Keeping baby cool while outside on a hot day

[rhiOrion]

What are your methods for beating the heat while still avoiding sunburn? DD is 12 weeks old, so while I would maybe put a bit of sunscreen on feet sticking out of a carrier, I don't feel comfortable really using much.

We're going to a festival next week and the forecast just gets worse and worse- I think the high is supposed to be 95 now (with North Carolina humidity).

Here are my thoughts:
A water bottle/fan with ice water in it.
Put all my boob tubes in the fridge and use those behind her for any time she needs to be in the carrier (connecta solarweave).
Avoid the carrier as much as possible.
Keep myself hydrated in order to keep her hydrated
Wet her hat for some evaporative cooling.
If there is a mist tent this year, go there frequently
Go sit with our feet in the river

Obviously if things get out of hand we'll just go home.

TIA!

[ellairiesmom]

we just did 2 days of Furthur shows on Coney Island over the weekend & it was really hot. plus we were in the parking lot much of the day so the blacktop made it feel hotter. i think weather.com said it was 90, but felt like 95...

i brought a spray bottle that we kept in the cooler & sprayed down both girls often with it. dd2 (5 mos this week) seemed to enjoy that.

i used a bunch of the thin gerber cloth dipes to use as cooling cloths-we soaked them in cold water & let her hold it while sitting in her stroller & even put it on her like it were a blanket. she LOVED this & would hold it, grab it, chew it etc.

i only used my solarveil sling-no other carriers. and our baby jogger double stroller has amazing sunshades so that really helped too.

she has lots of hair so i just kept her hair wet with cool water. if she went with me for a walk in the sling, i put a floppy hat on her that i misted with some water on the inside.

i have seen clip on battery powered fans that might work for ya-especially if you are bringing the stroller in. i have to admit, i am not a stroller person normally-i have several carriers & am a certified basic babywearing instructor...i almost didn't even buy a double stroller but gave in recently for exercising in the heat (i was dying trying to walk while wearing dd2 & pushing dd1 in our single). having the stroller at the shows was a godsend in the heat. day 1, i wore dd2 the whole concert & it was night, slightly cooler, but i was dying. i was sooooooo hot & uncomfortable & she was really fussy & sweaty. day 2, we relied on the stroller more outside the show because of the sunshade being so nice AND after seeing some of them inside the show the night before, decided to bring it in. what a difference the whole experience was...dh is not really into this scene & had a puss on night 1, but even he had fun night 2. it was just easier in many ways with the stroller.

have a blast!

[rhiOrion]

What did you have her dressed in?

I'm wondering if once a onesie gets wet if it'll just be damp and gross feeling. But I'm not sure what else would work. Shirt and diaper, so it's not quite as clingy to her?

I might try the stroller. The grounds don't really have paths in a lot of areas, but I can always park the stroller next to wherever my aunt and uncle end up setting up if they go.

[rhiOrion]

Just bumping this up in case anybody has any last minute suggestions! (fest is tomorrow)

[ellairiesmom]

so sorry i didn't check back in before you left!

fwiw, we started her out in a onesie but she ended up in just a dipe by the end of each day. too sweaty!

i would love to hear about the fest & how it went so post an update when you get back!!!!!