With the onset of May-June months on the calendar, the mercury rises, and so does the heat. While we are busy increasing the fan regulator or checking the weather app, children are usually standing by the door with a cricket bat in hand or calling out to a friend to play. Thus, it becomes important to consult the best child doctor in Siliguri or a location of your convenience for effective guidance.
For children, a hot day is not a warning to stay indoors, but rather an invitation to spend a long afternoon running around and playing with friends. As the schools break for vacation, the summer brings a lot of enjoyment for the children. From outdoor cricket matches to an extra scoop of ice cream, the children get an opportunity to make the most of the holidays. However, the intense heat also brings dehydration, heatstroke, and seasonal infections.
According to experienced paediatricians like Dr Sumita Mishra, children are more vulnerable to dehydration and infections during summer, making preventive care extremely important.
Keeping a few proactive strategies in mind can help you navigate these months without worry. Ensuring our little ones stay safe while enjoying their vacation is the topmost priority of the parents.
How to keep kids healthy in summer:
• Keep them hydrated regularly
• Avoid outdoor play from 10 AM–4 PM
• Use sunscreen and cotton clothes
• Give fresh fruits and light meals
• Maintain hygiene and mosquito protection
Want to understand how everyday environmental factors affect your child’s health? Watch this video by Dr Sumita Mishra, where she shares practical safety tips every parent should follow.
This video complements the summer care tips shared below and helps parents understand how environmental factors impact children’s health.
10 Essential Summer Health Tips for Kids Every Parent Should Know
Here are 10 essential summer health tips that every parent should follow to keep their kids happy and healthy.
Hydration is the Golden Rule
Drinking water adequately is the most important thing your child needs after a long time playing outdoors in the sun. During the summer days, kids tend to lose water through sweat much faster than adults. Often, they are so busy playing that they do not realise they are thirsty until they feel tired or dizzy. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. Many parents notice their child becoming unusually quiet after playing in the sun. This is often the first sign of dehydration.
Make it fun: Instead of handing them a glass of plain water, you may try infusing it with slices of lemon, cucumber, or mint. Coconut Water can also be a natural hydrant, which is packed with electrolytes that keep the body balanced.
Set timings for their outdoor play
During the long summer days, the sun is overhead between 10:00 AM and 04:00 PM. Direct sun exposure during these hours is not only uncomfortable but also poses a risk of sunburn and heat exhaustion.
The Fix: Encourage your child to have an outdoor playtime only after 05:00 PM when the breeze is cooler, and the UV rays are less intense. During the peak heat hours, it is advised to go for indoor activities like reading, drawing, or board games.
Dress for the Heat
The clothes your child wears while playing outside can affect how their body handles the heat. Wearing dark colours or synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester traps sweat and heat against the skin, causing discomfort and skin rashes.
Cotton is the Preference: Choose loose-fitting, light coloured cotton clothes. Cotton is breathable and helps the sweat evaporate easily, which naturally cools down the body temperature. Putting on a cap before they head out to play in the sun can protect their faces and neck from direct sunburn.
Doctor’s Advice
“Children often don’t realise they are dehydrated until symptoms appear. Parents should encourage regular water intake even if the child is not thirsty.” — Dr Sumita Mishra, Paediatrician & Intensivist
Sunscreen is Non-Negotiable
Even a short 15-minute walk in the afternoon sun can cause a mild burn. Many parents notice redness on the cheeks after just 15–20 minutes of sun exposure. Even on cloudy days, UV rays are strong enough that can damage their sensitive young skin, causing itching and rashes.
The Fix: Applying a child-safe SPF sunscreen before your child sprints out towards the door is extremely essential. Apply it 20 minutes before they head out so it has enough time to soak in.
Eat light and Fresh seasonal Food
During the summer season, our digestive system can slow down a bit. Heavy, oily, and spicy meals can make your child feel lethargic and uncomfortable.
The Wayout: Summer is the season of mangoes, litchis, and a variety of fruits. Give your child a bowl of fresh fruits for breakfast along with the right portions of fibre and vegetables. Sticking to home-cooked and light meals keeps their gut healthy. Incorporating curd into their diet as a coolant can be beneficial for their stomach.
Eye Care is Essential
As parents, we often worry about our child’s skin and gut health during the summer, but forget about eye care. The bright glare of the summer sun can cause irritation and redness in children’s eyes.
