Did you know that babies can lose heat up to 4 times faster than adults? That is why babies are much more sensitive to temperature variations.
A newborn will start creating its internal temperature regulation mechanisms at around 11 weeks. However, at this stage, these internal systems are still preliminary and will continue developing until it reaches full autonomy around two years old.
Summer days are an excellent opportunity to take your baby outdoors and let them enjoy the beauty of nature. However, you must be careful when camping with your newborn kid in scorching weather – overheating can impact an infant and make them feel uncomfortable.
We drafted this guide with all tips you need to know to go camping with a baby in hot weather. You will have a safe and enjoyable trip if you put all of them in place, but before jumping into the tips, let’s understand what baby overheating risks are.
By the way, The Camping Air Conditioner is sponsored by readers. When you buy through one of our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
What are the risks of camping with a baby in hot weather?
Baby overheating can directly impact their well being and health, which requires your attention. Among the risks, we highlight:
- Heat exhaustion: Your baby may experience a weak pulse, sweat excessively, or have very hot, red skin.
- Heat rash: Heat rash is common in babies who are overheated. Heat rash looks like tiny red bumps around the neck or on their bottom.
- Dehydration: when your baby’s body temperature is high, they sweat a lot and lose electrolytes and fluids, leading to dehydration.
- SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome): Unfortunately, overheating can lead to SIDS. Recent studies have shown that overheated babies are more likely to reach deep sleeping stages, which are very difficult to arouse.
Camping with a baby in hot weather - useful tips
Tip #1 - Ensure your baby is hydrated
To ensure your baby is hydrated, you should:
- Breastfeed or bottle-feed often during the day (breastfeeding mothers should stay hydrated to increase their milk supply)
- Offer drinks frequently, as babies are not able to tell they are thirsty.
- Give babies over six months old cooled boiled water to aid in digestion and keep them cool.
Overall, a good sign of hydration is that your baby should have 6 to 8 wet nappies within a day. When outdoors, constantly monitor and increase their fluid intake.
Tip #2 Plan ahead and choose a cool campsite and adequate camping gear
A campsite plays an essential role in ensuring you and your family stay cool on summer days. Before heading to your trip, check the weather forecast and ensure that temperature and humidity levels are not excessively high (suggested article: how hot is too hot for camping?)
Temperatures above 100 Fahrenheit are considered dangerous for your newborn, and you should pay attention to the following tips:
- Ensure you pitch your tent in an area with trees that will offer shade
- Keep the heat out of the tent and ensure the tent has many air vents for air circulation.
- If possible, camp in an area close to waterfalls and/or water
- Check the temperature of surfaces where you put your baby to play. Some surfaces may be too hot for your baby. Before heading out, invest in camping cooling mats with hydrophilic cooling gel. The mats will keep your baby’s temperature down on summer days.
Tip #3 Bring the adequate camping gear
After choosing your camping location, ensure you bring adequate camping gear for the trip with your baby. Some tips are:
- Choose an adequate tent fabric – Canvas tents tend to offer better insulation and temperature control, which might be ideal for your trip.
- Preferably pick a light coloured tent
- Pick a spacious tent for hot weather that will ensure proper air circulation.
- Consider a tent air conditioner.
Kodiak Canvas Tent Delux (4,6 and 8 people) is the Best Canvas Tent for hot weather.
Tip #4 - Bring special gear for your baby
Simple accessories will protect your baby from overheating and decrease overheating risks, such as:
- Baby summer hat
- Light clothes
- A camping summer stroller with cover
- Peapod camping bed
- An umbrella with SPF protection
- Camping pack and play (with mesh and ventilation area)
Tip #5 - Insulate your tent for summer camping
Insulating your tent for summer camping will keep your tent cool and with ideal temperature levels. Some insulation tips are:
- Use a tent tarp – it will avoid direct exposure to sunlight
- Use duct tape and/or pool noodles to suppress any minor leakage – This is essential if you are using a tent air conditioner
- Insulate your tent floor – it will avoid that heat accumulated on the soil transfer to your tent.
- Cover your tent with thermal blankets – Similar to the use of tent tarps.
If you want to read a detailed guide on how to insulate your tent for summer camping, read this article.
Tip #6 - Stay inside and avoid sun exposure
In summer, try keeping your baby inside to avoid sun exposure. Plan your activities well and preferably take them outdoors early in the morning or close to sunset time.
