quick clicks

recipes today articles

recipes today q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

A Picnic with Baby

Tips for a Perfect Picnic with Little Guests

By Beth Hering

In addition to avoiding sunburn, Dr. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician and co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn (AAP, 2005), says that parents should be on guard against dehydration and heat exhaustion. "Children are more prone to heat-related problems because their body surface area (exposed skin) is greater in relation to their body size than for adults," she says. "They may also be distracted by playing to the point that they don't realize they are thirsty, so be sure to offer fluid to active children every 20 to 30 minutes."

What would a picnic be without bugs? A whole lot more fun! Keep your food covered as much as possible to help stop the little critters from thinking they can join your celebration. Likewise, avoid wearing perfume, aftershave, scented baby lotion or other pleasant-smelling products that may attract pests. And choose your location carefully. A flower garden may be a pretty backdrop but be filled with bees.

The AAP recommends using repellents containing DEET as a defense against mosquitoes and ticks. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration of 30 percent, the maximum concentration currently recommended for infants and children. Products containing DEET, however, should not be used on children under 2 months of age. Dr. Shu recommends avoidance as the best defense for this age group, being especially careful to stay away from moist, swampy areas where mosquitoes collect.