07/07/2026
🌞 How to Keep Your Little One Safe During Hot Weather 🌞
Hot weather can be challenging not only for adults but especially for babies and young children. Here are the key NHS recommendations to help keep your little one safe as a reminder:
💧 Keep your baby hydrated
• Offer water regularly (if your child is old enough).
• Breastfed babies may need more frequent feeds.
• Formula-fed babies should continue to feed according to their needs.
☀️ Avoid the hottest part of the day
Try to stay indoors or in the shade between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, when temperatures and UV levels are at their highest. Plan walks and outdoor activities for the early morning or later in the evening.
🧴 Protect your baby from the sun
👶 Babies under 6 months should be kept in the shade and out of direct sunlight.
👒 Older babies and children should wear lightweight, light-coloured clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
🚼 Pushchair and car safety
❌ Never cover a pushchair with a blanket, as this can trap heat and quickly increase the temperature inside.
✅ Use a parasol or a breathable sunshade instead.
🚗 Never leave a child alone in a car – even for a few minutes.
🏡 Keep your home cool
• Close blinds or curtains during the day.
• Open windows in the evening and overnight when it's cooler outside.
• A fan can help, but avoid directing airflow straight at your baby for long periods.
🍃 A few minutes of "air bath"
During nappy changes, you can let your baby spend a few minutes without clothes in a comfortable room temperature, away from direct sunlight. A short air bath may help keep your baby comfortable, but it should never replace proper hydration or keeping the environment cool. I've shared more about the benefits of air baths in a previous post—feel free to take a look!
💚 A tip from Red Panda Therapy
During baby massage sessions, I aim for a comfortable room temperature of around 24°C, so babies feel warm, relaxed and comfortable while undressed. If your home is much warmer than this, it's worth cooling the room before enjoying massage time together.
❤️ Remember: Babies can overheat much more quickly than adults, so always watch for signs that they are becoming too hot.
If you found this post helpful, I'd really appreciate it if you could like, follow, and share the Red Panda Therapy page to help more parents access evidence-based baby care tips. ❤️