Top Tips On How To Keep Your Baby Cool During Hot Weather

When the sun finally shines, us Brits tend to get very excited about it, making sure we spend as much time soaking up the rays as possible. However, babies, particularly ones who aren’t used to the heat, can become very hot very quickly when the temperature climbs, so it is essential to make sure they remain cool. 

Here are some tips on how to keep infants comfortable during those sporadic hot days over the summer. 

Clothes

You might want to dress your baby in gorgeous summer dresses or romper suits, but the hotter it is, the less they will want to wear. 

Having several layers on, as well as a thick nappy, can cause them to overheat, so opt for fewer clothes. Something light-coloured and lightweight will be best, as it attracts the sun less than darker outfits and doesn’t retain the heat.

Choose a breathable fabric like cotton, and make sure you put a brimmed hat on the baby, particularly if they don’t have hair yet, as it is essential to protect their scalp. A hat with a long flap at the back also keeps their neck safe from the sun.

You could simply put them in a short-sleeved onesie instead of an outfit or, on really hot days, they might just prefer to be in their nappy. However, it is important to keep their sun cream topped up to protect their skin from burning. 

The NHS recommends putting an SPF of at least 30 on their skin, making sure it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. You could also get some sun protective clothing like swimming tops, as this will prevent their bodies getting sunburnt. 

Nursery

Babies are unable to sweat as well as adults, which means they cannot regulate their body temperature. Therefore, babies can become very hot when they are sleeping, particularly if they have thick black out blinds to keep the light out. 

The best thing to do is keep their rooms as cool as possible by closing their curtains during the day to stop the sunlight entering the room when it is at its strongest. 

However, if you have blackout blinds as well, it could be wise to raise these while keeping the curtains closed, as they can make a room heat up very quickly when remaining shut. 

It is also sensible to close the windows so hot air is kept outside, and only open them in the early morning and evenings as it is cooler outside at these times. Opening the windows will allow a natural breeze to carry through the house, helping to circulate cool air around. 

The ideal room temperature for a baby is between 16C and 20C and the best way to find out whether your nursery is too hot or cold is by using a room thermometer. 

If it regularly exceeds 20C, it could be a good idea to have a fan in the room, keeping it out of reach of any crawlers. You could also put a bowl of ice in front of it so it moves the cold air around the room. 

When it comes to dressing a baby for naptime or bedtime, you can strip away the bedding, so they don’t have a sleeping sack or blanket and aren’t swaddled, dressing them only in a nappy. It is also a good idea to avoid using waterproof or synthetic sheets, as these can make them very hot, and stick with cotton ones instead. 

Travel

Travelling around on a hot day can be particularly difficult, whether the baby is in a carrier, pram or car seat. 

It is essential to keep an eye on them to check whether they are overheating, especially if they are asleep. For instance, they might be very warm to touch or sweating a lot. 

If they are awake, they might appear lethargic or weak and be extremely thirsty, wanting to be fed more often. 

Although you need to keep them out of direct sunlight, do not drape a blanket over the stroller or baby car seat. This could lead to poor air circulation, increase the chance of overheating, and poses suffocation risks. They also stop you seeing signs of distress in the baby if they are kept under covers. 

Travel systems these days have good ventilation and you could attach a parasol or canopy to it to provide them with extra shade from the sun. 

When travelling in a car, do not leave the baby unattended as the temperature of a vehicle can escalate quickly. If their body temperature rises too high, this can lead to central nervous system dysfunction and could even be fatal. 

It is also sensible to park in a shaded area, so the car isn’t too hot when you come back to it. 

If you usually travel around with a baby carrier, you might find these become particularly hot and clammy during a heatwave. Choose a lightweight nylon one instead of a heavier fabric, as this will help avoid overheating. 

Don’t forget to follow sling safety guidance at all times, particularly if you are worried about them getting too hot. 

Hydration

The most important thing to do on a hot day is keep your baby hydrated. For infants younger than six months old who cannot yet have water, this means giving them plenty of milk. 

The composition of breast milk changes in hot weather, so you do not need to give any other drink.

Breastfeeding expert Jane Dickens says: “If you are breastfeeding, your body will adapt your milk to meet your baby’s specific needs, so will produce more hydrating milk on hot days in response to your baby’s needs.”

Formula-fed babies are likely to need more frequent feeds to stay hydrated, so don’t worry about sticking to a milk schedule on these days. 

Those older than six months cna have sips of water in between their milk feeds to replenish their fluids. They could also have fresh fruit, salad, or frozen lollies, either made from breastmilk or very weak fruit juice. 

Cool down with water

One of the best ways to cool a baby down in the summer is with water. From sprinkling a muslin with cold water and laying it on their feet to giving them a tepid bath in the middle of the day, water helps to lower their body temperature and keep them safe.

Paddling pools are a good idea, as long as the baby is held or in a float ring with a seat, and they are kept in the shade. It is also sensible to avoid being in the sunlight between 1000 and 1600, even if splashing in the paddling pool looks tempting. 

A cool, but not cold, bath can help to settle them down as well, but avoid drying them too much. As the moisture evaporates from their skin, it takes some of the heat with it, so being slightly damp will actually help them to stay cool after their wash.