Need to talk? Call 1800 882 436.
It's a free call with a maternal child health nurse. *call charges may apply from your mobile

Is it an emergency? Dial 000
If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately.

beginning of content

Heat-related illness in babies

8-minute read

If your baby has symptoms of heatstroke and is not responding or breathing normally, immediately call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

If your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever above 38°C, seek urgent medical attention or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Key facts

  • Heat-related illnesses happen when your body overheats and cannot cool down, causing a range of illnesses from mild heat exhaustion to life-threatening heatstroke.
  • Your baby can develop a heat-related illness if they spend a lot of time in hot weather, are overdressed or left inside a parked car — even for a short time.
  • If your baby has heatstroke, they need urgent treatment in hospital, where they will be cooled, given fluids and monitored.
  • To prevent your baby from overheating, avoid the heat, dress them appropriately for the season, follow safe-sleep recommendations and never leave them in a parked car.

What is a heat-related illness?

Heat-related illnesses happen when your body overheats and cannot cool down. They range from mild heat rash to life-threatening heatstroke.

Children, especially babies, are at a higher risk of developing heat-related illnesses. They do not sweat as much as adults and cannot regulate their body temperature as well. It is important to prevent your baby from overheating.

Other people at a higher risk of heat-related illnesses include:

What is heat stress?

Your baby can develop heat stress if their temperature rises above 37.5°C faster than they can cool down. This can happen from brief exposure to intense heat or longer exposure to mild heat.

What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is a mild-to-moderate heat-related illness. It happens when your baby’s body temperature is between 38.3°C and 40°C. This is more severe than heat stress.

What is heatstroke?

Heatstroke is a severe heat-related illness. It is a rare and life-threatening medical emergency. Your baby’s temperature rises so high that their central nervous system (CNS) and other organs are affected. Your baby needs urgent medical attention for heatstroke.

What is severe dehydration?

Severe dehydration happens when your baby loses too much fluid (at least 11% of their weight). This is a medical emergency. It can cause serious complications.

What are the symptoms of a heat-related illness?

Heat-related illnesses cause a range of symptoms. It is important to recognise these symptoms and know what to do.

Heat stress

If your baby develops heat stress, their temperature will be between 37.5°C and 38°C. They might be sweating and breathing quickly.

Heat exhaustion

If your baby has heat exhaustion, they might:

Fever in babies
Handy guide for what to do if your baby has a fever.

Heatstroke

If your baby has heatstroke, they will have symptoms showing that their brain and nervous system are not working properly, such as:

Your baby may also have:

  • hot and dry skin because they cannot sweat anymore
  • low blood pressure
  • temperature over 40°C
  • fast heart rate and breathing

Severe dehydration

If your baby is severely dehydrated, they may be less alert or hard to wake up. They also may have:

  • pale or blotchy skin
  • cold limbs
  • sunken eyes
  • low blood pressure, fast heart rate or breathing quickly
  • sunken fontanelle on their head

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What causes a heat-related illness?

Your baby can develop a heat-related illness if they:

  • spend a lot of time outdoors
  • don’t drink enough, and can’t cool down properly
  • are overdressed
  • are left in a parked car, even for a short time — the temperature inside your car can rise very quickly to extreme temperatures
  • have a dry cloth draped over their stroller or capsule (for example, to create shade)
  • have a fever or a medical condition that makes it hard for them to control their temperature

Read about babies in hot weather.

How is a heat-related illness diagnosed?

Your baby’s doctor can diagnose a heat-related illness by:

  • assessing their symptoms and examining them
  • measuring their vital signs, including their body temperature
  • requesting blood tests
  • asking you about your baby’s medical history and exposure to hot weather

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

When should I see my doctor?

Take your baby to their doctor if you suspect they have heat exhaustion or are unwell. Don’t wait — trust your instinct.

When to seek urgent care

If your baby has symptoms of heatstroke and is not responding or breathing normally, immediately call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.

