What I learnt this weekend....

[Hollytigs]

I took my daughters to Legoland on Saturday, and it was about 77degF (very hot for May in London). I learnt that....

- My DD6 does not do well in heat (she was ill for the rest of the weekend with sunstroke because she refused to wear a hat). We go to WDW in Aug
- My DD6 will definately need a stroller in WDW.
- Both daughters were done by 1pm. (DD1 slept for 2 hours in the afternoon - she usually only sleeps for about 30 mins)

It was a good test run for WDW, and I have changed plans to incorporate lots of rest time. Also DD6 has agreed that she WILL wear a hat next time I tell her to!

 

[Hollytigs]

Maybe that should be 'learned'? Does anyone have a dictionary?

 

[Kae]

Make sure you all drink plenty of water. Another thing take some plastic baggies put a wet wash cloth & some ice cubes in it you can replenish at CS places. Use it to wipe your faces or put on the back of their necks &/or pulse points.

Kae

 

[livndisney]

I bought a few of the Disney wash cloths and freeze them the night before. DD is a different child holding one of those to her neck LOL

 

[Hollytigs]

Thanks, that's a good tip. DD6 seems to really struggle with the heat, she always looks red when its warm outside and sweats all night in bed.

 

[NotUrsula]

This is the US Centers for Disease Control FAQ on heat-related illness: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/faq.asp

Being flushed usually isn't very dangerous as long as you are also sweating a lot -- it's being really pale whilst sweating that is a serious danger signal. A child who looks that way in the heat needs active cooling measures right away (wet cloths, cool bath, etc.) If she then became flushed without sweating, it would be crucial to call an ambulance immediately; that is a sign of true heat stroke, and that can be deadly very quickly. (I mean that literally.)

A hat alone won't prevent heat exhaustion; you'll need to do more than that, especially if she was wiped out by heat in the upper 70's. Florida in August is twenty degrees Fahrenheit hotter than that for most of the afternoon, with humidity averaging about 20 points higher than what Windsor would have at that temp on a sunny day. REALLY push fluids, and plan to keep her out of the theme parks from about 11 am until 5 pm; you'll need to do the bulk of your park touring at night and in the early mornings. Plan on a wide-brimmed hat AND sunglasses for daytime -- dark ones. They will help to prevent headaches when she's been in the sun.

Practice now walking in heat; she needs to be somewhat conditioned to it before your trip. Work her up to at least 2 miles on sunny days until she can do it without a buggy. (The average adult guest at WDW walks at least 8 miles per day; being able to do two is a good base level for an active school-aged child.)

 

[bedillamouse]

We went last June...I told my Dh never again in the heat and that wasn't as bad....I totally understand. Everyone thinks I have a sunburn when it's just heat. I've had two heat strokes and they do make me more sensitive to the heat. The mister fans were a lifesaver for me and my girls. Like a pp said the washcloths for around the neck and such help too. Just try and add air conditioned events or rides in between being outside.

Good Luck!!! I'm sure once you're there for a day or two you'll notice when to take breaks and get their routine down.

 

[PrincessNana]

You need to plan your days carefully. If you're staying on site, I would go to the parks in the morning, go back to your hotel for the afternoon and then go back to the parks in the evening. While at the parks, plan on one or two rides and then do an indoor show with ac. My dil and grandkids are all redheads (they don't do well in the heat) and this plan has worked for us on our last two visits. Our vacation time is usually in July which is also very hot and humid. Good luck and have fun!

 

[Astro Orbiter]

Wouldn't you rather learn those lessons now? Even when we lived in Florida, heading to WDW and tromping all over the parks wiped all of us out. You'll be sweating buckets in August.

Have your DD help in picking out a hat - she's more likely to wear it. Some kids like bucket hats, some like baseball caps. My DD's favorite is a hot pink baseball cap with a sparkly butterfly. She won't wear the cute bucket hats anymore. Function over fashion!

Same goes for sunglasses - and the cute ones with the colored lenses are not as good as regular dark lenses. Have her wear them for more than 30 seconds in the store if possible to make sure there's no pinching behind the ears. When you take them off, hold them, don't put them away. You'll get them back on quicker.

Drink, drink, and keep drinking. Someone told me once that by the time you're thirsty you're already dehydrated. So every time you think of it, grab the water bottle and everyone takes a drink.

Naps are good! We all get eyestrain after being out all day - grownups more than kids, it seems - and we're all happier after 45 minutes in a dim hotel room, even if everyone doesn't sleep. Pool is NOT a substitute for sitting! My DD won't relax at the pool; she makes a friend and won't slow down until she feels like throwing up.

And practice walking! It takes more out of you than you think. After just a few weeks of walking to our new school (0.6 mi) I noticed a real change in DD's stamina. We walked 1 mile on a field trip and she was right with the pack; some kids were struggled.

So, having just moved from S Florida to S California, you'd think I'd know all this. But we went to Seaworld last weekend with...no hats...new sunglasses with blue lenses (pinched behind the ears, didn't darken enough to protect against the sun). I did have enough water, though!

