As the temperature in the UK begins to heat up, we’ve teamed up with Infant Sleep Coach, Jade Zammit, founder of Beyond The Stars, to share expert-backed advice for keeping babies cool during hot weather. Including five hacks to keep them cool during the day, five hacks to keep them cool at night and a baby sleep temperature chart.
Five expert daytime hacks to keep babies cool in hot weather
1. Offer sips of water (for babies aged 6 months and over)
If your baby is under six months, there’s no need to give them water, instead, they’ll likely feed more often. For babies over six months, it’s safe to offer small sips of water between feeds.
2. Only use sun cream on babies over six months old
Sun cream shouldn’t be used on babies under six months, as their skin is too delicate and may react to the ingredients. Once they reach six months, apply an SPF 50+ suncream that offers UVA and UVB protection. Reapply every two hours or more often if your baby becomes sweaty or wet.
3. Keep babies out of direct sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm
Babies under six months should be kept out of direct sunlight entirely. For older babies, avoid the sun as much as possible, especially between 11 am and 3 pm when it’s at its strongest.
4. Use a fan when out and about
When heading out in the heat, consider a portable fan that clips onto your pram to help keep your baby cool and comfortable, such as our Bladeless Fan which has three cooling modes: low, medium and high. It has soft and flexible tripod legs allow the portable fan to wrap around car seats, prams, cots and highchairs.
5. Try homemade frozen lollies
From six months, babies can enjoy homemade frozen lollies made from water or fruit purée. Babies over 12 months can have lollies made with very diluted fruit juice, but these should only be given at mealtimes to avoid the risk of tooth decay. You will need an ice pop moulds like our Fruitsiciles Ice Pop Tray to make the lollies.
Five infant sleep consultant-approved hacks to help babies sleep in the heat
We’ve teamed up with Infant Sleep Consultant Jade Zammit founder of Beyond The Stars. Here, Jade shares her five top tips to make sleeping as easy and as safe as possible:
1. Follow a cool-down bedtime routine
This could be a lukewarm bath and giving them some extra time without pyjamas or nappies to help their body temperature.
A cool-down baby massage can also work well. Using a baby aloe gel or calming baby lotion whilst in a cooler space can help bring their body temperature down and baby massage is wonderful for those calming hormones too!
Fans are great for cooling down their sleep space, but they must be used safely and away from the crib/cot.
Top tip: Freeze a bottle of water and use this in front of the fan to create a more air-conditioned space.
2. Cool down their bedsheets/muslins/sleep items in the freezer
Popping these into a freezer bag and into the freezer will help bring that coolness at bedtime. They won’t stay cool for too long, but it can help get them to sleep easier. You could also have spares in the freezer overnight if needed.
3. Learn the signs of overheating
Always check the baby’s neck and chest to gauge their temperature and signs of overheating. If they are sweaty, have flushed cheeks and are irritable, then it is important to scale back their layers. Also, avoid using any thick blankets/bedding or lots of fluffy toys in your toddler’s bed.
4. Avoid sweaty naps
When the weather is lovely, of course we want to be out and about. Avoid fluffy blankets, using muslin styles if needed. Do not cover the pram with blankets or towels to shade the light – this will trap the heat. Always keep the buggy in a cool/shaded space.
5. Change their sleep position
Some babies will still have their sleep rhythms where they need more contact to fall asleep. This can be harder in summer months and makes everyone sweatier in the process. See if you can alter your position to support this and avoid overheating. Could this be finding another space to settle them close by before transferring? Or changing the contact position?
Baby sleep temperature chart
*This chart is a guide - adjust if your baby is showing signs of feeling too hot or cold.
There may be a higher risk of SIDS during very hot weather, including heat waves. To reduce the risk of overheating, it’s important to dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature.
As a guide, if it’s 24°C+ they will need a 0.5 tog sleeping bag and a short-sleeved bodysuit, if they’re still too hot just a nappy and sleeping bag will do the job. For 22°C – 23°C you can use a 1.0 tog sleeping bag and a short-sleeved bodysuit and for 20°C – 21°C add a sleepsuit or pyjamas.
To make sure you know the exact temperature of the room, use a baby room thermometer like our Penguin Bath & Room Thermometer.
If your baby is feeling too warm, look out for the following signs and adjust their sleepwear if needed:
- Sweating
- Damp hair
- Heat rash
- Flushed cheeks
- Heavy breathing
- Noticeably hot chest
Looking for game-changer summer products for babies? Check out our Fruitsicles Ice Pop Tray, Bladeless Fan and Icy Bite Keys Teether Toy. For more summer advice read our blog post Five baby outdoor play ideas and five tips to keep outdoor play safe.
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