How to keep your baby cool during summer: advice from sleep experts

With recent summers seeing temperatures soar across the UK, it's essential to know how best to keep our littlest family members cool and comfortable. Young babies are at a high risk of heat-related illnesses, and as they don't have the ability to regulate their body heat as well as adults, they need to be kept under close scrutiny when temperatures soar to ensure they're kept cool enough.

-The Lullaby Trust CEO Jenny Ward

Luckily, there are many tips, tricks and tools which can help, such as using a baby monitor with an inbuilt thermometer to check the temperature of their bedroom. To help you navigate hot weather and heatwaves with a little one, we've put together this handy guide to cooling your baby down as summer approaches, or if you're planning to head abroad for your little one's first holiday.

From choosing a crib or travel cot with breathable features to deciding on the best baby sleeping bag, blackout blinds or blanket to help them sleep more comfortably, Mumsnet is here to help with plenty of tips, options and advice for parents and carers. We've taken a deep dive into the wealth of excellent advice, been-there-done-that experiences and words of wisdom from our eight million Mumsnet users on our boards. We also consulted top baby safety experts The Lullaby Trust, as well as Infant Sleep Consultant Gemma Coe, to find out the safest ways to keep your baby cool as the weather heats up.

There's also guidance for lowering the temperature in your house too - after all, not everyone has access to an air conditioner, so these tricks will help to keep the whole family cool, calm and comfortable. For more hot weather hacks, we've also compiled guides to the best cooling boxes for family trips and the most powerful handheld fans for a refreshing breeze on the go, so you can keep your cool wherever you are.

How to keep your baby cool in hot weather

You should keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight entirely as they don't have the pigment that provides some protection from the sun that grown-ups have. Babies older than six months should also be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly between 11am and 3pm.

If you're out, put a parasol or umbrella over your baby's pram to create shade, but it's not the best idea to cover it with a bed sheet, as this'll just trap the air inside and make it even hotter. Air circulation and shade are best for keeping cool, whatever your age.

Paddling pools are a great way to keep cool, but keep them in the shade and remember that were this is might change through the day – leaving you with a heavy paddling pool in full sun. If your little one is playing outside, make sure they drink plenty, and do keep topping them up with the best sunscreen for kids frequently, especially if they're in and out of the water.

Related: How to keep paddling pool water clean

What should my baby wear in hot weather?

Light and breathable cotton clothes will help your baby stay cool as natural fibres let the skin breathe and have the added advantage of being quick-drying. Steer clear of synthetic fibres though as they can be a recipe for a sweat-fest which can really irritate young skin.

If your baby is still in nappies and it’s particularly hot, then let them enjoy the freedom of not wearing any clothes at all. So long as they’re out of the sun, you needn’t worry too much about keeping babies covered up.

-The Lullaby Trust CEO Jenny Ward

If you are outside, a hat which covers your baby's neck and the top of their ears is recommended – but be prepared to go into battle over it. Babies and toddlers seem to have a natural aversion to wearing headgear, and no matter how much you try to distract them, it's likely that they'll try and pull their hats off with noise and force. You might lose count of how many times a hat gets thrown out of the buggy, but do persevere until you get inside – hats should be worn outdoors only, in order to keep little heads cool.

Related: The best budget fans from just £10

How can I get my baby to sleep in hot weather?

Getting babies to sleep at bedtime can be tricky at the best of times, let alone when they're hot and fractious. These tips will help to ease everyone's nighttime discontent.

• Your baby will sleep most comfortably when their room is between 16-20 degrees celsius, so you should keep their room as cool as you can. A nursery thermometer might be helpful here.

• They'll be fine in their cot or travel cot with just a sheet and wearing a nappy. Make sure the sheet is well-secured and won't come loose or cover their face in the night. This applies to the nappy too.

• A lukewarm bath before they go down for the night can help regulate body temperature. Don't go too cold, as it’ll be too much of a shock to the system – but the cool end of hand-hot will be just the ticket. You can also cool your baby's skin with a sponge and water or a light water spray.

• If it's really hot (a rare occurrence in the UK, we know) you could put ice packs wrapped in a tea towel or a hot water bottle filled with cold water into the cot before bedtime, to cool everything down – remove before putting your baby down for the night though (and perhaps consider investing in a good mattress protector too!)

Read next: The best cooling pillows for adults to keep you comfortable at night

What should my baby wear to bed in the summer?

"To keep your baby cool at night you can dress them in lightweight clothes and use lightweight bedding, or even none at all. If you use a baby sleep bag, check the guidance for which tog to use for the room temperature."

-Jenny Ward, CEO of The Lullaby Trust

On particularly hot days, you can put your baby to bed wearing just a vest or even simply in their nappy. Overdressing your baby can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), so if you do choose to dress them in a thin layer, you should opt for breathable fabrics like cotton or lightweight muslin. Avoid using a swaddle when it's particularly hot, and if you're using a baby sleeping bag, opt for a lower tog.

"In hot weather, less is more. If the room is warm - say 24°C or higher - a short-sleeved vest or even just a nappy might be enough. Keep the room well ventilated, use blackout blinds to block heat from the sun. Pro tip: in very hot weather keep them closed during the day too, and consider using a fan (positioned away from the baby) to help air circulation." - Gemma Coe, Infant and Child Sleep Consultant

-Mumsnet user RandomQuest

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Is it safe to use a fan in my baby's room?

You can use fans – so long as you don't point them directly at your baby (you don't want them to grab it) and you should also make sure there is no cord hanging down anywhere due to the risk of strangulation.

- Jenny Ward, CEO of The Lullaby Trust

The white noise fans make is an excellent added bonus if your baby's generally not keen on the whole sleeping through the night thing. See our guides to the best tower fans and pedestal fans for Mumsnetter-approved picks.

