Dressing Your Kids to Keep Cool
Summer is the perfect season to play outside and take your kids on daily outings, but the heat can be overwhelming if you don´t dress them appropriately. The summer sun means you´ll want your baby clothes to be lightweight and allow your children´s bodies to cool themselves.
The first thing to look for in summer baby clothes, whether boys' clothes or girls', is the right fabric. Cotton is ideal, since it lets the skin breathe and wicks perspiration away from your little one´s skin. However, since cotton tends to wrinkle, you may look for a polyester/cotton blend that is at least 50% cotton.
Avoid fabrics that are shiny or slick, like rayon. These will trap heat next to the child´s body and can be very uncomfortable in warm weather. You can test baby clothes by putting your hand inside the clothing and wrapping the fabric around it . . . if your hand feels hot and sweaty in a few seconds, you will want to look for something cooler.
Boys' clothes are fairly simple for summer. Loose T-shirts, muscle shirts and shorts are perfect for those hot days. Your sons may prefer to run around shirtless, as well, which makes the clothing selection process far easier.
Girls' clothes are far more varied and come in plenty of fun summer colors. Choose from T-shirts and shorts, skirts or sundresses for your little girl. Just be sure that you are selecting the right fabric and avoid skirts and dresses with lots of frills and ruffles, which can also trap heat, despite looking pretty.
Baby clothing for very small children is similar to that of older kids, but you can also use onesies, which are quite cool, provided you look for short sleeves and a lightweight fabric. Onesies are ideal boys' clothes or girls clothes and are often unisex.
Clothing designed for sports is often a good idea, as well and you'll find more of this in the boys clothing section than the girls' area. Sports clothing include mesh shirts and cotton socks to keep feet dry and blister-free.
Dressing your children for hot weather doesn't have to be a big task. You can easily find lightweight clothing that suits their tastes and will keep them nice and cool. If you will be out all day, it's a good idea to pack an extra T-shirt or two and don't forget the sunscreen!