How to keep your baby cool and comfortable in summer

Summer is fun, sure. All that time off and extra daylight is glorious but there are some, er, less exciting aspects. Sweat, chafing and extra sun exposure can all wreak havoc on your body but your little one? There’s even more you need to be conscious of.

We chatted with dermatologist Dr. Leona Yip about how the summer heat can affect your baby’s skin and what you can do about it.

For a baby, the summer heat can result in an array of skin issues. “Heat and moisture can irritate the skin in different ways and cause skin conditions such as heat rash (miliaria), aggravation of eczema and nappy rash, and sunburns from UV rays,” says Dr. Yip.

Protecting precious skin

When it comes to keeping skin cool, there are some key general measures you can implement. “Staying in air-conditioned areas or under shade, wearing loose-fitting “breathable” clothing, don’t swaddle or dress with more than one thin layer, to reduce sweating as much as possible. [And] when outdoors, ensure to cover up baby with protective clothing and broad-brimmed hats.”

Packing a perfect nappy bag is also key to protecting precious baby skin. Dr. Yip recommends that – aside from the usual nappy-changing essentials – you pack protective gear like a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. She also suggests a zinc oxide barrier cream or sprays to help prevent nappy rash.

beautyheaven loves Johnson's ® Desitin® Rapid Protection Nappy Rash Barrier Ointment, Sudocrem Healing Cream and DermaVeen Baby Nappy Rash Cream.

Nipping nappy rash in the bud

Extra fluid intake and increased sweating lead to more wet nappies and moisture in the nappy area which means you need to keep nappy rash top of mind. “Any eczema in the nappy area may also flare up in summer in the heat and with sweat,” says Dr. Yip.

To prevent and treat nappy rash during summer, Dr. Yip advises that you do the following:

Use disposable nappies over cloth ones (they’re more absorbent) and change them regularly (about every four hours for disposables and every two hours for cloth nappies) and as soon as possible once soiled.
Use soap-free bath oils and washes over soaps as they can irritate the skin more.
Try to give your baby as much nappy-free time as you can. Ideally 30 minutes a few times a day.
Keep moisture to a minimum by using a barrier cream and reapplying it every time you change a nappy. A zinc oxide barrier spray or paste is best to use.
Avoid using baby wipes where possible. Gently dab and clean the nappy area with a cloth or cotton with water instead.
Go to your GP for medical advice if there are red spots, pustules blisters, pain, a fever or if the nappy rash doesn’t respond to zinc oxide barrier cream as it may be infected.

Has your baby’s skin been affected by the summer heat? Did you try any of these tactics?

Main image: @chrissyteigen

22 Member Comments

Ellyloves 1 May 2021 8:14 AM

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Ellyloves 1 May 2021 8:13 AM

I find with air-conditioning - it can be really drying for the skin and body so that one is a bit contradicting.

The nappy rash, I would rinse with water and use a towel to dry and use a really good nappy ointment.

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Emily993 22 Nov 2019 1:57 PM

will send this to my sister who is expecting her first. great times ahead!

Emma171 31 Dec 2018 2:52 PM

Zinc spray has def been a life saver this past month!

Meedee 31 Dec 2018 8:14 AM

Dont you just love this photo of Chrissy? No make up and simply being a Mum. She looks wonderful.

clearcrystalwater 31 Dec 2018 6:18 AM

GReat tips for those with bubs & young ones. I just remember my littlies used to always squiggle so much when it was time for the sunscreen!

IndieAna 29 Dec 2018 4:33 PM

When my eldest 2 were little we had no aircon which was pretty tough, so there was a lot of cool baths.

Trish_D 28 Dec 2018 4:30 PM

Rather pleased I don't need to worry about this any longer.

Peach perfect 28 Dec 2018 2:03 PM

Great article. My kid is old enough to take off clothes and jump in pool by himself this summer but some good tips for new mommies

Snailor 28 Dec 2018 11:50 AM

Very good article for mummers and bubba!

ThisIsMe 28 Dec 2018 11:32 AM

I never brought my kids out in the sun when they were babies. And like Lucrecia629 mentioned 30 minutes without a nappy is impractical.

bebeautiful34 28 Dec 2018 10:04 AM

Great tips, it's hard to keep the little ones cool and happy during the hot summer

Ellyloves 28 Dec 2018 9:16 AM

I know which nappy rash ointment is the best

Beauty Fan 69 28 Dec 2018 7:40 AM

Thanks for the informative article.

Lucrecia629 28 Dec 2018 6:48 AM

Thirty nappy-free minutes a few times a day? Sounds great, but this is pretty impractical. A nice goal, but let's not beat ourselves up over it if we can't achieve that. Trust me, baby will be fine with a few minutes here and there. ALWAYS apply cream (every single change) and fragrance free wipes make all the difference. I also love those thermal water mists (Avene, LRP, etc). Kept in the fridge to be used on a hot day, my kids love them!

Hayley644 27 Dec 2018 7:56 PM

Everyone needs to be more conscious of keeping out of the sun in summer.

Nys Silver 27 Dec 2018 7:13 PM

My son was pretty much naked every summer until he was 6 lol. Beats the heat!

Yohanna 27 Dec 2018 6:05 PM

Just being smart and not going on the sun when is bad, plus high temp. Applies for all humans, not just tiny ones.

Miss19 27 Dec 2018 4:36 PM

No children for me but I've been applying sunscreen non stop!

Tee631 27 Dec 2018 1:37 PM

great article for mums

Chrystalage 27 Dec 2018 12:01 PM

I can't comment on children but on a different note, I need to keep my dogs cool. One of them has really bad skin issues affected by heat this time of year.

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