Road trips through summer are always a great way to get the family together and enjoy making memories but as we all know, kiddos that are too hot are not happy passengers! We’ve rounded up some top tips to keeping your Very Important Passengers cool and safe in the car and on the go, so you can make the most of #JoyOfTheJourney
Cool Car Tips
Road trips start in the vehicle, so it’s important to remember that your car and car seat need to be kept cool. Inside temperatures can rise up to 172 degrees on a hot summer’s day, and it doesn’t take much to imagine how uncomfortable that would be. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) children are extremely sensitive to heat and get hot up to five times faster than adults.
Sunshades are designed to keep the car cool while it’s stationary and can easily be removed from the dash when you’re ready to get on the way. Available in a range of different sizes for each window and suitable for on the go or when parked, sunshades are a smart and simple tool to regulate the temperature. If you have time, try running the AC for a little while before putting the car seat in the vehicle. Diono offer a range of sunshades such as Heatblock® Sunshade, Breeze ‘n Shade and Sun Stoppers®.
Where possible it is highly recommended to cover your car seat after every ride to protect it from the heat of the sun. Even so, before your child gets back in their car seat be sure to check the “hot spots” such as any buckles or chest clips. Check out Ultra Mat and Heat Sun Shield, cleverly designed to protect your vehicle upholstery from wear and tear plus keep your car seat protected from the sun with the built-in sun shield.
*Top tip! Diono Radian® R and Radian® Q Series now have their very own summer covers. Designed to fit perfectly over your Radian® model, promote good airflow and prevent perspiration.
Protection on the move
Once you’ve arrived at your destination and you’re ready to let the fun begin, remember to keep track of applying sunscreen to yourself and your child, particularly their sensitive areas such as back of the hands, face and legs. It is recommended by American Association of Pediatricians that children’s skin should not be exposed to harmful sun rays and where possible they should wear breathable, long clothing and brimmed caps but otherwise, apply sunscreen early and repeat regularly. For older children apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher about 15 to 30 minutes before going into the sun and water so that it has time to absorb into their skin. Reapply every two hours and after your child has been playing in the water, sweating, or towel drying off. The shade can also offer a false sense of security and it’s important to remember that while shading you from the heat, UV rays can still become reflected and give you a sunburn.
If you plan on using a stroller to get around, remember the same rules of your car seat. Check the hotspots, cover with a sun protector such as Sun Shade Maker if possible and shade wherever you can. Most strollers and travel systems have a sun canopy already but there are plenty on the market if you’re looking for some additional shade.
Diono Stroller Fan is another great solution to keeping cool and will help circulate air around the passenger. Universally designed to attach easily to most strollers, our Stroller Fan has an adjustable neck so you can position it wherever you need, and “small finger proof” guard to ensure curious little fingers are protected from the fan when in use.
Pack yourself a Summertime Essentials Kit containing the following items
- Water
- Band-aids / bandages
- Antibiotic cream for cuts and scrapes
- Sunscreen
- Aloe Vera gel or sunburn spray
- Insect repellent spray
- Epi pen (if travelling with someone who has any known allergies)
- Wet wipes / cooling wipes
- Benadryl
Keep everything together and secure in a backpack or stroller organizer, like Buggy Buddy XL 8-in-1, featuring four drink holders and two large, zippered pockets. Buggy Buddy XL is cleverly designed to be wearable across the body thanks to the detachable carry strap.
Other top tips
If you plan your journey, try to avoid peak sun hours between 10am – 4pm. This is when the sun’s rays are the most intense, giving you and your little ones a higher chance of getting a sunburn. This may sound obvious but check the weather ahead of time too, particularly the UV Index which predicts cloud movements, the sun’s position and other important stats.
To prevent dehydration kids should drink 12 ounces of fluid every 30 minutes before an activity. Kids under 90 pounds should drink five ounces of water every 20 minutes. A great way to help keep your child hydrated is to remember that a child’s gulp is about half an ounce of fluid, so 10 gulps every 20 minutes is ideal. Look out for warning signs of dehydration such as thirst, headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, extreme fatigue, irritability, or weakness. *Top tip! Remind your child that pool water is not for drinking. They may think it’s a good idea to stay hydrated by drinking while in the pool, but this can cause them to become unwell.
Travelling far? Diono strongly advise against using a rental car seat as you’re unlikely to know its history or if it is properly suitable. Instead, choose a car seat that can travel with you such as the Radian® model which is FAA Approved for airplane travel and folds easily to be carried. You can also purchase an additional carry strap or carry bag to coordinate and easily transport your car seat! Monterey® 5iST FixSafe folds compact for a booster with ultimate portability so you can take safety with you, wherever you go!
The most important thing to remember? Have fun! Taking precautions and following these steps recommended will become natural in no time, but it’s important to get into the habit of doing them sooner than later. It may seem like a lot to remember but in reality, they’re small steps to keep you and your family safe so you can make the most of your trip.
