Sun Safety for Babies Under 6 Months

When the temperature climbs, tiny babies need extra care. Their skin is far more delicate than ours, and they can't cool themselves down the way older children and adults can. Here's everything you need to know to keep your little one safe, comfortable and cool — especially in a heatwave.

Why babies under 6 months shouldn't wear sunscreen

It surprises a lot of parents, but the NHS advises keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight altogether, rather than relying on sunscreen.

Their skin is too thin and sensitive — it absorbs the chemicals in sun cream far more easily than older skin, and it burns much more quickly. So instead of sunscreen, the advice for the under-6-months group is simple: shade and clothing.

(From 6 months you can start using a small amount of baby-specific SPF50 on the bits you can't cover — but under 6 months, keep them shaded.)

Use shade and clothing instead

• Keep them in the shade — under a tree, a parasol, or a pram canopy. Move with the sun so they stay covered as it shifts.
• Lightweight, loose clothing — long sleeves and long legs in light cotton actually keep them cooler and protected. A wide-brimmed or legionnaire-style hat shades the face and neck.
• Avoid the strongest sun — 11am to 3pm is when UV is fiercest. Stay in if you can during those hours.

⚠️ Never cover the pram with a blanket or muslin

This one's really important. It feels like you're creating shade — but draping a blanket, or even a thin muslin, over the pram traps heat and stops air circulating. It can push the temperature inside the pram up dramatically within minutes.

Use a proper clip-on sun shade or parasol instead, and keep checking on your baby.

Keeping your newborn cool at home

• Room temperature for sleep: 16–20°C. A room thermometer helps — many baby monitors have one built in.
• Dress them lightly for sleep. In very hot weather, just a nappy and a single thin layer may be plenty. Use the "feel the chest or back of the neck" check — not the hands or feet, which always feel cooler.
• Feed more often. Breastfed babies may want shorter, more frequent feeds to stay hydrated — you don't need to give water to babies under 6 months, just more milk. For formula-fed babies, speak to your health visitor about small amounts of cooled boiled water if needed.
• Cool them gently — a cool flannel on the skin, a lukewarm bath, or a fan in the room (not pointing directly at baby) all help.

Signs your baby is overheating

Overheating is more than just uncomfortable — it's linked to an increased risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). So it's worth knowing the signs:

• Skin that feels hot, sweaty or clammy (check the chest or back of the neck)
• Flushed or red cheeks
• Rapid breathing
• Restlessness or unusual irritability
• Damp hair

If you spot these: move them somewhere cooler, remove a layer, offer a feed, and check their temperature. If they seem very unwell, drowsy, or you're worried, call 111 — or 999 if they're struggling to breathe or are unresponsive.

The bottom line

Babies under 6 months and hot weather just need a bit of planning, but it's all manageable: shade, light clothing, a cool room, frequent feeds, and a close eye for overheating. Keep it simple and trust your instincts — you know your baby.

Stay cool out there. ☀️

Eva

Eva Levinson is a part-time Postnatal Midwifery Assistant & Infant Feeding Specialist for the NHS, a Doula UK trained postnatal doula, and an Ofsted/HSE compliant first aid instructor. She runs And Chillax in Anerley, South London.