u/MangoBird36

Hello, I shared a post in a nanny sub that blew up into a debate about the safety of toddlers being out in high heat, so I’ve come here to info gather.

The literature seems robust on longer term relationships between heat exposure in utero through childhood and negative behavioral, health, and developmental outcomes. But this hasn’t seemed to translate into meaningful guidance across childhood from say, AAP. Some very kind (/s) commenters pointed out that their recs only apply to infants defined as 0-12 months.

Do people who know more than me have any sense of what temp or heat index is safe for going outside at different ages, and how long it’s safe to stay out? This all stemmed from a nanny taking my kid out in 91-96+ heat index for more than two hours today (not doing water activities - think playground and stroller, lots of sun) which I thought was too much. Thank you!

Edit: changed flair to research required in hopes that might be a lower bar than expert guidance

We have a nanny filling in part time. We liked her so much we were thinking about how we could keep working with her long term. Until today.

She took my 17 month old out just after 9 am. It was already 86/87 degrees with a heat index over 90. I asked her more than once to be back by 11. She often takes him on long adventures which in better weather is great, but I was very clear that it’s too hot to be out long. This is the first hot day he’s been out so he’s not acclimated (and he’s super pale so sun is also a concern).

At 11:05 they’re not back and the heat index is 96, temp is over 90. I text and she says they’re close. They get back 11:15 and she sends me a picture of him looking super hot and disheveled, sitting in the swing out front. I come outside and grab him, bring him inside, give him a popsicle, and am visibly not happy, explaining that it’s too hot to be out that long (unless at a pool etc). She keeps saying he’s fine. I offered water - “he just had some” with a snippy tone. She will not apologize or even acknowledge that this wasn’t ok. I say, toddlers can’t regulate their body temperatures the way we do - “I know that” with a snarl. I finally say, as you know, I have an electrolyte disorder that regularly lands me in the ER for fluids - I don’t know if he has the same condition but it runs in my family. She says he’s fine, he’s happy. She was acting like I’m insane to have any reaction.

When my husband gets home, he lets her explain what happened and she said I “freaked out” which is both far from the truth and nuts to say to your employer.

Question: she’s only scheduled to work one more day with us. Do we fire her now? Is that justified, or am I indeed being too sensitive? FWIW my husband is a teacher and their outside recess was cancelled today due to heat.

Thanks for any feedback

We have a nanny filling in part time. We liked her so much we were thinking about how we could keep working with her long term. Until today.

She took my 17 month old out just after 9 am. It was already 86/87 degrees with a heat index over 90. I asked her more than once to be back by 11. She often takes him on long adventures which in better weather is great, but I was very clear that it’s too hot to be out long. This is the first hot day he’s been out so he’s not acclimated (and he’s super pale so sun is also a concern).

At 11:05 they’re not back and the heat index is 96, temp is over 90. I text and she says they’re close. They get back 11:15 and she sends me a picture of him looking super hot and disheveled, sitting in the swing out front. I come outside and grab him, bring him inside, give him a popsicle, and am visibly not happy, explaining that it’s too hot to be out that long (unless at a pool etc). She keeps saying he’s fine. I offered water - “he just had some” with a snippy tone. She will not apologize or even acknowledge that this wasn’t ok. I say, toddlers can’t regulate their body temperatures the way we do - “I know that” with a snarl. I finally say, as you know, I have an electrolyte disorder that regularly lands me in the ER for fluids - I don’t know if he has the same condition but it runs in my family. She says he’s fine, he’s happy. She was acting like I’m insane to have any reaction.

When my husband gets home, he lets her explain what happened and she said I “freaked out” which is both far from the truth and nuts to say to your employer.

Question: she’s only scheduled to work one more day with us. Do we fire her now? Is that justified, or am I indeed being too sensitive? FWIW my husband is a teacher and their outside recess was cancelled today due to heat.

Thanks for any feedback

We have a nanny filling in part time. We liked her so much we were thinking about how we could keep working with her long term. Until today.

She took my 17 month old out just after 9 am. It was already 86/87 degrees with a heat index over 90. I asked her more than once to be back by 11. She often takes him on long adventures which in better weather is great, but I was very clear that it’s too hot to be out long. This is the first hot day he’s been out so he’s not acclimated (and he’s super pale so sun is also a concern).

At 11:05 they’re not back and the heat index is 96, temp is over 90. I text and she says they’re close. They get back 11:15 and she sends me a picture of him looking super hot and disheveled, sitting in the swing out front. I come outside and grab him, bring him inside, give him a popsicle, and am visibly not happy, explaining that it’s too hot to be out that long (unless at a pool etc). She keeps saying he’s fine. I offered water - “he just had some” with a snippy tone. She will not apologize or even acknowledge that this wasn’t ok. I say, toddlers can’t regulate their body temperatures the way we do - “I know that” with a snarl. I finally say, as you know, I have an electrolyte disorder that regularly lands me in the ER for fluids - I don’t know if he has the same condition but it runs in my family. She says he’s fine, he’s happy. She was acting like I’m insane to have any reaction.

When my husband gets home, he lets her explain what happened and she said I “freaked out” which is both far from the truth and nuts to say to your employer.

Question: she’s only scheduled to work one more day with us. Do we fire her now? Is that justified, or am I indeed being too sensitive? FWIW my husband is a teacher and their outside recess was cancelled today due to heat.

Thanks for any feedback