I have always remembered that when it has been hot in the UK, we opened all the windows and the doors to let the air in. I don’t know why we do that, is it because we rarely get the heat that we want to make the most of it or is it that our houses are built differently to keep us warm during the main part of the cold and miserable year? Living in France for the past 3 years, I have learnt a few tips to keep us cooler during the high temperatures that easily get into the 40s here.
- Keep your windows and curtains closed. This will keep the sun and heat out of the building. The reason you see shutters on windows when you go on holiday to France or Spain is to keep the heat out during the summer, and in during the Winter. If you want to open the windows, do it during the night to let some cooler air in and then shut them again in the morning. Just remember that by doing this, you may need a mosquito net to stop anything flying or crawling in. We left our window open during the night without a net and ended up with a bat flying into the bedroom!
- Heat rises so if you can, open the loft hatch to let the air escape easily through the roof.
- If you have manual work to do, try to do it first thing in the morning or in the evenings. Again, when on holiday in France or Spain, you will see most things shut between 12-2, this is lunch or siesta time when the sun is at its hottest. The same applies to exercise, if you want to get out, go early. We go out for a walk with Morgana before breakfast and taking Lucas to school as after, it’s too hot.
- Sleep with as little on as you can manage, I am one of those people that can’t sleep naked but if you can, go for it. Forget having the duvet on, if you want something over you, use a cotton or linen sheet. You can also put your pyjamas and sheets in the freezer until you are ready for bed.
- Have cool showers and leave your hair wet, Summer is not the time for blow drying your hair! Wear your hair up during the day.
- Splash your face with cool water, Lucas uses a Spray fan, I regularly spritz my face with my Tropic skincare morning mist toner
- An obvious one, but drink plenty of water and cold drinks to stay hydrated. Be careful with alcohol and drinks that contain caffeine that will dehydrate you.
- Wear loose cotton or linen clothing and flat shoes. Staying covered is actually better than wearing as little as possible because when your skin is exposed to the sun, it is heating up, and being covered with loose clothing, keeps your skin cooler.
- If you are babywearing, use a thin carrier and the baby can just wear a nappy, covered with a muslin cover. I use the Connecta Solar carrier with Morgana. Unfortunately, they are no longer made so unless you find one second-hand, I have been told that the alternatives are Integra Solar and KahuBaby Sunshine. I use a muslin carrier cover draped over her. It has poppers to keep it onto the straps of the carrier and keeps Morgana’s bare legs and arms out of the sun. As it is muslin, it’s lightweight and absorbs any sweat.
- Put suncream on before you get dressed. This makes sure that you haven’t missed any areas such as around straps, or necklines. It also stops suncream from ruining your clothes. Let it soak in before getting dressed.
- Put your feet in cold water when you are sitting and relaxing, this is great to do when you are sitting down to breastfeed!
- Use a cooling towel. A simple towel that could be used in many ways. Sweat towel, scarf, headband, bandana, whenever you feel like some cooling down. It’s a piece of ‘special’ thin fabric that you wet, and then shake, it goes very cold and stays that way for several hours. They are reusable, so eco-friendly and no power is required.
- If you have a fan, place frozen bottles of water or bowls of ice in front of it. Keep fans on and doors open to let the air circulate.
- Sit in the shade outside. We have put a quick drying blanket down in the garden under where the trees keep it shaded. It’s easy to go and sit out there and lovely when there is a breeze.
