Summer Baby Care: Heat Rash, Hydration and Choosing Cotton
BabyProduct Team · 6 Jun 2026
Fewer, lighter, looser clothes
Loose cotton lets air move and sweat evaporate; synthetics trap both. A single layer is often enough indoors, and a nappy plus a light vest is fine on the hottest afternoons.
Light colours and a wide-brimmed hat do more for comfort outdoors than any product.
Prickly heat, and what actually helps
Heat rash appears as clusters of tiny bumps where sweat gets trapped — neck folds, chest, back and the nappy area. The fix is cooling and drying rather than covering it up.
Keep the area dry, loosen clothing, and let air reach the skin. Heavy creams and thick powders in skin folds tend to make it worse. If the rash spreads, blisters, looks infected or comes with a fever, see your doctor.
Fluids by age
Under six months, breast milk or formula is what your baby needs — they may simply want to feed more often in the heat, and that is the system working. Do not give water to a young baby without your paediatrician's advice.
Once solids and water have started, offer water regularly through hot days. Fewer wet nappies than usual, a dry mouth or unusual lethargy are signs to get medical advice promptly.
Timing outings
Keep outdoor trips to the early morning and evening. Prams get hot, and covering one with a thick cloth traps heat rather than releasing it — use a light, breathable cover and check inside frequently.
Never leave a baby in a parked car, even briefly. Interiors heat dangerously fast.
Baths and air conditioning
A lukewarm bath cools better than a cold one and is more pleasant. With air conditioning, avoid pointing the airflow at your baby and keep the room comfortable rather than cold — the jump between a chilled room and outdoor heat is the uncomfortable part.