For more information on keeping your baby safe during the cold weather visit The Lullaby Trust baby safety page.

How to avoid overheating in babies

Babies younger than six months cannot control their body temperature. They start developing this ability around six months. By nine to twelve months, most babies can adjust their temperature to match their surroundings. However, every baby is different, so parents should watch for their baby’s signals and make adjustments as needed.

Signs your baby might be too hot include: feeling sweaty, flushed skin, fast breathing, or acting unusually sleepy or irritable.

Maintaining a comfortable room temperature and appropriate clothing indoors and outdoors are essential for helping babies regulate their body temperature. Overheating can be more dangerous than being slightly cold.

Hats

Babies don’t always need to wear hats. While they may be helpful in certain situations, like for newborns in the first 24 hours or when outdoors in cool or sunny weather, overheating can be dangerous. Generally, if it’s warm, a hat isn’t necessary, and even newborns can overheat if they wear a hat indoors once discharged from hospital.

When babies might need a hat:

• First 24 hours:

Babies may wear a hat for the first 24 hours after birth to help regulate their temperature, especially if they are premature or have a low temperature.

• Cool or cold weather:

Hats can help protect babies from the cold and wind when outdoors, especially in temperatures below 15-16°C. The hat should be removed in a warm car and when anywhere indoors e.g. at home, in shopping centres.

• Sun protection:

Hats with a brim can protect a baby’s face and head from the sun’s harmful rays when outdoors. Babies under 6 months should never be in direct sunlight.

When babies don’t need a hat:

• Indoors:

Babies don’t need to wear hats anywhere indoors, as they can overheat easily, which can be dangerous and increases the risk of SIDs. 

• Warm weather:

In outside temperatures over 15°C a hat is unnecessary and potentially harmful even for new born babies

• Sleeping:

Never put a hat on your baby while they are sleeping day or night, as they can overheat and the hat could potentially cover their face. 

Pram guidance

• Remember not to overdress. There is no need to use both a blanket and a fluffy footmuff
• When temperatures are under 15°C, there is no need for babies to have both a hat and coat hood up

• 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

• Always use a parasol or sunshade in sunny weather as opposed to using the pram hood as a shade
• Remove the rain cover when indoors
• Remove some layers when your baby is in their pram in an indoor shopping centre including their hat

Room temperature guidance

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
• Never use a pillow or any form of cushion for babies under 12 months day or night as they can overheat or suffocate
• 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

General guidance

• Dress your baby in layers: This allows you to easily adjust their clothing based on the temperature. If your baby’s skin is hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of clothes, bedclothes or bedding. Generally speaking babies under 6 months only need one more layer of clothing than you
• Monitor your baby’s temperature: Feel their chest or back to see if they are too warm or too cold
• Choose breathable fabrics: When using hats, especially for sun protection, opt for breathable fabrics like cotton

• Use lightweight cotton or cellular blankets as opposed to thick woollen or fleecy blankets and remember a blanket folded once equals two blankets, folded twice equals four blankets etc.