Don’t point fans directly at your child and make sure they can’t touch the fan.

give your child a lukewarm bath or sponge them down with lukewarm water.

Check regularly to make sure they are not getting too cold.

cool your child with damp cloths and place wet towels or sheets around the bassinette or cot to cool the air immediately near them.

Don’t leave babies asleep in a pram as they can become very hot. Keep the heat out by closing the curtains and making sure air can circulate around the bassinette or cot (don’t use liners or padding).

choose the coolest room in the house for sleeping.

Keeping the environment your child is in cool helps protect them from the heat. You can also protect them from the sun with a broad-brimmed hat and sunscreen. To help keep children cool, dress them in light, loose clothing.

encourage older children to drink regularly, especially if they forget to drink because they are busy playing.Īn important way to keep your child healthy in the heat is making sure they are cool.

offer young children water as their main drink throughout the day (fruit juice, fruit-based drinks and fizzy drinks are not recommended).

drink plenty of water if you’re breastfeeding.

check your baby is getting enough fluids, a good sign is if they’ve had six to eight pale wet nappies in the last 24-hours.

use a towel, sheet or nappy between yourself and your baby during feed times to avoid skin contact.

offer small amounts of cooled boiled water to babies over six months old, after or between milk feeds.

breastfeed or bottle-feed babies less than six months old more often (water or other drinks are not needed unless recommended by a GP).

offer drinks or breastfeeds frequently, as babies and young children are not able to tell you that they are thirsty.

To ensure your child is having enough fluids: See your GP if your child is unwell.ĭuring hot weather, it’s important your child has enough fluids.

if your child is sick (fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, or even a mild cold), they need extra attention to ensure they remain well hydrated and don’t overheat.

dress babies and children in cool clothing and protect them from the sun with hats and sunscreen.

offer older babies and children extra drinks in hot weather - the best drink is water.

breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby more often.

understand that babies and children overheat and dehydrate quickly.

Tips to help keep babies and children safe in the heat Heat can also make existing illnesses worse. They are at higher risk of overheating and developing a Babies and children need to be watched carefully during hot weather.īabies and children sweat less, reducing their ability to cool down, and they generate more heat during exercise than adults.

Body heat movie hat