How can I keep the rest of the house cool in hot weather?

Keep blinds and curtains drawn during the day to keep the heat out. You should also keep windows closed during a heatwave in the daytime to prevent hot air coming in, but it's fine to open them for some fresh air in the evening, once the air temperature has cooled.

If you can, and it's safe to do so, open the windows on the side of your house that the sun hits first in the morning (the east side) after it has moved round, to create a corridor of cooler air that'll fill your home. Naturally this depends on how your house is laid out and you shouldn't leave ground floor windows open if you're sleeping on a different floor. Common sense prevails on this one.

How to prevent your baby from getting dehydrated

If you're fully breastfeeding or exclusively pumping, your baby won't need water as well, but they might want to be fed more often, so you should feed on demand. Make sure that you are also drinking more water too, this will help you to keep up your milk supply and avoid getting dehydrated. Keeping a reusable water bottle to hand is a good way to make sure you're hydrated on the go.

If you're bottle feeding, you should give your baby cooled boiled water throughout the day, on top of their regular feeds. Bottle-fed babies who wake in the night during hot weather will most likely want milk – but if they've had their usual milk feeds, then give them a little cooled boiled water as well.

If they're over six months and they get bored with water all day, then you can try ice cubes, or fruit and salad (if they'll eat it) as other sources of water.

Related: Discover the best ice cube trays

Signs of dehydration to look out for in babies

If your baby is dehydrated, they will show some or all of the following dehydration symptoms:

• feeling thirsty

• dark yellow urine

• dry mouth, lips and eyes

• peeing little and less than four times a day

• drowsiness

• having few or no tears when they cry

• a sunken soft-spot (fontanelle)

• cold and blotchy hands and feet

If they show signs of severe dehydration, then you'll need to seek help from your GP or A&E.

How do I know if my baby is too hot?

If you're not sure if your baby is too hot, feel their tummy. If they're sweaty or hot, take a layer off and check them again after a few minutes. You can also check their temperature with a baby thermometer if you have one – it should be around 36.4C degrees.

It can be hard to know what's up when your baby can only communicate with cries or grimaces. Remember, though, that babies are born in hotter countries than Blighty every day and do just fine – so just do the best you can to keep them cool and don't worry too much.

- Jenny Ward, CEO of The Lullaby Trust

It should really go without saying, but never leave your baby sleeping in the car (whatever the temperature, but particularly when it's hot). Keep an eye if they fall asleep in the pram, as prams can be quite hot places for a kip. If you're out and about and they don't stir when you get home, you might want to transfer them to their cot or Moses basket.

Older children will be able to communicate with you better if they're feeling the heat. (You likely won't hear the end of it.) And although it's rare in the UK, you should be aware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke just to be sure.

"If your baby is unwell with a cold or fever don’t be tempted to wrap them up more than usual. Your baby should be dressed for their environment. You could also use our Baby Check App to help you assess if your baby needs to see a health professional." - Jenny Ward, CEO of The Lullaby Trust

What are the symptoms of heat exhaustion?

The symptoms are the same in children and adults, but babies can't tell you if they're dizzy or have a headache, so it's important to look out for the following signs:

• loss of appetite

• excessive sweating and pale clammy skin

• fast breathing or pulse

• temperature of 37C or above

• intense thirst

• becoming floppy and excessively sleepy

What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

Heat exhaustion:

• Temperature above 37 and up to just below 40 degrees

• Pale cool, clammy skin

• Excessive sweating

Heat stroke:

• Temperature 40 degrees and above

• Dry, hot skin

• Not sweating

What should I do if I think my baby has heat exhaustion?

They need to be cooled down, first and foremost.

• Move them to a cool place

• Remove any unnecessary clothing

• Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly

• Get them to drink plenty of water or feed them milk

• Cool their skin with water using a sponge or spray. You can also put ice packs wrapped in a tea towel under their armpits or around their neck.

Check their pulse regularly, and stay with them until they're better. They should feel better after half an hour.

You should call 999 (or 112 if you're on holiday abroad) if your child is showing signs and symptoms of heatstroke. These are:

• they're no better after 30 minutes

• they're hot and dry

• their temperature is 40 degrees or above

• they're short of breath or are breathing rapidly

• they're confused

• they have a fit or seizure

• they lose consciousness

• they become unresponsive

All of these are worst case scenario symptoms, so don't panic. Heatstroke is rare in the UK – but it's always good to know about just in case.

You can find more guidance and advice on heatstroke on the NHS website.

About the author

Jenny Wonnacott has been working as a Content Editor for Mumsnet since 2022 with a particular focus on pregnancy, child and baby care product guides, articles and reviews. As a mum of three, Jenny has extensive hands-on experience in all of the Mumsnet content she writes about. She is passionate about sourcing, testing and thoroughly researching the products which make every stage of parenting easier, from the best pregnancy pillow to the most reassuring baby monitor.

About the experts

Jenny Ward is the CEO of The Lullaby Trust, a UK-based safe sleeping charity dedicated to reducing the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and supporting grieving families who have experienced the loss of a baby. Since its formation in 1971, The Lullaby Trust has been campaigning to raise awareness of safe sleeping guidelines for babies and since its Back to Sleep campaign in 1991, has helped save the lives of more than 30,000 babies and reduced the rate of SIDS by 80%.

Child Sleep Specialist Gemma Coe is a Certified Infant & Child Sleep Consultant with a BSc (Hons) in Nursing (Children), Masters in Public Health, a PGDip Professional Research, and a PGCE in Adult Education.

She is the author of Newborn Sleep Foundations, founder of www.childsleepspecialist.co.uk and The Bedtime Meditation Club (coming soon!)

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