Deb

 

[teachallday]

This is an issue with my little 7 year old princess

I found these clothes that I will be getting for our trip this August. They are called Chilly Pad. According to the description "When wet,the towel becomes considerably cooler than the outside air, thereby providing cooling relief to the user. When it stops cooling (between 1-4 hours depending on conditions), you simply re-wet the towel in hot or cold water and wring it out. Within minutes it is cool again. "

If these work the way they claim, they should help with the issue.
http://www.froggtoggs.com/store/choose.asp?ItemNum=CP100&ItemType=%

 

[Hollytigs]

Thanks for all your replies. My DD has a brain disorder which affects her mobility, so although she did manage to walk around Legoland for a couple of hours, she was exhausted, and I wished I had a buggy, so I will definately need one for WDW. Also, I thing my younger daughter didn't have a problem so much because she was in the shade of the buggy all the time.

Unfortunately, DD can't wear sunglasses because she is partially sighted, so she needs her normal glasses all the time.

I have bought a misting fan, and some cooling spray, and I plan to leave the parks by midday every day, and then return in the evening. I also thought that if she is getting hot, we will grab a show in an air conditioned room.

Good tip about letting them choose their own hats - I will definately try that one!

Does everyone find it is better for the kids to have a very light longer sleeve / leg clothes to cover up from the sun, or shorter sleeves / legs for keeping cool?

 

[NHdisneylover]

You have gotten lots of good sugestions already, here are a few more ideas from a mom whose kids do not handle heat well at all either:

1. Make your big sit down meal for the day be LUNCH. We always do this as it gets us indoors into the A/C during the hotest and sunniest part of the day. At lunch get drinks and encourage everyone to have sip a full glass and unwind and chit caht for at least 15 minutes before ordering. I find when we are hot we don't feel hungry and we have to unwind in the coolness for a it before anyone even really feels like eating. Sometiems DS never really eats anything but he'll down 3-4 glases of chocolate milk and maybe eat a piece of fruit. The milk has calcium and protien and calories and keeps him hydrated which is a nu,ber one priority so I am okay with him eating less so long as he is drinking.

2. Plan your days to include dhitting many indoor shows and attractions during the heat of the day so you are out in the heat much less.

3. All the counter service places will give you free ice water for the asking any time--we get these and sip them often.

4. Wear clothes and shoes that are reasonably comfortale wet and let them run in the fountains often to cool off.

5. My kids used to like to wear a plain white bucket hat. We took along 3-4 colors of sharpies and the kids had the characters sign the hats. It helped encourage them to keep the hat on.

6. Can you get perscription sunglasses for your daughter? I don't know how they would work with her specific vision problems but if she can have them I would really suggest it. DD12 used to keep the sunglasses on one strap and the regular ones on another and switch glasses as she went in and out all day long (with the other pair hanging around her neck). She couldn't have made it through in the Florida glare without sun glasses. Last year I forked over the money to get her transitions lenses (which automtically adjust to the lighting) and it has been totally worth it for her.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks for all your replies. My DD has a brain disorder which affects her mobility, so although she did manage to walk around Legoland for a couple of hours, she was exhausted, and I wished I had a buggy, so I will definately need one for WDW. Also, I thing my younger daughter didn't have a problem so much because she was in the shade of the buggy all the time.

Unfortunately, DD can't wear sunglasses because she is partially sighted, so she needs her normal glasses all the time.

I have bought a misting fan, and some cooling spray, and I plan to leave the parks by midday every day, and then return in the evening. I also thought that if she is getting hot, we will grab a show in an air conditioned room.

Good tip about letting them choose their own hats - I will definately try that one!

Does everyone find it is better for the kids to have a very light longer sleeve / leg clothes to cover up from the sun, or shorter sleeves / legs for keeping cool?

We go for light weight cottons with short sleeves (long sleeves get to hot for them but having exposed shoulders from strapy sun dresses or take tops puts too much sun on their shoulders and makes it worse--so longer short sleeves seems to work best) and longer shorts or capris. They don't like the feel of hot seats on their legs when sitting down so wear something long enough to sit with fabric under the whole thigh. We also find loose fitting clothes really help. DD likes dresses with no waist band--finds that coolest. Remember that dark colors will absorb the heat so go for whites and pastels and leave the pretty bright things at home.

 

[mdsouth]

Thanks for all your replies. My DD has a brain disorder which affects her mobility, so although she did manage to walk around Legoland for a couple of hours, she was exhausted, and I wished I had a buggy, so I will definately need one for WDW. Also, I thing my younger daughter didn't have a problem so much because she was in the shade of the buggy all the time.

Unfortunately, DD can't wear sunglasses because she is partially sighted, so she needs her normal glasses all the time.

I have bought a misting fan, and some cooling spray, and I plan to leave the parks by midday every day, and then return in the evening. I also thought that if she is getting hot, we will grab a show in an air conditioned room.

Good tip about letting them choose their own hats - I will definately try that one!

Does everyone find it is better for the kids to have a very light longer sleeve / leg clothes to cover up from the sun, or shorter sleeves / legs for keeping cool?

The double strollers (or buggies as you Brits call them) are great. My DS who was 8 at the time rode in one with my DD2. He would alternate between walking on his own and ridind during the day at the parks. It gave him a chance to be out of the sun and rest his legs. The stroller was relatively-y easy to push. Tip: When you rent a stroller in one park, all you have to do is show the tag (receipt) in a different park on the same day and there is no extra charge. Also, the multi-day rental will save you a bit of money. You also used to get a refund of sorts for turning in the stroller yourself as you leave the park instead of just leaving it in the park somewhere.

Having a hat that can be used to get autographs is a good one. The mister fans are also lifesavers.