Signs of Overheating in Babies: What to do and How to Prevent It

You might have noticed that your infant doesn’t necessarily sweat as much, even in warmer weather. This is because your baby’s sweat glands aren’t fully developed yet and so, it is a little harder for your infant to regulate his/her own body temperature when it gets too hot or too cold. Because of this, your baby can get overheated far more easily in summer time, when the temperatures are soaring. So, how do you know if your baby is overheating, what steps can you take to protect your baby during summer, and what should you do if you notice your baby might be overheating? Let’s discover the answers to all these important questions.

What are some signs that your baby might be overheating?

During summer, it is extremely important to watch out for signs of overheating in your baby. If not spotted and addressed in time, overheating can be extremely dangerous for your little one, and can even result in heat strokes. Here are some of the most common signs of overheating in babies. 

1. Your baby’s skin feels warm to touch and/or becomes redder than usual
   Check their back, ears & neck for this. If the skin feels too warm or is becoming red, immediately remove any extra layers of clothing and take baby into a cooler area.
2. Baby has a fever without any sweating
   If your infant has a fever of over 100 degrees and isn’t sweating, this could be a sign of overheating. Try and cool them down first. If your baby’s fever progresses, call your doctor immediately.
3. Baby is unresponsive or seemingly lethargic
   If your baby isn’t responding to your touch or seems listless and lethargic, this could be another sign that your baby is overheating. Move baby to a cooler area or make sure they’re well hydrated. If baby continues to show no signs of improvement, call your doctor immediately.
4. Vomiting, dizziness or confusion
   Dizziness, nausea, vomiting can all be signs that it is too hot for your baby. Once again, cool them off immediately and monitor them closely.
5. Baby is restless and/or cranky
   Crankiness in babies can be caused by a lot of different factors. However, if it is particularly warm and your baby is extremely cranky or irritable, this can be one of the reasons why.

Note: Keep in mind that overheating doesn’t happen only in summer. It can also happen in winter when your baby is bundled up in multiple layers of clothing.

What to do if my baby is showing signs of overheating?

Overheating in babies should never be taken lightly as it can have dangerous consequences if not addressed immediately. If you suspect that your baby is overheating, here are some immediate steps you can take to help cool your baby down.

• Move your baby to a cooler area or turn down the room temperature. If you’re outdoors, bring them to cool, shaded or indoor area immediately.
• Hydrate your little one with lots of fluids. If your baby is below 6 months and still breastfeeding, offer them breastmilk or formula. If baby is over 6 months, let them take small sips of water or you can also offer breastmilk or formula.
• Give your baby a quick sponge bath with lukewarm water.
• Dress them in extremely light & breathable clothing made from natural fibers that are gentle on your baby’s skin. If your baby is wearing multiple layers, remove any extra layers and make sure their skin is cool and dry.
• Watch out for signs of heat rash. Here’s everything you need to know about heat rash and how to treat it.

If your baby’s symptoms progress, it is wiser to be safe by calling your doctor immediately to determine your next course of action.

How to prevent your baby from overheating and other sun protection tips:

• When outdoors, keep your little out of direct sunlight as far as possible. Avoid sun exposure during peak sun times, i.e., 11 am to 4 pm. Seek out a shaded area when outside and try to avoid staying outdoors for a prolonged period of time.
• Keep your infant well-hydrated at all times. Increase their intake of fluids during this time and offer age-appropriate fluids at regular intervals, whether it’s breastmilk, formula or water.
• Keep a battery-operated fan in your bag at all times. This will be especially helpful in cooling baby down when you’re outdoors.
• Always dress your little one in breathable and light-coloured clothing during summer. For babies under 6 months, cover their arms and legs with light clothing to protect their delicate skin from sun damage. For older babies, a soft onesie is also a comfortable outfit choice. When at home, you can even let them roam around in diapers for extra comfort.

We recommend dressing your little one in GOTS-certified organic cotton/muslin/ bamboo clothing as these materials are extremely soft, breathable & absorbent. Most importantly, Bamboo is a thermo-regulating, moisture-wicking and naturally antibacterial fabric keeps your baby’s skin cool and dry.  Discover all of these essential fabrics on our online boutique in several amazing prints & soothing colours!

• Overheating can even take place when your baby is sleeping at night. During summer, you can swaddle your little one directly over the diaper. Our soft, certified organic muslin swaddles are lightweight & breathable to prevent any overheating. Some babies even like to be swaddled with their arms and feet outside of the swaddle in warmer weather. You can also avoid covering your baby’s head with a cap at night-time in warmer weather. This also helps their body stay cooler.
• Redness, rashes and skin inflammation are all common during summer. Prevent summer rashes by dabbing your baby’s skin with Softsens Baby Powder to help keep it cool, dry and comfortable. The powder helps absorb any excess moisture from the skin caused by sweating, and reducing skin friction, leaving the skins soft and smooth. You can also help keep baby’s skin clean, dry and soft with our All-natural Baby Wipes that are formulated to soothe, cleanse & moisturize your baby’s delicate skin.
• Just like your skin needs sun protection, your baby’s skin (which is 3x more delicate than yours) requires sunblock as well! Protect your baby’s skin from sun damage by applying a baby-safe Sunblock Lotion like the Softsens SPF30 water-resistant sunblock lotion that is hypoallergenic, dermatologically tested and 100% safe for use on babies & adults. Click here for the answers to some of your most common questions on sun protection for babies.
• Nappy rashes are extremely common during summers due to excess moisture getting trapped in the nappy area. Apply our Softsens baby zinc oxide-enriched diaper rash cream AT EVERY DIAPER CHANGE to avoid occurrence of diaper rash. In case your baby is already suffering from diaper rash, start using the Softsens baby diaper rash cream right away as the natural butters & oils of kokum, shea, jojoba, olive & soothing aloe vera in this hypoallergenic & clinically-tested product will help provide quick relief and heal the rash.
• If you’re walking your baby in the stroller, make sure they remain cool and comfortable. Use a stroller canopy to keep baby shaded from the sun. These also offer enough ventilation. Don’t cover your baby with a thick blanket as this can restrict airflow and create an even warmer environment in the stroller.
• When travelling by car, keep your baby out of direct sunlight and try and use a sun shade if possible. Keep the temperature in the vehicle comfortable. NEVER leave your child unattended in a parked car, even for a few minutes.

Have a safe & comfortable summer! For more sun safety tips to help protect your delicate ones in summer, click here!