By Amanda – Tiny Hands Big Adventures – June 2026
When the sun finally comes out after this long grey stretch of weather, it’s tempting to spend every spare minute outside with the children. Hot weather brings its own risks for babies and young children though, and it’s worth knowing what actually matters before you head out the door.
This blog covers sun protection, hydration, keeping prams and bedrooms cool, what to dress your little one in, and the signs that mean it’s time to get them somewhere cooler or seek help. It’s not about wrapping children in cotton wool or spoiling the fun. It’s just the practical stuff that makes the difference between a lovely day in the sun and a miserable, overheated little one.
Why Hot Weather Needs Extra Care With Babies and Young Children
Babies and toddlers don’t regulate their temperature the way adults do. They can’t sweat as effectively, they often can’t tell you they’re too hot, and their skin is far more sensitive to sun. That means the things that feel like a pleasant warm day to you can tip into something uncomfortable, or occasionally dangerous, for them quite quickly.
This matters most for babies under six months, who should be kept out of direct sunlight altogether rather than relying on suncream to protect them. It still matters for toddlers and older children too, just with a bit more flexibility in how you manage it.
Sun Protection for Babies and Toddlers
If your baby is under six months, the advice is straightforward: keep them out of direct sun completely, using shade, clothing and timing rather than sunscreen. Once your baby is six months or older, you can use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, but really you want to ideally be using SPF 50, with a four or five star UVA rating, alongside the same shade and weather appropriate clothing habits.
For toddlers and older children, the same sunscreen guidance applies, and it’s important to reapply after water play, swimming or anything that involves a lot of wiping with sleeves, since that tends to rub it off faster than you’d think.
It’s also important to remember to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going out in the sun and to reapply every 2 hours.
Whatever your child’s age, the hours between 11am and 3pm are when the sun is strongest, so this is the window to plan around. A morning park visit or a late afternoon walk once things have cooled off works far better than trying to manage a buggy nap, or a toddler meltdown, in full midday sun.
Dressing for the Heat
Lightweight, loose, breathable fabrics do most of the work here. Cotton is your friend. A single light layer is usually enough, and a sun hat with a brim or a flap that covers the back of the neck makes a real difference, especially for babies who can’t yet keep a hat on through sheer determination not to wear one.
It’s worth checking car seat buckles and any metal playground equipment before your child touches them too, since both can get really hot in direct sun.
Hydration in Hot Weather
If you’re exclusively breastfeeding a baby under six months, you don’t need to offer extra water, your baby will likely just want to feed more often in the heat. If you’re formula feeding, you can offer small amounts of cooled, boiled water alongside their usual milk feeds. Once your baby is on solids, water in a cup or beaker becomes a normal part of the day, though breastmilk or formula should still be their main drink for now.
For toddlers and older children, little and often works better than waiting until they ask, since young children don’t always recognise thirst the way adults do. Watermelon, cucumber and similar water-rich foods can help too, alongside their usual drinks too.
Pram and Buggy Safety
This is the one I’d really want every parent to know. Never cover a pram or buggy with a muslin, blanket or any kind of cover to create shade. It feels like it should help, but it stops air circulating and can raise the temperature inside quite dramatically, which is genuinely risky. Use a proper clip on parasol or built in sunshade instead, and check on your baby regularly while you’re out.
Keeping Bedrooms Cool Overnight
A room temperature of sixteen to twenty degrees is generally considered ideal for a sleeping baby. In a heatwave that’s not always realistic, so do what you can. Close curtains and blinds during the day to stop heat building up, open windows when it’s safe to do so, and a fan kept safely away from the cot can help circulate air as long as it’s not pointed directly at your baby.
Reduce bedding layers rather than adding more, a nappy alone is fine on a very hot night, and check how your baby is doing by feeling their chest or the back of their neck rather than their hands or feet, which are a less reliable guide to how warm they actually are. For toddlers in a bed, a sheet instead of a duvet and lightweight pyjamas, or none at all, does the same job.
Out and About Locally
Here in the Skipton & Craven area there’s no shortage of shaded spots, whether that’s time under the trees in one of the local parks, or simply choosing the shadier side of the garden. Timing outings for the morning or early evening rather than the middle of the day means you and your little one both get more out of being outside, without the discomfort of trying to manage a hot, fractious baby or toddler in full sun.
And it should go without saying, but it’s said often for a reason… never leave a baby or young child alone in a parked car, even for a couple of minutes, even with the windows cracked. Cars heat up far faster than people expect.
Signs to Watch For
Most hot weather is just that, warm weather to enjoy with a bit of common sense. Occasionally though, it’s worth knowing what to look out for so you can act on it quickly. Signs of heat exhaustion can include a headache, feeling sick, excessive sweating, dizziness, cramps and a high temperature. If you notice these, move your child somewhere cool, offer fluids, and remove a layer or two of clothing.
Give it around thirty minutes. If your child isn’t improving in that time, seems unusually sleepy, is breathing rapidly, or stops sweating despite still feeling very hot, these can be signs of heatstroke and need urgent attention. Call 111 for advice, or 999 if you’re worried it’s an emergency. It’s always better to check than to wait and see.
Signs to Watch For
Most hot weather is just that, warm weather to enjoy with a bit of common sense. It is though worth knowing what to look out for so you can act on it quickly. Signs of heat exhaustion can include a headache, feeling sick, excessive sweating, dizziness, cramps and a high temperature. If your child complains of any of these, move them somewhere cool, offer fluids, and remove a layer or two of clothing.
Give it around thirty minutes. If they aren’t improving in that time, seem unusually sleepy, are breathing rapidly, or stops sweating despite still feeling very hot, these can be signs of heatstroke and needs urgent attention. Call 111 for advice, or 999 if you’re worried it’s an emergency. It’s always better to check than to wait and see.
A baby can’t tell you if they have a headache, feel sick or any of the other signs mentioned above though… so watch instead for floppiness or unusual sleepiness, being more unsettled or irritable than usual, fewer wet nappies, skin that looks flushed or unusually pale, and the soft spot on their head feeling sunken. If you notice any of these, move them somewhere cool, offer fluids, and remove a layer or two of clothing. For a baby, it’s always sensible to call 111 for advice (or 999 if you are worried it is an emergency) at this point too, rather than waiting to see how they get on, since they can’t tell you themselves whether it’s working.
A Note on Our Sessions in Hot Weather
If you’re ever wondering whether it’s sensible to bring your little one along to a session during a heatwave, whether that’s baby massage, baby spa, Little Movers or messy play, the answer’s usually yes. Our venues stay comfortable, and I’m always happy to adjust the pace of a session on a particularly warm day, so just message me if you’re unsure and we’ll figure out what works for you both. We even provide additional refreshments and bottled water.
Hot weather with a young family takes a bit more planning, but it doesn’t have to take the fun out of summer. A bit of shade, the right clothing, and keeping an eye on how your little one is doing goes a long way. If you’ve got questions about anything in this blog, you know where I am.
Further Reading
Keeping Your Baby Safe in the Sun, NHS — Official NHS guidance on sun exposure by age, sunscreen, and hydration in hot weather.
Hot Weather with a Baby, NCT — Practical NCT advice covering both babies and toddlers, including dehydration and when to seek help.
Hot Weather, The Lullaby Trust — Guidance from the UK’s leading safer sleep charity on keeping a baby’s room cool and reducing overheating risk overnight.