It is essential to avoid sun exposure from 10am to 4pm, when UV rays are the strongest. If you baby is older than 6 months and you are planning to expose them to the sun rays, it is advisable to wear a special sunscreen, such as babyganics SPF 50
- SPF 50 UVA/UVB protection
- Pediatrician and dermatologist tested
- Non-allergenic and tear-free
- Made without oxybenzone and octinoxate.
If you go out for a hike, protect the baby’s skin from the sun by covering them with a hat, loose clothing, or use a baby stroller with covers. Also, while hiking, ensure to keep your baby hydrated.
Tip #7 - Give them a bath
Bathing your baby during the day or before bed will cool them down. If your baby is overheating, opt for a cool lukewarm or cool bath.
A bath before bed will lower the body’s core temperature, aiding better sleep and relaxation. For camping days, a good alternative are inflatable baths – easy to transport, assemble, and low cost.
What are the signs that my baby is overheating during hot weather?
When you are camping with your baby, there are several things to watch out for if your baby has a high body temperature. Here are some signs to monitor.
Baby overheating sign #1 - Feeling warm to the touch
If you notice your baby feels warm to the touch, it is a sign of overheating.
The simplest way to tell if your baby is too hot is by touching their ears and neck. If they are red and hot, the temperature is too warm for the baby.
Ensure your baby is at a comfortable temperature both when sleeping and throughout the day because their temperatures vary. The optimal temperatures for babies range from 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.
Baby overheating sign #2 - Increase heartbeat
A rapid heartbeat is indicative that the baby’s cooling system is overworking to cool them down.
If you notice the baby has a rapid heartbeat or breathing, cool them as fast as possible – undress them, have a tent air conditioner or fan close, and keep them hydrated.
Baby overheating sign #3 - Red Skin
When babies are hot, some naturally get redder than others. When your baby has red skin combined with other symptoms, including nausea and sweating, the problem comes in.
If you notice the skin is red, find a shade or somewhere cool to prevent discomfort and other severe symptoms.
Baby overheating sign #4 - Sweating
The average temperature for a baby should be 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything over and above 100 degrees is dangerous, and it should ring a bell – sweating might be one of the earliest overheating signs.
If your baby’s temperature is 103-degrees but isn’t sweating, they may be in heatstroke territory, and you should call 911 immediately. The other crucial signs to note are:
- Unresponsiveness to touch and tickles
- Nausea and vomiting, which are signs of heatstroke
- Being dizzy or confused
- Seems overly sluggish, tired, or listless.
FAQ
How hot is too hot for camping with a baby?
Temperatures above 100 Fahrenheit degrees are already considered dangerous for babies.
Can I pass sunscreen on my baby?
It is not recommended to pass sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months. In fact, the FDA and the American American Academy of Pediatrics recommend not exposing infants to the sun below the 6-month threshold.
If your newborn is older than 6 months, you may consider using sunscreen, such as babyganics SPF 50 (detailed below). When choosing the product, check the following:
- Pick an option with a “Broad sprectrum” label – it will protect against both UVA and UVB
- SPF should be above 15
- Apply the sunscreen at least 30 min before sun exposure
- Reapply every 2 hours or after the baby have a shower
- Follow any special instructions by the manufacturer.
- SPF 50 UVA/UVB protection
- Pediatrician and dermatologist tested
- Non-allergenic and tear-free
- Made without oxybenzone and octinoxate.
If you go out for a hike, protect the baby’s skin from the sun by covering them with a hat, loose clothing, or use a baby stroller with covers. Also, while hiking, ensure to keep your baby hydrated.
How to keep a tent cool and avoid baby overheating?
If you have electricity at your campsite, consider bringing a portable AC.
If you don’t have electricity close by, consider the following measures:
- Choose the adequate tent fabric – Canvas tents offer great insulation
- Choose the best location to pitch your tent – Look for shaded areas
- Set your tent up at the right time – Preferably, pitch your tent around sunset
- Use battery and solar-powered devices – consider using a solar-powered fan or a mini ac (USB-powered)
- Use a reflective blanket
- Watch for tent ventilation
- Build a DIY Air Conditioner
If you want to read more about these tips, read this article.
Conclusion
When going camping with your baby in hot weather, the key thing to note is that babies cannot regulate their body temperature sufficiently as their organisms are still evolving.
Hence, avoid direct exposure to the sun and pay close attention to your baby’s environment. Check other factors like how they are dressed, hydration, campsite, tent insulation and ventilation to ensure safety.
If you notice any symptoms of your baby overheating, try out some cooling remedies, and if they continue to overheat, seek immediate medical attention. If you have questions concerning your baby when camping in hot weather, don’t hesitate to call your doctor.
