Expert Tips for Keeping Baby Safe When It’s Hot Out

1. Keep an Eye on the Heat Index
How hot is too hot for a baby to go outside? There’s no hard cutoff, but a heat index at or above 90º F (which can occur even at temperatures of 75° F to 80° F) can pose a health risk to babies and toddlers, says Amin. If you can avoid being outside during peak sun hours (typically 10 am to 4 pm), that’s ideal, says Sarah Sams, MD, FAAFP, and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians board of directors. “Take any short walks in the early morning or evening while the sun is low and it’s cooler out.”

In infants and toddlers, pay close attention to signs like rapid breathing or heart rate, unusual fussiness, or seeming very quiet and hard to rouse, Amin says. “These can all signal heat-related stress. If these symptoms aren’t improving with rest, hydration, and cooling, it’s important to seek medical attention,” she says. 

Other signs of heat exhaustion in children:

• A body temperature between 100º F and 104º F
• Cool, clammy skin despite being in the heat 
• Dizziness, weakness, fatigue, or unusual behavior
• Headache, nausea, or vomiting 
• Heavy sweating or unusual irritability 

Your child may have their own characteristic way they respond to heat, which is important to notice. “My youngest son’s cheeks turn very pink when he’s overheated,” says Darria Long Gillespie, MD, an emergency medicine physician, clinical assistant professor at the University of Tennessee School of Medicine, and founder of No Panic Parenting. “I always tell my patients to pay attention to your child, not the number,” she says, because kids can respond to high temperatures differently. Maybe your child becomes sluggish or gets particularly hot feet or a steamy head. Whatever the signs, watch your child’s individual clues to know when it’s time to cool off, quickly.

It can be tempting to leave the windows down and your child strapped in while you run to drop off a package or return a library book, but hot cars are always a risk—and in the summer months, leaving a child inside a car for even a few minutes is especially dangerous. “On an 85° F day, the inside of a car can reach 100° F in 10 minutes, even with the windows cracked,” says Amin. If you’ve got errands to run, make sure you bring your child into the store with you, or save those to-dos for another day when you’re able to head out solo.

And while no parent thinks they’d ever accidentally forget their child in a hot back seat, studies have shown that hot car fatalities can happen to anyone. “It’s a heartbreaking and preventable danger, so always double-check the back seat and use visual reminders if needed,” says Amin, like putting your child’s hat or bottle in the front seat with you, or putting your own bag in the back seat with your child. 

Long Gillespie says stroller covers are usually marketed as a way to keep babies safe from the sun, but they can create a greenhouse effect in hot weather. “Anything that creates a seal over your car seat or stroller can prevent airflow and cause your baby to overheat,” she says. Instead, use the canopy that comes with your stroller rather than adding a cloth cover or muslin over the opening—even if it’s lightweight and light in color. 

If you have to head outside with your little one, take lots of breaks and try to stick to shaded areas as much as possible. Dress your child in lightweight, loose-fitting, breathable fabrics like cotton or bamboo, says Amin, which will allow airflow and not trap heat. Be careful not to overdress them—layers aren’t necessary, says Long Gillespie. “Your child will overheat before you do, so if you’re hot, your baby will already be overheated.”

If your baby is under 6 months of age, they should not be drinking water, says Sams. “They receive hydration and nutrients from breastmilk or formula, and water can actually be dangerous to them. Their kidneys are still developing and are not able to process large amounts of free water, which can alter the sodium levels in their blood.” 

Toddlers, on the other hand, are different. “In most cases, toddlers can drink as much water as they want,” says Sams. Stop for frequent breastfeeding or bottle breaks with your baby and keep a water bottle on hand for a toddler, reminding them to sip often. Don’t forget cold water for yourself! 

If your baby or toddler is starting to show signs of overheating, like flushed cheeks, sweating (yes, babies can sweat, just not as much as older kids or adults), or crankiness, it’s time to bring them out of the heat. Look out for heat rash, too, says Long Gillespie. If you’re seeing a red rash start to appear around skin folds, bring your child to a place where they don’t need to be sweating as much to stay cool, she says.

Here’s how to quickly cool down a hot baby or toddler:

• Bring them to a place with air conditioning.
• Make sure to remove any extra clothing.
• Put a lukewarm or cool washcloth on their skin, on the back of their neck, and on their cheeks to help them cool down—just make sure it’s not super cold.
• Give them extra fluids, whether breastmilk or formula for babies under 6 months or water for older children.