What to put on a baby registry for a hot summer

A baby due in June will spend its first months in a flat that hits 28 degrees by mid-afternoon. Most registries are built for the cosy version of a newborn, with knitted cardigans and a thick pram footmuff. The one below is for the sweaty version, and it is worth adding these items before the aunts start buying blankets.

A baby's skin needs more than sunscreen

A baby's skin is far thinner than an adult's, which is why sun protection comes first once the weather turns. Light long-sleeved clothing in a tightly woven fabric blocks most of the UV, and anything with a UPF rating of 30 or more does the job properly. Add a wide-brimmed hat with a chin strap that covers the face, the neck and the ears; the ones without a strap are on the pavement within a minute.

Under six months, shade and clothing do the work. Sunscreen goes only on the small bits you cannot cover, and only when there is no shade to be had. Baby sunglasses are worth their place on the list too. Their eyes are as vulnerable as their skin, and the wraparound styles with a soft strap actually stay on.

Keeping the nursery cool

Blackout blinds keep the afternoon sun out of the room and make it dark enough for a nap at two o'clock. A fan or a portable air conditioner brings the room down towards 16 to 20 degrees, the range the Lullaby Trust recommends for a sleeping baby; point the fan at the wall so it moves the air without blowing on the cot. A digital thermometer with a humidity reading tells you what the room is actually doing.

A gel cooling mat gives some relief on the worst days. Check the temperature with your hand first, and never leave the baby on one unattended.

Sleep gear for hot nights

Hot nights disrupt everyone's sleep, and babies overheat far faster than adults do. A 0.5 tog sleeping bag or a muslin swaddle replaces the blanket entirely and keeps the safe sleep rules intact. Bamboo or organic cotton wicks moisture away from the skin; polyester fleece does the opposite.

A breathable mattress protector made for cots lets air move under the baby without softening the firm surface safe sleep depends on. A white noise machine covers the hum of the fan, and most models have a night light that adds no heat to the room.

Feeding and hydration in the heat

If you are breastfeeding, you get thirsty far faster than usual in the heat. Add a large insulated bottle that lives next to the feeding chair, and keep a few electrolyte sachets in the bag for long days out.

For bottles, an insulated carrier keeps milk at the right temperature on an outing, and a cooling towel wrapped around it adds an hour in the car. Once the baby is on solids, watermelon and cucumber purée add water without any effort. Babies feed in smaller, more frequent amounts in the heat, so a couple of spare bottles and a sippy cup are worth having, along with a portable steriliser for days away from the kitchen.

What to pack for a day out

A summer changing bag needs two extra sets of light clothing, more nappies than usual, because heat means more of them, and a pack of cooling wipes. A pop-up UV tent gives shade wherever you end up, whether that is a park or a beach with no trees. A water-activated cooling towel can be wrung out and reused all afternoon.

Pack a thermometer as well. A digital forehead or ear thermometer gives a reading in seconds if you think the baby is too hot, and it settles the argument about whether to go home.

Putting the registry together

Add these items in their own section on the list, so the person who wants to buy the cute thing can still pick the hat, and the grandparent who wants to spend more can pick the air conditioner. You can create a baby registry and share it before the first warm week, when the blankets would otherwise start arriving.