When the summer heat is like a blazing furnace, especially if there is a heat wave like the one Egypt is experiencing at the moment, there is a tendency to go to the beach. No matter what social class their parents might belong to, kids and toddlers alike just want to splash about in the water during the heat — and it doesn’t matter whether it is a paddling pool, a swimming pool, a beach, a river, or a lake.
It doesn’t matter where the kids want to go, just as long as there is some sort of water source.
Young Yassin was seen busily building a sandcastle in one of the resorts on the North Coast recently. No matter how many times he pulled off his hat, his mother was keen to put it back on.
Every now and then, his mother could also be seen reapplying a fresh coat of sun block on her son’s delicate skin, necessary as he loves playing with sand and water.
“I use UV protection to cover the whole of his body. I am also trying to limit his time in direct sunlight, but sometimes we can’t help it,” Yassin’s mother said.
She recalls last year’s incident when her baby was sunburnt after being out in the sun for only an hour. She rushed to the hospital as he was only a few months old. She and her husband learned their lesson well — never take a baby to the beach unless it is after 5pm in the afternoon and he is wearing 100 per cent light cotton clothes.
She remembers that she went immediately to the hospital’s emergency department when she saw that Yassin’s skin was red. From last year’s incident, Yassin’s mother has learned to come to the beach fully equipped with all the necessary precautions to protect her child from the sun.
There are many precautions that should be taken to protect your child from hazards that could ruin your holiday. The Cleveland Clinic in the US recommends prioritising sun safety, hydration, heat safety, and water safety. This includes using sunscreen, staying hydrated, scheduling outdoor activities during cooler times, and supervising children near water.
During the summer months, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are at their strongest, and children under the age of 18 are the most at risk for skin damage. “I would never let my child go outside without protective clothing and sunscreen,” says Anna Grossberg, director of pediatric dermatology at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in the US.
In addition to wearing hats and shades and bringing an umbrella, the clinic says that sun-protective cream or lotion with a UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) of 50 is an excellent source of protection from harmful ultraviolet rays. A broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is necessary for all exposed skin. The sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially after sweating or swimming.
Some parents may think that not bathing a baby in summer is a form of over-protection. But “babies should bathe frequently as long as they sweat and the weather is hot. Do not leave your baby to sweat and do not over bathe a baby so that you do not make his or her skin dry out,” said Momen Saad Al-Melahy, a pediatrician in Damietta.
Another tip for parents is always to make sure your child drinks plenty of water. Many parents may ignore the heat of the car, but cars can be seriously hot in summer. Make sure you refresh your car by opening the windows before putting your baby in, Al-Melahy said.
“Do not leave your baby unattended at the beach or the pool even for a second. You do not know what might happen,” Al-Melahy said. “You must go to the emergency unit if there is a case of sunburn or if the baby is stung by a jellyfish or mosquitos.”
“For jellyfish, it is better to pour sea water and then warm water onto the affected area. If there is vinegar nearby, you should apply it on the affected skin immediately,” he said.
“Use 100 per cent cotton clothes, go to a well-shaded area, and do not expose your child to direct sunlight, especially from 11am to 4pm. Ensure your child drinks plenty of fluids, dress them in light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing, and stay indoors. Be aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses and seek medical attention if needed,” Al-Melahy said.
Besides the hazards of the sun’s rays, many children can be seen at resorts riding jet-skies, golf cars, bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, and taking part in many water and land activities. However, injuries from accidents can be serious.
Last week, a child lost his life because of a reckless jet-ski rider while he was on a boat with his friends. One person died and four others were injured when they were doing water sports activities at the Marseilia Beach Resort on the North Coast. The accident involved a jet ski colliding with a group of people near the shore. The driver, a young woman, lost control of the jetski, which was traveling at high speed in a designated swimming area. The authorities are investigating the incident.
“I have always feared water sports activities for my kids, but we cannot stop them when all the kids see the activities and want to try. However, there is no surveillance of who is driving and who is responsible, especially in private resorts. People rent or have their own skis, and adults race with children at the same time,” said Farouk Fathallah, a businessman.
Fathallah, the father of three children, said that every year there are accidents in which people lose their lives. Better precautions should be taken, he added.
“I hope there will be some sort of regulations that control water sports in private resorts. There should be lifeguards for all children under the age of 15, for example. There should be a schedule for kids and for adults,” Fathallah added, saying that he owns a yacht and two jetskis at Marina on the North Coast.
There are always alternative ways to make the children happy, even when staying at home, however. “I fill the paddling pool with water, and they splash around in the small pool on our balcony,” said Safia Zaitoun, the mother of three children in Cairo.
Zaitoun heads to Marsa Matrouh for one week in summer. However, this does not prevent her children from nagging her to put out the pool on summer mornings at home.
Since they cannot afford to go to swimming pools or beaches every day, Zaitoun and her husband have managed to create a toddler-friendly swimming pool at home. They used YouTube tutorials to create a simple inflatable pool, creating the perfect space for their young children.
“They wake up every morning excited to spend one hour or two in the pool. I have even realised that they eat better now and take their naps better, and their mood is much better during the day,” Zaitoun concluded.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 7 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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