Cold Washes: After your child returns home from playing outside, have them splash their eyes with cold water. This helps wash away the dust and helps soothe any kind of irritation from their eyes.
Beware of “Cold” Shocks
Once they return home, all sweating and tired from playing in the heat, their body temperature is usually quite high. During instances like these, it is very tempting to reach for a glass of iced-cold water or jump into a cold shower. However, a sudden drop in body temperature can shock the system, which can sometimes cause a sore throat or a mild fever.
The Cooling Down Period: It is always advised that you let your child rest for 20 minutes under the fan first. Once their body temperature stabilises to normal, they can have their cold drink or bath.
Never Leave a Child in a Parked Car
The temperature inside a parked car traps the sun's rays, acting like a greenhouse. This can raise the interior temperature by roughly 20 degrees Fahrenheit(approximately 11 degrees Celsius) in just 10 minutes. This can happen even if the windows are slightly cracked open.
The Fix: Even when running a short errand in the neighbourhood, never leave your child unattended in a vehicle. It can lead to fatal heatstroke within minutes.
Maintaining Good Hygiene
Summer often sees a spike in skin infections and skin irritation in children. Playing outdoors during the heat can cause sweating. And when sweat, along with dirt, sticks to the skin, it can lead to fungal or bacterial infections and rashes. Sweat left on the skin for long can quietly lead to rashes without parents noticing early.
The Fix: Parents are advised to make sure that their child takes a bath at least twice a day. Taking a bath in the morning and once after they return home from playing in the dust and dirt would ensure washing away the salt and bacteria from their sweat. Making sure their underarms are dry to prevent rashes and their nails are well trimmed to prevent dirt from settling under them.
Mosquito and Insect Protection
In humid sub-tropical areas, the onset of summer also means the arrival of mosquitoes and insects. Stagnant water during the early summers and monsoon days can become a breeding ground for many mosquitoes and disease-causing insects. Dengue and malaria mosquitoes particularly thrive in such unhygienic conditions.
Use Repellants: Before the children head outdoors to play in the evening, the parents are supposed to make sure their child uses patches or child-safe insect repellent creams that are suitable for their skin.
The Fix: It must also be ensured that there is no standing water in the flower pots or coolers around your home.
Also Read:-
How to Increase Immunity in a Child Naturally in India
The Importance of Preventive Care in Children
Child Dietician in Siliguri – Pediatric Nutrition & Growth Guidance
When to Visit a Child Doctor in Summer?
While most summer issues can be managed at home, some symptoms should never be ignored. If your child shows any of the following signs, it is important to seek medical help immediately:
- Fever that does not go down or keeps coming back, vomiting, or inability to keep fluids down
- Excess fatigue or unusual tiredness after minimal activity
- Skin rashes that worsen, spread, or cause discomfort
In such situations, it is always safer to consult a child specialist doctor in Siliguri for proper diagnosis and timely treatment. Experienced specialists like Dr Sumita Mishra can identify early warning signs and guide parents with the right care plan.
Expert Care for Your Child
While these tips will help you cover the basics and manage the daily summer heat, it is important to keep in mind that every child is different. If your child seems lethargic or develops a fever, it is best advised not to delay and consider medical help for your child. You can take expert advice on child healthcare during the summer from the best paediatrician in Siliguri or an expert you know.
For those residing in North Bengal, finding a reliable paediatrician for your child is a huge relief. Dr Sumita Mishra is a highly respected consultant paediatrician and paediatric intensivist who is known for her compassionate approach and her expertise in child care. Her clinic is a trusted space for families looking for the best for their little ones. Having a trusted doctor nearby ensures that any health problem is handled with professional care.
Final Thoughts
It is that time of the year when the days and the shadows get longer. It is the golden glow of the setting sun that marks the end of another adventurous day for the kids. Summer is the time for exploring, growth, and fun for the little school-goers. It is a season of afternoon football matches, juicy mangoes, and creating core memories with friends.
By keeping your child well-hydrated, dressed in comfortable cotton clothes, and avoiding the peak sun hours, you can ensure that your child has a wonderful summer vacation without any risks to their health. It is always advised that parents trust their gut and, in case something does not seem right, reach out to a paediatrician in Siliguri.
Early medical attention can prevent minor summer issues from becoming serious health concerns. If your child shows signs of dehydration, fever, or unusual tiredness, don’t ignore it. Book a consultation with Dr Sumita Mishra today and ensure your child stays safe and healthy this summer.
15-04-2026
