Summer Newborn Baby Must Haves

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If you are going to be having an infant during hot hot HOT weather, like June, July, or August in North America (and maybe May or September, depending on how far south you live where you live), then I’m glad you’re here.

We’re gonna talk about what you need to do to be prepared for a summer newborn.

Let’s chat about something items you can get to keep baby safe from the dangerous summer heat.

After having two May newborns in North Carolina, I feel like I have a fairly good handle on what you need to buy before your little one arrives to ensure you can keep baby cool in the summertime.

My other little girl was born in November, so I’ve also written a winter necessities post! 🙂

This is what worked for me and the weather where I live. Please adjust the advice based on the expected temperatures where you live.

I believe it is better to be over prepared than under prepared when it comes to getting ready for your newborn’s arrival!

**This post is for new moms preparing for the arrival of a newborn. This is not intended to help determine whether an infant is currently overheated.**

First of All – Do babies Need to Be Bundled Up All the Time?

Before I had my first baby, I thought that newborns always had to be bundled up, no matter what time of year it was.

However, after I had my first child I learned that infants don’t always need to be wrapped up in layers.

The truth is – newborns can’t regulate their own temperature very well – but we need to be equally as concerned about keeping them cool when they’re hot as we are with keeping them warm when it’s cold outside.

What Summertime Newborn Items Should You Get?

Let me tell you as fair warning – older women tend to bundle up babies unnecessarily even when it’s hot!

My mom would come over and bundle up the babies in blankets and long sleeved outfits even in the middle of August and I would promptly strip them down because they looked SO HOT. They were sweating for goodness sake!

Even my grandmother would comment on how “cold” the babies looked even when they were clearly very comfortable in their cotton clothing.

Do what you think is best and if you’re unsure, your pediatrician will have great advice for you. No question is a stupid question when it comes to the safety of your little one!

New Baby Shopping List for the Summer

Before we jump to the checklist of things to buy for your precious little girl or boy, I’d like to point out that I have a much longer list of the 21 Newborn Must Haves You Can’t Forget to Register For.

It isn’t season-specific; rather, it’s just a good old list of essential things that are TRULY NECESSARY to get before you bring home your newborn girl or boy.

Now, let’s get to our list of baby hot weather essentials so you can be fully prepared!

Important List of Things To Buy (or put on your registry!)

These are the must haves I always had on hand for my baby during those hot summer months! It’s not easy to keep an infant shielded from the heat, but this list will make your job 1000% easier!

Summer Baby Shopping List

Sleeveless Onesies

If you'd like alternatives to sleeveless onesies, these types of bodysuits also keep baby nice and cool.

Newborn Sun Hat

No only is this hat adorable, it's also rated UPF 50+. My kids hated having stiff hard rimmed hats on when they were little. This hat is lightweight and offers great neck and ear protections as well.

Sunglasses

Newborns are wiggly little things! That is exactly what makes these glasses so great, the soft strap helps keep these sunglasses in place. Added bonus - they come with an additional strap in the next size up so they can grow with your little one.

Car Sun Shield For Window

This sun shield was so useful in both summer and winter. Especially during those moments when you're stuck at a red light and your baby is trying to nap but THE SUN is shining right into their eyes. I found this particular on worked best for me because of the tabs at the top that hooked onto the window itself and didn't rely on just the suction cups to stay in place.

Long Sleeved Swim Outfit

There are almost too many cute ones out there to pick from. Want full body coverage? Try one of these.

For boys

For girls

Car Seat Cover

What I absolutely love about this cover is how universal it is in every way. The design will fit most brands and styles of infant car seats, it has UPF 50+ protection, has a nice mesh front to allow plenty of ventilation and viewing AND it fully encloses the carseat to keep bugs out!

Bottle Cooler Bag with Ice Pack

This stylish and super useful cooler bag comes with an ice pack that is shaped to fit around 6 bottles. Looking back, I wish I had bought one of these. The design is perfect for keeping those bottles upright to avoid leaks. Spoiled milk is no fun to clean up.

Breathable Baby Carrier

Baby carriers are lifesavers for busy moms and dads. If you're going to be in a busy place (like a theme park or the grocery store) a baby carrier frees up your hands and doesn't take up extra space like a larger stroller would, making navigation much much easier.

What I like about this model is the versatile design. The parts are detachable and it converts to a hip seat when you no longer need the carrier portion. Before using a hip seat myself I had NO CLUE how amazing they were. It really does save your low back and arms from strain.

Light & Airy Nursing Cover

This poncho style nursing cover converts to a car seat cover as well!! The rigid neckline keeps to cloth open at the top so you can easily see your baby while they're feeding and keeps the air flowing so they don't overheat.

Clip On Stroller Fan

Stroller fans are Uhhh-Maze-Ing. On those stifling breeze free days, they are lifesavers. Not only do they provide a bit of airflow to beat the heat, they blow away those pecky mosquitoes as well. The bendable neck on this one is convenient for when you need to place the fan far enough away so your little one doesn't try to rip it off the stroller.

Baby Tent

This tent is a bit larger than a typical baby tent so it can grow with your children. The easy set up design takes less than 5 seconds! That feature alone is invaluable when you're juggling kids and all the stuff that comes with kids at the same time.

For a much smaller design, try this portable baby tent.

Car Seat Cooling Pad

It's amazing how sweaty a baby can get lying against their stroller or car seat. There just isn't any breathing room in them. Lining pads like this one have a mesh surfaces that provides a little bit of space for airflow.

Sunscreen

Hat's, sleeves and cover ups can only do so much. For that last layer of protection a little bit of sunscreen is the way to go. While it isn't meant to deter heat, it can help avoid a nasty sunburn.

**My pediatrician recommended waiting until 6 months of age before using sunscreen of any kind. Consult with yours for current standards.**

If You Have Time, Put These Must Haves on Your Registry

If you are reading this post well before your due date, I recommend putting these items on your registry. I recommend the Amazon baby gift registry to most expectant mothers because most people shop on Amazon already. If you have never started one before, make sure to request your FREE Welcome Box!

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED ON YOUR AMAZON REGISTRY NOW >>

If your baby is due very soon and you don’t have any of these items, then choose the ones you think you’d use the MOST. For me, that would be the car window shades, the bottle cooler bag, car seat cooling pad, and the clip-on stroller fan.

They are SO PRACTICAL and you will get daily use out of these. The other things are NICE to have, but if I was on a budget and had to prioritize, those 4 things would be what I get!

Tips for Bringing Home a Baby in Warm Weather

When it’s hot outside, you need to take special precautions when bringing your baby home. No extra effort is too much when it comes to your little one’s safety!

Install the sunshades a few weeks before your due date. That way they’re in there and you don’t have to worry about them once your due date arrives!
Wash & insert the car seat cooling pad well in advance. This product was essential to keeping our daughters and son cool on car rides.
Cool down the car before putting baby in there. Trust me on this one. It’s a panicky feeling to put your first baby in the car outside the hospital doors (at least it was for me). The last thing you want to do is look down and see your newborn sweating in their car seat. Let whoever is bringing the car around to the front door get a 10-min headstart on you leaving the hospital room.

Need More Baby Hot Weather Essentials?

It’s hard to know exactly what to shop for when you’re expecting. It’s especially confusing if it is your first child or if your firstborn arrived during a completely different season!

I hope all of these tips help you as you navigate your newborn shopping list. Remember, you can always put these season-specific items on your registry if they are out of your budget.

If you feel like I left out anything important that you’d like feedback on, comment below with any questions for me.

~ Lena

Do You Want More Advice From An Experienced Mom?

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