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Infants, toddlers and young children need outdoor activity to build strong bodies and minds, but they also require extra care in the heat. <\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
Human-caused climate change<\/a> is making heat waves longer, stronger and more widespread. Much of the U.S. sweltered last week<\/a> under a heat dome.<\/p>\n That shift makes questions about keeping babies safe more pressing, said Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician with Rady Children’s Health in Orange, California.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk about drowning and choking with toddlers, and now we\u2019re starting to add in heat,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s become something that\u2019s more commonplace as a potential injury.\u201d<\/p>\n Here is why children are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, and some do’s and don\u2019ts to keep them safe:<\/p>\n Children sweat less than adults and have a higher metabolism that makes them hot faster. In extreme heat, their higher surface area-to-mass ratio increases heat absorption.<\/p>\n Kids also tend to spend more time outdoors. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Though not necessarily signs of illness, fatigue and flushed skin likely mean your child needs a break to cool off. Williamson said increased irritability could also indicate your child is too hot.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re hot, your baby sure is going to be hot,\u201d said Dr. Debra Langlois, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n Langlois said parents and other caregivers should limit the amount of time infants and toddlers are outside in hot weather, but she doesn\u2019t advise remaining strictly indoors at any point.<\/p>\n That advice seems counterintuitive. After all, doesn’t it make sense to shield children from the sun?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Williamson also advises parents to check metal parts that can heat up and burn children.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n To cool a hot car, experts recommend opening the windows for 10 to 20 seconds while running the air conditioning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n