Baby summer safety
Warmer weather and summer holidays can make it trickier to follow safer sleep advice, which reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). You’ll need to keep your baby cool while also managing travel plans and a change to your routines. Use this quick guide to baby summer safety so you can enjoy the summer with your little one.
Keep your baby’s room temperature cool
One of the most important parts of baby summer safety is keeping your baby cool in hot weather. Babies that get too hot have a greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it’s essential to keep them cool enough.
We recommend keeping the room your baby sleeps in at a fairly cool temperature of 16 – 20°C. Buying a room thermometer can help you check the temperature of your baby’s room.
Keeping your baby’s room between 16 – 20°C can be harder in summer or if you go away somewhere warm, but these tips should help.
- Use lighter bedding and clothing, with fewer layers.
- Open the bedroom door and a window, if it’s safe to do so, to allow the air to flow.
- Check baby sleep bag guidance for which tog to use for each season.
- Use a fan to cool the room, but don’t aim it directly towards the baby.
- Keep curtains closed in the daytime so the room doesn’t heat up as much.
- Use a thermometer to check the room is the right temperature – as it’s hard to guess.
Travelling by car with your baby
If your trip involves long drives, stop for regular breaks so you can check on your baby, take them out of the car seat and let them stretch and move around. Ideally, have an adult in the back seat with your baby or, if you’re travelling alone, use a mirror to keep an eye on them.
If your see that your baby has slumped forward, stop as soon as it’s safe to as this can affect their breathing. Take them out of the car seat and sit them upright before continuing on your journey.
Car seats are designed to keep babies safe while travelling, not as a main sleeping place. Only use them for transport, not as an alternative for cots or high chairs. It’s OK if your baby falls asleep in a car seat while travelling but take them out as soon as you get to your destination and place them on a firm, flat surface to sleep.
Follow a safer sleep routine, even on holiday
Sleep your baby on their back on a firm, flat, mattress for every sleep, day and night.
It’s just as important to follow this routine on holiday as it is at home to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). If your baby is sleeping in a travel cot, the mattresses are often thinner and feel harder. There’s no need to place folded blankets or a quilt under the baby to make them more comfortable. Babies needs are different to adults and while it might seem cosy, it means the mattress is less firm and can put the baby at risk of overheating or having their mouth covered.
Make sure that the travel cot is away from any radiators, out of direct sunlight, and out of reach of blind cords and other hazards.
Baby summer safety when out and about
Use these tips to keep your baby safe and comfortable while you’re out and about.
- Don’t cover prams, buggies and travel systems with blankets, cloths or any cover that stops the air flowing. They risk the baby getting too hot, and mean you can’t see if they’re having difficulties or monitor their temperature as easily.
- Our top tip – use a clip-on sunshade or parasol. This will keep your baby shaded while allowing air to circulate, and give you a clear view of your baby.
- Check your baby regularly to see if they’re getting too hot by feeling their chest or the back of their neck.
- Keep babies out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
Make sure baby has enough fluids
When the weather is hot, it’s important to make sure that your baby has plenty of fluids.
- If you’re solely breastfeeding your baby, they don’t need any extra water until but during hot weather, they may want to breastfeed more than usual.
- Once they start eating solid foods, they will need extra water.
- If you’re bottle feeding, as well as their usual milk feeds, you can give your baby a little cooled boiled water. If they wake at night, they’ll probably want milk. If they have had their usual milk feeds, try cooled boiled water as well.
Frequently asked questions
Aim to keep the room fairly cool, at 16 – 20°C if possible. Open the door and window if it’s safe to, use a fan but point it away from the baby, and close the curtains during the day. Keep a thermometer in the room to help you keep an eye on the temperature.
You can also 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.
Feel your baby’s chest or the back of their neck. If they feel clammy or sweaty, these are signs they’re getting too hot, so remove a layer of clothes and adjust the room temperature if possible, using the tips above.
Remember
Even though it can be more challenging to keep your baby safe and comfortable in summer or while you’re on holiday, these tips will help you. By using lighter clothing and a clip on sun shade while you’re out and about, and going for light bedding, open windows, and a room thermometer at home, you’ll help keep the air circulating and the temperature down. These simple steps will help you enjoy a safer and happy summer with your baby.
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