How to keep babies safe when temperatures soar
[July 20, 2026]
Infants, toddlers and young children need outdoor activity to build
strong bodies and minds, but they also require extra care in the heat.
In the summer months, those twin imperatives can make parents anxious.
How long should kids be out? How do I know they're OK? What should I
avoid?
Human-caused climate change is making heat waves longer, stronger and
more widespread. Much of the U.S. sweltered last week under a heat dome.
That shift makes questions about keeping babies safe more pressing, said
Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician with Rady Children's Health in
Orange, California.
“We talk about drowning and choking with toddlers, and now we’re
starting to add in heat," she said. “It’s become something that’s more
commonplace as a potential injury.”
Here is why children are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, and
some do's and don’ts to keep them safe:
Regulating body temperature is a challenge
Children sweat less than adults and have a higher metabolism that make
them hot faster. In extreme heat, their higher surface area-to-mass
ratio increases heat absorption.
Kids also tend to spend more time outdoors.
On hot days, parents need to be vigilant about the signs of heat
illness. A lack of tears or regular wet diapers could indicate your baby
is dehydrated. Parents should feed infants in smaller quantities more
frequently to make sure they are getting enough fluid.
Though not necessarily signs of illness, fatigue and flushed skin likely
means your child needs a break to cool off. Williamson said increased
irritability could also indicate your child is too hot.
Tips for keeping them safe
Avoid going out during the hottest parts of the day, dress kids in
loose, light-colored clothing, apply sunscreen and make sure they are
getting enough fluids. Water-rich fruits such as watermelon and
strawberries are great snacks in the heat.
“If you’re hot, your baby sure is going to be hot,” said Dr. Debra
Langlois, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott
Children’s Hospital.
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Lexis Aubile watches her son, Atticus, play in the water as they try
to beat the heat at Ramona Park in Portage, Mich., on Tuesday, July
14, 2026. (Devin Anderson-Torrez/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)
Langlois said parents and other
caregivers should limit the amount of time infants and toddlers are
outside in hot weather, but she doesn’t advise remaining strictly
indoors at any point.
Don't put blankets or other covers on a stroller
That advice seems counterintuitive. After all, doesn't it make sense
to shield children from the sun?
But blankets and other coverings, even thin ones, prevent air from
circulating and trap heat that can raise the temperature in the
stroller. Instead, use a canopy for shade.
Williamson also advises parents to check metal parts that can heat
up and burn children.
Don't leave kids in the car
Even in the shade and with open windows, car temperatures can rise
dramatically in a short amount of time. In 2025, 31 children died of
heat stroke in vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration.
The agency recommends caregivers leave a purse or other personal
item in the back seat, write a note or place a stuffed animal on the
passenger seat to ensure they don't forget a child inside.
If you return to a parked car with your baby on a hot day, ensure
the metal parts of the car seat are also not too hot. For extra
comfort, use a sun shade to keep the interior cooler and turn on the
air conditioning in advance.
To cool a hot car, experts recommend opening the windows for 10 to
20 seconds while running the air conditioning.
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