Help your baby sleep safely in the heat

Soaring summer temperatures can make the tricky task of getting your baby to sleep even harder, as well as adding to your fears that they might overheat as they snooze.

The Lullaby Trust says the ideal room temperature for sleeping babies is 16-20°C, but during heatwaves this sweet spot can be tricky to achieve, especially if you're on holiday or out and about away from home. 

Whatever your situation, follow our top tips for keeping your little one cool, comfortable and safe.

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5 ways to keep your baby cool in the heat 

1. Keep them hydrated - only give cooled boiled water to bottle-fed babies under six months, but you can switch to tap water for bottle-fed babies over six months. Fully breastfed babies won't need any extra water, although you may find them feeding more and this is totally normal. Infants over 12 months can enjoy frozen lollies made from plain water or very diluted fruit juice (only at mealtimes). 
2. Give them a bath before bed - give your little one a tepid bath before they go to bed or sponge them down with lukewarm water.  
3. Set up the paddling pool - a paddling pool is a good way of keeping babies and children cool, but remember to keep it in the shade during very hot weather and to supervise at all times. 
4. Use a fan - it's fine to use a fan to keep your little one cool, but make sure it's not aimed directly at them. Go to our electric fan reviews to see the Best Buys we recommend and the Don't Buys to avoid.
5. Cool the air with ice - place a large bowl of ice in front of your fan to cool the air as it circulates or put a large bottle of frozen water in the room to cool the air.

How to get the temperature right for your sleeping baby

Whether your baby is sleeping in the same room as you (which they should be for the first six months after they're born) or in their own room, the room temperature should be between 16 and 20°C. 

There are several simple steps that you can take which will help you to keep the temperature at a comfortable level for your little one:

Monitor room temperature

A room thermometer like this one from The Lullaby Trust (£3.50) is an affordable way to easily check your baby's room temperature, or check out some of the most-searched room thermometer retailers including Amazon, Argos, B&Q,and Boots.

Many baby monitors also have an integral room thermometer sensor that will tell you instantly when it's getting too hot, so it's worth checking if yours has this function. Take a look at our baby monitor reviews to see which ones gave us accurate temperature readings in our tests.

Position their crib correctly 

Cots and cribs should be kept away from direct sunlight, and during the day you should close blinds or curtains to prevent the room from getting too hot. Only keep doors and windows open if it's safe to do so.

Always keep cots out of the reach of blind cords, curtain pulls and other hazards. 

Use the right bedding and sleepwear

Choose light cotton bedding and sheets or a low tog baby sleeping bag. If it's very hot let them sleep in a nappy, with no covers or sleeping bag. 

Avoid waterproof mattress protectors as these can cause your baby to sweat.

For more advice, take a look at our 10 baby safe sleeping tips. 

Baby first aid: download our free first aid kit checklist and find out what to do with a minor injury or in a medical emergency 

How to check if your baby is too hot 

• Feel your baby's chest or the back of their neck - if their skin is hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of bedding or bedclothes.
• Don't judge their temperature by checking their hands and feet - these will usually be cooler than the rest of their body so can't be used as an indication of how warm or cool they are.
• Check the temperature of swaddled babies - if you swaddle your baby, check their temperature to ensure they're not too hot. Use thin materials, don't swaddle above the shoulders or too tightly, and never put a swaddled baby to sleep on their front.

Best cot mattresses - help your baby have a safe night's sleep, keep them comfortable and be well prepared for the inevitable leaks

Keeping your baby cool when you're out and about 

If you're out with your little one and are struggling to find shade for them on a sweltering day, you may resort to covering your pram or buggy with blankets, clothes or another cover to keep them cool.

However, the Lullaby Trust says this can prevent air circulating and could lead to overheating, which could have serious consequences for their health. 

A cover can also create a barrier between parent and baby, preventing you from being able to monitor your baby's temperature and spotting quickly any difficulties they may be having. 

Use a clip-on sunshade or parasol instead and keep to the shade as much as possible. Avoid being out between 11am and 3pm when it's hot and regularly check your baby's temperature to make sure they're cool enough. 

If you're carrying your baby in a carrier or sling, follow the 'TICKS' rules for safe baby-wearing.

Help your baby to sleep safely on holiday 

• Keep an eye on them on car journeys - if your baby is in a car seat for long periods of time stop for regular breaks where you take them out of the car seat to stretch and move around, and check that they're not overheating. 
• Stick to a safer sleep routine - Your destination may be a world away from your home environment but the sleep routine for your little one should be the same - on their back on a firm, flat mattress for every sleep day or night.
• Don't tamper with the mattress - You may be worrying that the travel cot or a crib provided by a hotel or holiday home is thin and uncomfortable, but resist the temptation to place folded blankets or towels underneath as this could stop the mattress from being firm enough to help guard against suffocation.

Travel cot safety: what every parent needs to know