Babies and young children regulate their temperature less well than adults do. They can get too cold or too hot much more easily.Overheating can be just as dangerous as getting chilled. Babies depend on us to help them get back to a comfortable temperature.* Dress lightly in loose, lightweight layers* Have naked time on [...]

Heat rash can add to the misery of a heat wave - and make everything harder when everyone is already cranky.Prevent rashes by keeping skin dry, especially in folds and areas that rub together:* Change diapers often* Maximize naked time* Light breathable absorbent fabricsIf a heat rash starts to appear,* Cool off with a [...]

Long summer days are perfect for being out and about, which means eating on the go.While some snacks can be safely transported without chilling, baby food pouches and baby formula are highly perishable.Baby formula is especially prone to spoilage. Yet, younger babies are also more likely to need to eat while you’re out.It’s easy [...]

Babies don’t need extra water to stay hydrated when they are breastfed - just make sure they can get there!Bodyfeeding provides all the nutrients and fluids that a baby needs - in perfect balance no matter what the temperature is.You may notice that your baby cues to feed more often, comes on and off [...]

The dog days of summer are hot, but it’s often the humid sticky nights that make it the hardest to get through a Canadian heat wave.If you can’t cool your whole home, focus on creating a cool place to sleep and nap:* The lowest floor is usually the coolest* Firm mattresses tend to be [...]

Thousands of families across Ontario and Quebec are facing lengthy power outages following Saturday's storm.As hours without power drag into days for some households, our team offers some tips:- Keep breastfeeding: this will be the easiest & safest way to feed your baby or young child in this or any other emergency- Offer babies [...]

Hand expression is an important skill for anyone who is lactating, but is especially useful in emergencies. While it takes a little practice to figure out exactly what works for your baby, this is sure to come in "handy" when power and/or cleaning facilities are disrupted during a disaster.VIDEO: Stanford Hand Expression Video https://med.stanford.edu/.../hand-expressing-milk.htmlVIDEO: [...]

Jan 17 2020Bottlefeeding in blizzard conditions, especially if the power goes out and roads are impassable, can pose extra risks. If you are breastfeeding, even partially, offer the breast as often as possible and minimize your use of expressed human milk or infant formula.Cleaning bottles, nipples and pumping equipment when there is no power, [...]

Jan 17 2020Over-bundling babies can lead to over-heating, which causes distress and can contribute to SIDS. Overbundling can also lead to hypothermia in a cold environment: babies who are swaddled have a harder time regulating their temperature and signalling distress.Skin-to-skin with an adult, even for older babies and toddlers is the safest place to [...]

Turn your freezer setting down in advance of losing power and pack the freezer as tightly as possible with the milk in the centre.Pack 24 hours of milk in a small cooler with ice packs.Milk bags may leak - consider storing bags in larger freezer bags to reduce mess and loss of milk if [...]