For most healthy adults, heat waves are a sweaty and uncomfortable annoyance, but for babies and children, the heat can be dangerous. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that infants and children under 4 years of age are at highest risk for heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke. In fact, according to a 2022 report, summer exposure to humidity is associated with higher rates of emergency room visits in children. This is because your child’s body temperature rises much faster than you, they don’t regulate their body temperature properly yet, and they sweat less, which makes it more difficult to cool down. Not to mention, young children in sports are like a small stove (PS: heat waves are also dangerous for pregnant women and increase the risk of problems such as premature birth and low birth weight.)
Because heat waves keep hitting and last longer than ever, it’s important to know how to effectively keep your baby or toddler safe and cool during the hot summer months. Here are 11 ways to keep your baby cool.
Stay Inside
Stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its most toxic! When the heat index is at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, small children should be kept indoors at all times. (When it’s too hot to go outside, check out these 20 fun indoor activities for toddlers.) The indoor temperature is maintained between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the safest temperature range for sleep to ensure that your baby or toddler is comfortable. While you may be tempted to put your baby next to the air conditioner, don’t do it! They will get too cold. If you’re struggling to find a cool enough place in your home, keep in mind that the lower floors will be cooler.
Cover the Stroller like This
Do not completely cover your child’s stroller with a muslin blanket. While this is a great way to protect your child from the sun, it can also build up heat, which can increase the temperature of the stroller and your baby. Make sure to let the breeze in from under the blanket or use a large canopy or mesh canopy designed specifically for strollers. They provide shade and ample airflow.
Avoid Using the Fan in Extremely Hot Environments
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), fans should be avoided when the temperature reaches more than 90s. This is because the fan is not actually cooling the air, but moving the hot air around. In fact, choosing a fan when the temperature is higher than your body temperature may cause your baby’s body to get hotter! However, if the summer is muggy in the 80s or mid-90s, feel free to use a fan. Just make sure it is kept at a safe distance from your baby to avoid any safety mishaps such as pinching your fingers.
DIY an Air Conditioner
If you don’t have air conditioning, consider spending the day in a place where you have air conditioning, such as libraries, shopping malls, cooling stations…Or grandma’s house! If all else fails, try putting a bucket of ice in front of the fan. When the air blown out of the fan passes over the ice, it gets cold and then circulates around the room!
Warm Sponge Baths Are Available
Don’t put too hot babies or older kids in the ice-cold tub! Cold water increases their core body temperature, causing shivering. Instead, wipe your baby’s body with warm water or apply a cold compress to the forehead, neck, arms and legs. It can also help to spray your child’s skin with cool or room temperature water throughout the day.
Keep Them Hydrated
In hot weather, babies can become dehydrated quickly, which can further raise their body temperature! To keep your baby hydrated, you don’t have to use water! While it’s okay to give 6 to 12 ounces of water per day to a baby between 4 and 8 months old, babies under 6 months of age can get all the water they need from breast milk or formula. So, on hot days, offer more of the same. Children between the ages of 1 and 3 need about 4 drinks, including water or milk, per day. For children between the ages of 4 and 8, this amount is about 5 cups. Therefore, you also need to increase these amounts in hot weather.
Fruit Is Served
Eating fruits with a high water content can help babies or older children who eat solid foods fight the heat and stay properly hydrated. Some of the children’s favorite foods include watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, peaches, and cucumbers. Homemade fruit soda or smoothie can also do the trick!
Buy Blackout Curtains
Covering your baby’s room, as well as the entire house, with closed curtains is an easy way to reduce heat. The trick is to pull a set of insulated curtains, which not only block the sun’s rays, but also the heat. These types of blackout curtains form a barrier that prevents air from entering or leaving, keeping the room cool (or warm!) depending on the season. (If there is no air conditioning, open the doors and windows behind the curtains.)
Keep Your Car Smart
Never, never, leave your baby or child in the car. Whether you’re parked in the shade or in the sun, or summer or autumn, car temperatures can reach dangerous levels! In fact, researchers estimate that a 2-year-old’s core body temperature may reach a lethal 104 degrees Fahrenheit in less than two hours, even in a shady car. While the majority of hot car fatalities are caused by leaving a child in the car, 26% of accidental hot car fatalities are caused by a small child getting into an unattended car, so it’s extremely important to lock your vehicle at all times! To keep your baby comfortable and protected from heat while driving, add a sunshade or tinted sticker to the rear seat window to prevent direct light from reaching your baby. If you can, turn on the air conditioner before putting your baby in the back.
Stick to Cool Fabrics
Whether you’re dressing your baby in a short-sleeved jumpsuit or holding a bassinet sheet, stick to breathable cotton clothing. Synthetic fibers can build up heat and make your child more uncomfortable. (This means that waterproof sheets will also make your baby feel hot.) When you go outside, choose light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that covers your baby’s arms and legs.
Enjoy Water Safely
If you’re cooling down in the pool or water jets, dress your baby in SPF protective clothing and wear a wide-brimmed sun hat with vents. And, of course, look for shade! Babies under 6 months of age should not be exposed to direct sunlight. If you don’t have enough clothing and shade, apply a small amount of mineral sunscreen (at least SPF 15) to your baby’s face, neck, and back of hands. Don’t forget: sunscreen takes 30 minutes to take effect!
Signs That Your Baby Is Too Hot
Babies can’t tell you they’re sexy… Let’s be honest, most young children aren’t A+ communicators either. This means that it is your responsibility to monitor your child during the heat wave to make sure they don’t get too hot. Here are some signs that your child may be overheating:
Signs of heat stroke in children
- The skin is cold, clammy and pale
- Increased thirst
- Extreme fatigue
- Muscle spasms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Irritability
- headache
- Increased sweating
- Faint
Mild symptoms can be treated at home by drinking water and resting. If your child’s symptoms don’t improve after treatment, or if your child’s symptoms are more severe, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Symptoms of heat stroke in children
- The skin is hot and dry
- High fever over 105 degrees Fahrenheit
- Severe headache
- Dizziness and confusion
- Breathing and heartbeat are rapid
- Little or no sweating (more than 50% of children with heat stroke do not sweat.)
- Seizures
If your child is experiencing symptoms of heat stroke, seek immediate medical attention and try to cool them down until help arrives.
Signs of dehydration in children
- The urine is very dark yellow or orange
- Less than six wet diapers per day (infants)
- Don’t get wet diapers for 8 hours (toddlers)
- No interest in bottle drinking or breastfeeding
- There are no tears when crying
- Dry mouth, tongue and lips
- Excessive drowsiness
- Irritability
- Pale, dry and/or wrinkled skin
- Cold and spotted hands and feet
- Depressed soft spots (fontanelles)
- Breathing is deep and rapid
Signs of heat cramps in children
- Muscle spasms in the calves or thighs and stomach
- No fever
- The hand may be tense or spasmodic.
- Drinking water and cooling down usually relieves heat cramps within a few hours.