Babies need to be watched carefully during very hot weather because they can overheat and dehydrate more quickly than older children and adults. This is because their bodies cannot adjust to changes in temperature as well.
For comfort and safety, dress babies in light, loose clothing. It’s also important to protect your baby’s skin from the sun. If possible, keep your baby inside during the hottest part of the day. If you have to go out, keep them in the shade or cover their skin with loose clothing and a broad-rimmed hat. Babies under 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight. After 6 months, if some sun exposure is unavoidable, apply a toddler formula sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
Your child will sleep more comfortably during hot nights if you let them sleep in the coolest room in the house. Keep the heat out by closing the curtains and make sure fresh air can circulate around the bassinet or cot by removing waterproof liners and unnecessary bedding or padding. If you use a fan, don’t point it directly at your baby; place it on the other side of the room. Remember to check regularly to make sure they are not getting too cold.
If you have air conditioning, try setting it initially at 24°C/75°F. Consider using a room thermometer to monitor the temperature. Generally, 24-26°C/ (75-79°F) is low enough.
If your baby does get affected by the heat you may notice some of these signs:
• The baby looks unwell and seems more irritable than normal.
• His skin looks pale and feels clammy.
• Your baby seems sleepy and limp and refuses to drink.
• There are fewer wet diapers than normal and the urine is darker in color.
• The skin, mouth, and eyes appear dry.
• The soft spot on her head is lower than usual.
If your baby’s condition worsens, you may notice some of the following symptoms:
• Rising body temperature
• Her skin looks red and feel hot
• Rapid breathing
• Vomiting
If there is no improvement to the baby’s condition, seek medical attention immediately.
If you don’t have air conditioning, or need to go outside with your baby, here are some tips for keeping them cooler:
At home, give your baby a bath or sponge them with lukewarm (not cold) water. Dress baby in light, loose clothing. Keep the house as cool as possible using fans (not pointed directly at your baby) and window shades. If the heat inside becomes too intense, try hanging some damp cloths or towels over chairs and windows. The evaporating water will help to keep the air cool.
If you need to go out, avoid using baby carriers and slings in the heat as they restrict air flow and make it more likely that babies will overheat. Also, don’t leave your baby sleeping in a stroller – they can be hot and airless. You can cover the stroller with a light cloth or mesh sun shield as long as it allows air to circulate inside. Remove the back panel too, if possible.
In the car, use sun shades on the windows instead of covering the capsule with a blanket or towel. NEVER leave your baby in a parked car, not even for a moment. The temperature inside rises very quickly, even if a window is left partially open, sometimes reaching 30-40°C (86-104°F) hotter than outside.
Visiting family or friends with air conditioning, or taking a trip to the shopping mall or cinema, is another convenient way of keeping your baby in a more comfortable environment during a hot day!
On very hot days, it’s important to keep your baby hydrated. If you are breastfeeding, feed your baby as often as they need – this may be more often than usual – and drink plenty of fluids yourself. If you are bottle feeding, you may also need to increase the number of feeds.
It is generally not recommended that infants under 6 months be given water unless advised by a doctor.
Dr. Susan Cadzow
MBBS, FRACP
Dr. Susan Cadzow serves as a pediatrician at Jiahui Health. She specializes in general pediatrics and developmental pediatrics.
Phone: 400-868-3000
Website: www.jiahui.com
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