There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it: The summer months are bringing the heat. In this type of climate, your vehicle can heat up extremely quickly. This is something that's crucial to consider when you're caring for your child.
After sitting in the sun for even a short period of time, car seats are commonly much too hot for your little one, and it could potentially be a dangerous situation. Sometimes, even keeping your baby cool while driving proves to be a challenge. Luckily, there are a ton of simple ways to keep the interior of your car, and particularly the child's car seat, cooler.
6 Tips for Keeping Your Baby Cool in Their Car Seat
Tinting Your Windows
If you live in an area with extreme heat, you should already know all about the benefits of tinted windows. Not only do they block out harmful UV rays, but they drastically decrease the light and heat that make its way into your car. Think of tint as a protective barrier between the sun's rays and your baby. You'll be thankful to have it on those hot summer days.
Pointing AC Vents Towards Child
If you're purchasing a new car, you should consider the way that the air conditioning cycles air to the rear. Ideally, you'd want to have bigger vents to allow for greater airflow in the direction of your child's car seat. Always ensuring that the vents are set properly can be significant in managing your child's body temperature during the car ride.
Cooling The Car First
On a hot day, the interior of your car can get scorching hot. Rather than overheating your child, allow the hot car to cool off with the air conditioner for a minute or two before you get them situated inside. Many of the newer model cars come with remote start, and you can use that to your advantage for these particular situations. The interior and car seat cover temperatures will be much more inviting.
Buying a Lighter Color Car Seat
No matter if you have a preference towards a forward-facing or rear-facing car seat, consider the actual color of the cloth material. Darker colors absorb more light, which in return can give off more heat and make the baby warm. Lighter colors, on the other hand, can be beneficial in keeping the infant car seat cool. Definitely something to consider when learning about car seat safety.
Buying a Freezable Evaporative Cooling Towel
There are a number of different freezable cooling towels available on Amazon or other online stores that are intended for use on your baby car seat. It's essentially an ice pack that you place on the car seat when leaving the vehicle out in the sun. Leaving these on the seat surface in the meantime will give you a colder seat after returning, and reduce the chance of your baby getting a heat rash.
Buying a Car Seat Sunshade
Another great option when considering child safety is a car seat sunshade. Again, its intended use is for when no one is in the car, so the seat will not be nearly as hot when you return. These reflective sunshades do wonders at blocking light, and they do a fantastic job overall at keeping your child cool on those extreme days.
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