7 tips on how to keep baby cool in summer

When the temperature is high it’s often the littlest people who cope worst, and it can be stressful when you have a fractious toddler or baby who isn't comfortable in the heat. Luckily, we have some great tips on how to keep baby cool in summer to help you make the hot weather slightly more bearable, and you both a bit more calm, cool and collected.

Our tips are also perfect solutions for how to keep a toddler cool in hot weather, and we'll take a look at the signs of heat exhaustion to look out for in a toddler, and what to do if a toddler body is hot.

1 Give niggly kids a midday power nap

When it’s super-hot, expect more tantrums than usual, and possibly some tears, as the warmer weather makes it harder for small kids to cope. You might notice that your non-napper seems exhausted enough for a sleep. If this is the case, it’s sometimes best to allow them a nap at the hottest part of the day so they have enough energy to keep going, and also so your afternoon will be a far easier few hours.

2 Avoid active play outdoors in midday sun

It’s also wise to be out of direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest. Try to get your errands run early on in the day. It might be approaching 30 degrees but you can’t keep the kids indoors all day, so knowing how to keep baby cool in summer throughout the day is important. Create a shady space, if your garden doesn’t have any, like under a table, and set up toys and books on a rug.

3 Keep little ones hydrated and entertained

It might seem obviously, but water is the perfect solution if you're wondering how to keep baby cool in hot weather – it's also a great way to entertain toddlers and older kids. A paddling pool is an investment you won’t regret as little ones can splash around – and you can dip your feet in too! Splash pads and water toys are the holy grail of summer fun in the garden. You can also give toddlers a sponge and a tub of water and let them wash their toys, paint the fence with water or do a DIY ‘car wash’ on their trike or scooter.

4 Choose hydrating foods and snacks

Eating meals outside in the shade is another great distraction and makes mealtime more like an adventure. When it comes to food, it’s another way to keep children hydrated. Opt for plenty of veg sticks and fruit, and who doesn’t love an ice lolly? Have water bottles or sippy cups topped up and available all the time and encourage kids to drink often. If you’rebreastfeeding, your milk will adapt to hydrate your baby, but offer a feed regularly as babies can become dehydrated very quickly.

5 Cool clothes, sun hats and sunscreen top-ups

It goes without saying that hot sunny days call for plenty of Factor 50but keep re-applying it throughout the day, especially if water-play is involved. Some one-application formulas are available too, but don’t forget to apply your own sunscreen! They might be thrown off or lost at regular intervals but sun hats will also keep the pounding heat off kids’ heads. Keep your toddler cool by dressing in loose, cotton clothing, in pale colours if possible.

6 How to keep babies cool in buggies

If you’re pushing an exhausted baby or toddler in a pram or buggy, resist the temptation to drape a blanket or muslin over them. You might think you’re creating shade but actually the material will trap hot air and overheat the little one. Use the pram’s sunshade or parasol to keep them out of direct sunlight instead.

7 how to keep baby cool in hot weather at night

Bedtime can be a tricky moment on a hot day and knowing how to keep baby's room cool in summer can really help. While children will be exhausted from playing in the heat, they won’t appreciate a bedroom which is too warm. Drawing curtains when the room is at its coolest can help, as well as keeping the room ventilated. Want to know how to keep a toddler cool at night? Strip little ones out of their usual pyjamas or sleep suits and let them sleep in a vest and replace usual duvets or sleeping bags with single sheets or light weight bags instead. Fingers crossed for some well-earned rest!

What are the first signs of heat exhaustion in toddler?

Symptoms of heat exhaustion are important to look out for with little ones as they're more likely to overdo it in the heat and need plenty of supervision and prompting to stay hydrated. Thankfully, the NHS says that if you can cool them down withint 30 minutes, heat exhaustion doesn't usually need medical help. However, if it turns into heatstroke, it needs to be treated as an emergency.

The NHS says signs of heat exhaustion include:

They say one of the most common things to look out for in babies, toddlers and older kids is irritability.

If your little one is overheated, take them somewhere cool and take off any clothes they don't need on, like socks and shoes, supply them with plenty of cool water and use a wet sponge or spray bottle to cool their skin with cool water, and then fan them. This should help to reduce their temperature and get them feeling better withint half an hour. If you have cold packs, wrap them in cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck if your little one will let you.

About the author

As a freelance writer, Joanna Dunbar covers parenting, health and lifestyle with the odd opinion-based rant and celebrity interview thrown in. Before freelancing (and juggling journalism with two young sons), Jo was on staff at Good Housekeeping, Bella, Woman and The Mail on Sunday.