If your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever above 38°C, seek urgent medical attention or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

While waiting for the ambulance:

  • cool your baby in a lukewarm bath; if you do not have a bath, sponge your baby
  • repeatedly moisten your baby’s skin with a moist cloth or spray
  • continuously fan your baby
  • give your baby liquids (only if they are awake and can swallow)

How is a heat-related illness treated?

Your baby’s treatment depends on how severe their heat-related illness is.

Self-care at home

If your baby has heat exhaustion, treatment at home includes:

  • removing them from the heat to a cool spot
  • removing extra layers of clothing
  • spraying them with lukewarm water
  • giving them fluids if they are dehydrated
  • watching them until their symptoms go away

If symptoms do not improve, seek urgent care.

Treatment of heatstroke

If your baby has heatstroke, they need treatment in hospital. Treatment includes:

  • cooling your baby down as quickly as possible — they may be immersed in cool water; fans will be positioned to blow cool air across their body
  • if severely dehydrated, they will get intravenous (IV) fluids
  • continuous monitoring to track their progress
  • treatment of any complications

What are the complications of a heat-related illness?

Heat-related illnesses can cause complications, including:

  • seizures
  • loss of consciousness
  • dehydration
  • death

Heat stress and hyperthermia are also linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Can a heat-related illness be prevented?

Here are some tips to prevent heat-related illnesses:

  • Keep your baby in cool and ventilated spaces. Avoid exposing your baby to the sun on very hot days.
  • Make sure your baby is hydrated.
  • Put sunscreen on your baby if they are older than 6 months.
  • Make sure your baby is not overdressed.
  • If you want to shade your baby, drape a light-coloured and moist muslin cloth over their pram with a fan blowing air inwards. Do not cover your baby’s pram with a dry cloth.
  • Never leave your baby in a parked car. Not even for a couple of minutes.
Keeping your baby cool during hot weather
Tips on keeping your baby cool in hot weather.

Here are some tips to prevent your baby from overheating when sleeping:

  • Put your baby to sleep on their back, with their head uncovered.
  • Your baby should sleep on light, cotton sheets.
  • Your baby should sleep in a ventilated and comfortable room. Keep heaters away.
  • Make sure air can circulate around their cot.

Read about keeping babies cool in hot weather.

Read about dressing a newborn.

Read about sun and heat protection for babies and kids.

Resources and support

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people?

NSW Health has a ‘Beat the Heat’ resource for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

NSW Health has translated its resource about keeping babies safe in the heat into many community languages.

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.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: February 2025


Back To Top

Need more information?

Beat the heat

Heat waves or long periods of extreme heat can have a serious impact on your health. This information aims to help you plan and prepare for extreme heat, and to understand the signs, symptoms and first aid treatment for heat-related illness.

Read more on NSW Health website

Babies and young children in hot weather - Beat the heat

Babies and young children require particular care to make sure their health is protected during hot weather. Most important is that babies and young children stay cool and drink regularly.

Read more on NSW Health website

How much bedding does baby need? | Red Nose Australia

Safe bedding in both summer and winter months

Read more on Red Nose website

Babies, children and teenagers during hot weather | SA Health

Things to consider during heatwaves for people with chronic or mental health conditions

Read more on SA Health website

Bedding Amount Recommended for Safe Sleep | Red Nose Australia

Overheating is one of the major risk factors for SIDS and SUDI, but how do you know how much or what sort of bedding to use to keep baby both warm and safer while sleeping? This information can help.

Read more on Red Nose website

Dehydration in babies

Babies become dehydrated when their body loses more fluids than they take in. If your baby has signs of severe dehydration, get urgent medical help.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Babies in hot weather

Hot weather can be dangerous for babies because they are easily affected by the heat. Learn how to keep your baby cool and safe in the heat.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Keeping babies cool in hot weather

Infographic with tips on keeping your baby cool during hot weather.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Water safety for babies and children

Babies can drown in as little as 5cm (two inches) of water. Drowning is silent so you won’t necessarily hear any noise or struggle.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)

Learn about the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where premature or very ill babies are cared for by highly specialised medical teams.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.