Taking your baby outside in the summer heat requires a little more planning — and a little more time — than heading outdoors yourself in the warmer months. Still, being outside is important to a baby’s growth and development.
The good news is preparing your baby for the outdoors is a breeze when you know how to keep them safe in the heat.
5 Tips for Infant Heat Safety
Don’t Go Out When the Heat Index is Greater Than 90 Degrees Fahrenheit
You’ve probably noticed that when your baby is hot and uncomfortable, they can quickly become irritable. But dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke — a medical emergency — can quickly follow when a baby is in too hot of an environment for too long.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a heat index at or above 90 degrees poses a significant risk to a child’s physical and mental health. That’s why you shouldn’t take your baby outside for a prolonged period when the heat index is high.
Dress Light
Loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes are best for dressing baby when it’s hot, especially if you can’t avoid direct sun exposure. If your little one is younger than 6 months, lightweight, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt are safe bets. Opt for a light-colored onesie if your baby will be out of direct sunlight. And leave any blankets or extra layers at home.
You should grab a hat for your baby, though — preferably one with a brim to offer extra protection for their face and neck.
Avoid Peak Sunlight Hours
When planning an outdoor adventure with your baby, avoid the time of day when the sun is strongest — between 10 am and 4 pm. Babies can get sunburned quickly, even when it’s overcast. Also, because babies don't sweat as much as older children and adults, they aren't able to cool themselves as well.
Offer Plenty of Fluids
Depending on your baby's age, offer them breast milk, formula or sips of water — early and often. Babies younger than 6 months should stick to breast milk or formula, while babies older than 6 months who have started solids can drink water in addition to milk.
Replenishing fluids is important so your baby doesn’t become dehydrated.
Don’t Automatically Reach for the Sunscreen
While your instinct may be to slather sunscreen all over your baby’s skin to protect them from sunburn, you actually shouldn’t. Babies’ delicate skin is more sensitive to sunscreen’s side effects, like rashes. The AAP recommends avoiding using sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months and, instead, keeping them out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
Using sunscreen on babies older than 6 months is OK, but choose baby- and toddler-safe sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, if possible. These mineral ingredients stay on top of the skin rather than being absorbed by it, making them better tolerated by babies.
Preventing Dehydration in Babies
Dehydration is a significant health danger in babies. It can develop following a sickness — especially one that involves diarrhea or a high temperature — or too much heat exposure.
Because your baby can’t tell you what they’re feeling, it’s important to know the signs of dehydration in infants, which can include feeling very warm to the touch, acting tired or weak, sweating profusely or showing decreased energy or extreme thirst. Another major sign of dehydration in a baby is having fewer than six to eight wet diapers in the past 24 hours.
Keeping your baby drinking fluids and out of direct sunlight should help prevent dehydration, but if you notice any of the signs, go inside with your baby immediately.
Learn more hydration tips for the summer months.
Protecting Your Baby in a Hot Car
You may think your air-conditioned car is a safe place for your baby, but that’s not always the case. Unfortunately, even in mild sunlight, a car’s temperature can spike quickly. That’s why it’s critical to never leave your baby — or child — in the car alone, even for a quick trip inside a grocery store or pharmacy.
Learn five tips for remembering your child is in the car.
Here for You When You Need Us
Your baby can thrive in the summer months and begin developing a love of the outdoors at a young age. If you want to learn more about keeping your baby safe in the heat — or need to find a doctor quickly — find an AdventHealth location close to you.
