Some babies get overheated in the car seat. You may not feel hot, but your baby may be sweating from all the material and cushion around them—especially if they're crying. So make sure they are getting proper air circulation. You can even try connecting a portable fan to their seat.
Modern car seats typically do a great job of keeping our kids comfortable in thick padding that's designed for safety - but a downside to this is that babies overheat, especially in a rear-facing seat. Sunshades, a lifesaver! On hot days it's important to keep the sun out of your car as much as possible.
Act Fast.
If you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately and call 911. A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.
Dye says it takes only a few minutes for a child to overheat, suffocate and die in a car. Compared to adults, a child's body heats up three to five times faster. When left in a hot car, a child's major organs begin to shut down when their temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to healthychildren.org.
Overheating happens quite rapidly — it takes only 10 minutes for a car's temperature to rise 19 degrees F. When a child is left in a hot car, the major organs start to shut down when the body temperature reaches 104 degrees F. When the body temperature rises to 107 degrees F, a child can die.
According to Pantley, many infants hate the car seat because they dislike the lack of freedom to move around. This makes a lot of sense, especially for older infants who are practising and perfecting their gross motor skills. Many younger infants cry for the same reasons babies wake or cry as soon as they're put down.
The best way to determine if your baby is too hot is to feel the nape of their neck. If their cheeks are flushed and they're breathing rapidly, those are also good indicators of overheating.
If your infant is really distressed, sometimes a ride in the car will put them to sleep, though it can also make some more distressed. Children with reflux can suffer from motion sickness. They may vomit, complain of tummy pain or feeling sick, or may go very pale.
Your baby should not be in a car seat for longer than two hours at a time. Research has shown a link between travelling in car seats for long periods and breathing difficulties in young babies. If you are driving for a long period of time, it is important that you take regular breaks (at least every two hours).
The temperature can make your baby cry. They may cry because they are too hot or too cold. If your baby is fussy because of the temperature, there are signs that you can look for. Signs of the baby being too hot are sweating, damp hair, heat rash, or clammy skin.
Babies who are affected by heat stress feel overly warm to touch, can be irritable, look unwell, be floppy and their skin is drier. If you think your baby has overheated, take them inside and remove their clothing. Give them a bath and offer a feed.
Normal Infant Temperature
A normal temperature in babies is considered to be around 36.4 degrees celsius. Overheating and fevers in babies are considered to be around 38 degrees celsius or above.
Babies who get too hot may be overheating, which causes them to sweat. They may sweat all over the body or only in certain areas, such as the head. Sometimes, the area that sweats the most is the hottest. For example, a baby may sweat on their head if they are wearing a hat in the sun.
Fever - What You Should Know:
The body can become overheated from activity when it's hot outdoors. The temperature should come down to normal after drinking fluids and resting. This may take 1 or 2 hours. Fluids: First, have your child drink some liquids.
SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable. So, all infants in this age range are at risk for dysfunction of neurological control of breathing.
Are they in pain? The cry of a baby in pain is often quite distinctive. It begins without warning and is long, loud and shrill, followed by a big pause, as if they're holding their breath. They might tense their body, drawing up their hands and feet .
If your baby is making loud screechy noises (most babies start to do this between 6 ½ and 8 months), know that this is totally normal. Child development professionals actually refer to this as an important cognitive stage: your baby is learning that they have a voice and that adults will respond to it.
If your baby's crying constantly and you cannot console or distract them, or the cry does not sound like their normal cry, it can be a sign they're ill. Or they may be ill if they're crying and have other symptoms, such as a high temperature. If this is the case, contact your health visitor, GP or call NHS 111.
It is important to make sure that your baby is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. The chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot. A room temperature of 16-20°C – with light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag– is comfortable and safe for sleeping babies.
Overexcitement: If your baby is overexcited and moving around a lot, this can increase blood circulation and cause your baby's body to become hot. Hot weather: If your baby is exposed to sunlight for a long time or if the weather has gotten hot, it's normal for your baby to become hot.
Schedule in breaks and nap times
The best thing to do is schedule your drive around the time that your child would normally sleep. If it's a long journey, allow plenty of time for breaks so they can stretch their legs and get a break from the car seat.