way to build excitement for the kids about where you are going. Whether it’s the almost-familiar patatas bravas in Spain and keftedes in Greece, or slightly different spätzle in Germany and gołąbki in Poland, there is something that will appeal to both those who prefer the comfort of home-cooking, and those who are willing to try something new.

Plan a virtual tour

There’s nothing quite like planning an itinerary of where you are going, and what better way to keep the kids interested than to let them plan for themselves? Whether it’s kid-friendly theme parks or interactive museums, showing pictures and videos of all the places you might get to see is bound to make them even more excited for their holiday.

A few words?

Why not add a little something educational to your holiday preparations in a fun way so your kids don’t really know they are learning? From a few words in the language of the place you are going to a fun history lesson of the culture of the country, there are so many ways to grab their attention and teach them something at the same time. Better yet, learning a language with companies like Listen & Learn, FluentU or Babbel means you can bring some of your travels and memories back with you, continuing lessons even after you’re home!

Autonomy

While we are on the subject of languages and learning, what better way to prepare your children for their first trip overseas than to teach them a few new words? Basic greetings and polite pleases and thank yous will go a long way to building their confidence, as well as delighting waiting staff and friendly locals with their efforts.

Making memories

How about getting your kids to create their own holiday mementos? Disposable cameras are cheap, or a kid-proof tablet will capture any photos they choose to take. And when you are all back in rainy England with still weeks of the holiday to get through—or even worse, are back and work and school—a little scrapbooking with those holiday photos will help build those memories, and enthusiasm for planning the next one!

Peace of mind

Pack the essentials that you’d take on a day trip and remember shops the world over will likely stock most things you can get at home. Figure out all the things you want to see and do as well. Your kids will enjoy themselves a lot more if you are just as excited to be there. Relax, breathe, and take your time; this is your holiday as well!

 

Note: This is a collaborative post