Heatwave: good habits when you are pregnant or with a baby

Facing the heat, you should acquire a few habits to make the heatwave more bearable. Whether you are pregnant or your baby is only a few days or a few months old, follow this guide to better experience the heat, both day and night.

Refresh the atmosphere in your home

Keep the shutters closed during the day, open the courtyard or north-facing windows in the evening and early morning, buy a fan or an air conditioner… There are some things you are already familiar with to cool your home and especially your baby's room. If one room in the house is cooler than another, don't hesitate to spend as much time as possible in it, even if it means moving your newborn baby's cradle  for a few days.

Drink and stay cool as much as possible When

pregnant, don't neglect water: drink regularly, several times an hour, and don't hesitate to cool down with a mister. If you are on maternity leave, you should take several showers a day to stay refreshed and hydrated. For your baby, same habits: regularly place a compress  or wash cloth  soaked in cold water on his or her forehead and neck, spray him or her with a few squirts of mist and make sure he or she is regularly hydrated, without waiting for him or her to ask for a bottle. For breastfed babies, breast feed regularly.

Slow down when it's hot

If you experience a heat wave during your pregnancy, reduce your physical activity and move around only if necessary. Do not hesitate to consider teleworking with your employer and if you are on maternity leave limit your outings or prefer air-conditioned places.

At night: tips for sleeping in spite of the heatwave

Take advantage of the slight drop in temperature at night to ventilate your apartment. At night, avoid leaving the air conditioner and fan running in baby's room to prevent baby from catching a cold. Leave them running in the early evening, while you freshen up the room. Then, put your baby to bed with a light cotton bodysuit : contrary to what you might think, he could catch cold when the temperature drops in the middle of the night if he sleeps in a diaper. And to put him to bed in the best conditions, give him a short cool bath  (35 degrees maximum) to cool him down before he falls asleep.