Red cheeks, sweating, damp hair, heat rash, clammy skin are all signs: baby is too hot.

Here are some practical things you can do to keep your baby cool on hot days.

  • Frozen facecloth - Wet a facecloth and freeze it, then let your baby suck on the cloth.
  • Comfortable clothing - Dress baby in lightweight, loose clothing made from a natural fibre, like cotton, linen or bamboo.
  • Frozen fruit - Freeze fruit pieces for them to suck on. Frozen bananas and orange segments are a couple of good ideas.
  • Cool bedroom - Keep blinds and curtains closed during the day so the room stays as cool as possible.
  • Invest in a room thermometer - Knowing the temperature in your baby's room will help you gage how much you need to do and what to dress them in.
  • Icy fan - Freezing large bottles of water and placing them in your baby's room can help cool the room overnight as the ice slowly melts. Place them in front of a fan and you'll get better results.
  • Stay hydrated - Baby's under six months only need milk to stay hydrated, and they'll probably want to feed more often in hot weather. Keep the fridge stocked with bottles of cool water for older baby's.
  • Tepid water - If baby's skin feels hot to touch, run a lukewarm bath or fill up a paddling pool.
  • Water play - Get out the sprinkler or get creative with a water play activity.