07/04/2026
🚨🚨🚨 Do not cover car seats and strollers in the summer.
While we know direct sunlight can pose a risk, fully covering a car seat or stroller, even with thin material, can pose a serious risk to all young children, but especially infants.
Infants are not great at regulating their body temperatures making them susceptible to getting too hot or too cold faster than older children and adults.
Many parents think a thin blanket can offer sun protection. However, in just 20 minutes, the temperature under a blanket could increase by 20 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the temperature outside.
This means if it's already 90-100 degrees during this heatwave, covering baby could create a space that is 110-120+ degrees making heat stroke very likely. Once baby's core body temperature reaches 104 degrees, it is a serious medical concern necessitating care. (This is not the same as a fever related to illness).
Wide brimmed hats, shade, uv protected clothing, sunscreen, and umbrellas offer safer coverage than blankets. Stroller fans WITH mist can also help. In severe heat, dry fans may not cool effectively.
Ideally, during heat waves, babies spend time indoor, in safe water play, or shade with fans. Limit time outdoors. Allow babies to breastfeed on demand to stay hydrated. Formula fed infants might need a bottle sooner than their typical schedule. NO plain water in infants too young to also consume solids as this can create an electrolyte imbalance.
Protect babies from too much direct sunlight but NOT via a blanket over their seat or stroller.
👇🏽 Did you know the temperature could rise quickly?
