Babies in hot weather
9-minute read
See a doctor or call healthdirect to speak to a registered nurse on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) if your baby:
- looks unwell
- is refusing to drink
- has fewer wet nappies than usual
- is vomiting
Key facts
- In hot weather, babies and young children are at risk of becoming overheated and being affected by heat.
- In hot weather, ensure your baby stays hydrated by offering additional breastfeeds, formula, or cooled boiled water (for babies over 6 months).
- Keep your baby’s sleep environment cool by making sure their cot is in a cool and ventilated area of the house, your baby is not overdressed and padding is removed from their cot.
- When it is hot, dress your baby comfortably in loose clothing.
- Never leave your baby in a parked car as cars can overheat very quickly.
How does hot weather affect my baby?
Hot conditions can put your baby at risk of overheating. Overheating can be dangerous for their health. Babies and young children do not sweat as much as adults, making it hard for them to cool down. They are unable to regulate their body temperatures like adults. For this reason, it is very important to prevent your baby from overheating.
How can I keep my baby safe in the heat?
Here are some tips to keep your baby safe in the heat:
- Offer your baby extra drinks — if your baby is younger than 6 months, this should be breastfeeds or formula. If your baby is older than 6 months you can offer them small amounts of cooled boiled water after or between their feeds.
- During feeding times, place a towel or sheet between you and your baby to avoid skin contact, which generates heat.
- If you are breastfeeding, make sure you are drinking plenty of water too.
- Dress your baby in light and loose clothing.
- Stay inside during very hot days. If you must go out, keep your outings short and try to stay in the shade.
- Never leave your baby in a car, even for a short amount of time. The temperature in a parked car can quickly climb to very dangerous levels.
Read more on heat-related illness in babies.
How can I keep my baby cool when they are sleeping?
Here are some tips to keep your baby cool when they are sleeping:
- Make sure that air can move around your baby by removing any padding around their cot.
- Use cotton sheets to absorb sweat and keep your baby comfortable.
- Use curtains or blinds to block out direct sunlight where practical.
- Think about moving your baby's cot to a cooler, well-ventilated room in the house.
- If it’s cooler outside, keep the windows open to maintain airflow. If you are in a hot climate, use an air conditioner or a fan. Make sure that the cool air doesn't blow directly on them.
Remember to put your baby to sleep according to the safe sleeping guidelines. Place your baby on their back to sleep and make sure their head is uncovered.
During hot weather, your baby’s sleep patterns may change. They may be sleepier in the hotter parts of the day and have bursts of energy when it cools down.
Never leave your baby to sleep in a pram.
Your baby should not be too hot when they are sleeping. Research shows there can be a connection between overheating and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
How can I protect my baby when we're outside?
If you need to take your baby out on a hot day, the Cancer Council has recommendations about sun safety and how to slip, slop, slap, seek and slide.
It is important you follow recommendations because babies and young children can easily get sunburnt in Australia, even on cooler or overcast days. The damage the sun does to your baby’s skin is cumulative. This means that the more they are exposed to the sun or the more they have been sunburnt, the higher their risk of skin cancer is.
It is not recommended to put sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months. This is because their skin is very absorptive.
Try to stay indoors with your baby during the hottest part of the day and plan activities that are indoors.
You can check the weather forecast for your area on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
Download the Cancer Council SunSmart app to find out the UV levels in your location.
In a baby capsule or a pram
An enclosed baby capsule or pram can get very hot. Make sure that air can flow around your baby when they're in their baby capsule or pram.
You can drape a light-coloured and moist muslin cloth over the pram with a fan blowing air inwards.
You should not cover your baby’s capsule or pram with a dry cloth. This is because it increases the temperature in the baby capsule or pram. It also makes it harder for you to see if your baby is suffering from heat stress. When you are out and about with your baby, make sure that you regularly look to see how they are.
In the car
When driving in the car, you can use sunshades on the windows to protect your baby. Never leave your baby in a car, even for a short time. The temperature in a parked car can quickly climb to dangerous levels.
Read more about sun and heat protection for babies and kids.
How can I tell if my baby is too hot?
To check how warm your baby is, place your hand on their chest or back. This will give you a better idea of how hot they are than just feeling their hands or feet. Generally, a baby's hands and feet feel cooler than their body.
Resources and support
- The Royal Women’s Hospital has practical advice about protecting your baby and young children during a heatwave.
- Learn more about sun protection for babies and children at Cancer Council NSW.
- Red Nose Australia has a resource explaining how to protect your baby from overheating during sleep.
Other languages
NSW Health have translated their fact sheet ‘Beat the heat – Heat and health: Babies and young children’ into many community languages.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
Visit Birthing on Country for information on projects that support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander babies and their families.
RedNose has information about putting your baby to sleep safely for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.