Babies become overheated much more quickly than adults. Babies rely on caregivers to help keep them safe by dressing them properly, keeping them hydrated, and moving them to a cooler place when needed. When it’s hot, your baby will need to breastfeed/chestfeed more often. Formula fed babies under six months will need more formula if they are thirsty. You may also offer sips of water from a cup if your baby is older than six months.

Keeping Baby Comfortable Indoors

• Dress your baby in an undershirt and diaper or diaper only. Dress your older child in loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing made from a breathable fabric. 
• Place the crib or bassinet in the coolest room. 
• A fan can help keep the room cool. Fans should never blow directly on the baby and should be out of baby’s reach. 
• Mist your baby using a spray bottle filled with cool water or use cool wash cloths to make your baby more comfortable. 
• Bathe your child in a cool bath until your child feels refreshed. Always supervise your child in the bath. 
• If you have air conditioning, your home may be cool enough. 
• If you’re comfortable, then your baby probably is too. 

Keeping Baby Comfortable Outdoors

Take a break from the heat by spending a few hours in a cooler place.

• When outdoors, look for a shady, breezy place. Tree-shaded areas could be as much as 5ºC/9ºF cooler than the surrounding area. 
• Infants under six months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the strongest. 
• Keep your child in the shade or protected from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed, breathable hat or shade them with an umbrella. 
• If the sun cannot be avoided, cover baby in light long sleeve tops, long pants and a hat. 
• For babies over six months, it is okay to use sunscreen. Use sunscreen on exposed areas, like face, ears, neck and back of hands. Reapply sunscreen every two hours and after swimming. 

Your baby might be too hot if they…

• feel hot to you (check the back of the neck and abdomen) 
• are sweating 
• have a heat rash (looks like tiny pink pimples surrounded by pink skin) 
• look unwell 
• become floppy, weak or less active 
• are irritable 
• have skin that feels dry 
• refuse to drink 
• have fewer wet diapers than usual 

If your baby is hot

• Breastfeed/chestfeed more often 
• Bottle-fed babies may need extra formula 
• You may offer sips of water from a cup if your baby is older than 6 months and taking solids 
• Take baby to a cooler location

About Heat Stroke

Heat stroke occurs when the body overheats and loses too much water.

Heat stroke can damage the body’s organs and cause death and is a medical emergency.  

• Seek immediate medical care. Call 911 or your local emergency number right away, or take your baby to the nearest hospital, nursing station or health centre  
• While waiting for medical treatment: move baby to the shade or indoors and use damp cloths to cool your baby down. 
• If your baby is conscious and able to swallow, try to get them to breastfeed/chestfeed or drink fluids. 

Signs of heat stroke include:

• rising body temperature 
• less urine than usual 
• increased thirst (but as baby gets weaker, he or she may drink less) 
• dry mouth and eyes 
• headache 
• muscle cramps 
• baby seems sleepy 
• confusion 
• shortness of breath 
• vomiting 
• coma (not waking when touched or called)

References

• Sun Safety – Caring for Kids
• Protecting Children from Extreme Heat Information for Parents – Healthy Children (AAP)
• Protect Your Child from Extreme Heat – Health Canada 
• The Effect of High and Low Ambient Temperature on Infant Health, D.P. Lakhoo et al.