Baby Heat Safety Tips From Pediatricians and ER Doctors

Babies and young children can’t regulate their body temperatures as well as older kids and adults, which puts them at risk of overheating. If they get too hot, it could lead to heat exhaustion, a form of heat-related illness that also includes heat stroke, a more serious condition.

“Heat exhaustion in young children can show up in subtle ways, especially in infants and toddlers who can’t tell us how they feel,” says Mona Amin, D.O., board-certified pediatrician and founder of PedsDocTalk. 

Heading outside during a heat wave isn’t off-limits if you have young kids, says Amin, but “short and shaded is the way to go,” she says. Here’s what else doctors want you to know about keeping everyone safe and cool during the hottest days of the year.