Keeping Your Baby Safe in Summer: 6 Tips

Summer can be a fun and active time for families, but hot weather poses specific risks to babies and young children. Follow these six simple summer safety tips to help keep your baby safe, cool, and healthy during the warmer months.

6 Tips to Keep Your Baby Safe in Summer

1. Dress Your Baby for the Weather

Overheating is a known risk factor for sudden infant death. During warmer weather, dress your baby in lightweight clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton or bamboo.

If using a sleeping bag, choose one with a low TOG rating appropriate for summer temperatures.

There is no single “right” room temperature for your baby’s sleep. Instead, dress your baby for the temperature of the room — not too hot and not too cold — and keep their head and face uncovered. You don’t need to leave the cooling on all night, and a fan can help circulate the air in the room.

Find out more about how to dress your baby for sleep, safe room temperatures for sleep and using blankets in summer.

2. Keep Baby Hydrated

In hot weather, babies need to drink more frequently.

• Breastfed babies may want to feed more often
• Formula-fed babies may need additional bottles
• Older children should be offered water often or hydrating snacks like watermelon, grapes, and oranges

Hydration helps regulate your baby’s body temperature and prevents heat stress.

3. Keep Baby Safe and Cool in the Pram

While prams are great for walks, they are not designed for unsupervised or prolonged sleep.

• If your baby falls asleep in the pram, transfer them to a safe sleep space like a cot as soon as possible
• Never leave your baby unattended while sleeping in a pram
• Never cover the pram with a wrap, muslin or blanket. Even lightweight fabric can reduce airflow and trap heat around your baby
• To keep your baby cool outdoors, avoid going out during the hottest part of the day (usually midday to early afternoon) and use natural shade, like trees or umbrellas

Learn more about the dangers of covering your pram and using prams and strollers safely.

4. Always Be Safe Around Water

Babies and toddlers can drown in as little as a few centimetres of water.

• Always supervise your baby closely around bathtubs, paddling pools, or buckets
• Keep your child within arm’s reach around any water source

5. Be Heat-Smart When Travelling

Cars can heat up quickly—even with the air-conditioning on. When travelling with your baby:

• Never leave your baby alone in a parked car. Even in cooler weather, the temperature inside a parked car can rise very quickly
• Remember that car restraints can increase body heat due to their padding
• Use window shades to block direct sunlight
• Take frequent breaks, remove your baby from the seat, and offer drinks regularly

For more travel tips, read How to Keep Your Baby Safe While Travelling and Take Your Sleeping Baby Out of Their Car Seat When You Get Home.

6. Check Your Portacot for Safety

When travelling or staying away from home:

• Ensure your portacot meets Australian Standards. You can find out more about Australian Standards from Product Safety Australia
• Check for rips, tears, or broken parts
• Use only the original mattress provided—never add extra padding or mattresses

Regular checks help prevent accidents and maintain a safe sleep environment. For more, see our Portable and Folding Cots: Safe Sleep Guide and Safe Sleep While Camping.

Signs of Heat Stress in Babies

Babies heat up faster than adults and don’t sweat as much, which makes it harder for them to cool down. In hot weather, check on your baby regularly and look out for:

• Unusual fussiness, listlessness, or irritability
• Pale, clammy skin that becomes hot and flushed
• Excessive sweating at first, followed by reduced sweating as your baby overheats

Need More Safe Sleep Advice?

Follow our six safe sleep recommendations for every sleep, day and night. If you have questions, call our Safe Sleep Advice Line on 1300 998 698, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (AEST).