Heatwave safety for babies

All ages · Health · Reviewed 12 June 2026 · All articles

Baby being kept cool during an Australian heatwave

Australian summers are unlike almost anywhere else on earth. When the Bureau of Meteorology issues an Extreme Heat warning, temperatures across much of the continent regularly climb to 40 degrees Celsius and above. In South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, heatwaves of 43 to 47 degrees are not rare events. For adults these are uncomfortable and potentially dangerous days. For babies, they are a genuine medical emergency if the right precautions are not taken.

Babies under 12 months are at the highest risk of heat-related illness during a heatwave. They cannot regulate their own body temperature, they cannot move themselves somewhere cooler, and they cannot tell you they are suffering. Parents and carers are entirely responsible for keeping them safe. This article is built on guidance from Healthdirect Australia and is intended to give you a clear, practical plan for the hottest days of the year.

Why heatwaves are especially dangerous for babies

All babies are vulnerable to heat, but Australian heatwaves present a level of risk that goes well beyond ordinary hot weather. The temperature difference matters: a 28-degree day in Sydney and a 43-degree day in Adelaide are not the same problem on a different scale. They require different responses.

Babies cannot thermoregulate effectively. The brain structures that govern body temperature are still maturing in the first year of life. Unlike adults, babies cannot sweat efficiently to release heat, cannot shiver to warm up, and cannot adjust their behaviour in response to feeling too hot. Their body surface area is large relative to their body weight, which means they absorb heat from a hot environment quickly and cannot easily shed it. A baby's core temperature can rise to dangerous levels much faster than an adult's in the same conditions.

During a heatwave, the risk compounds through the night as well. When overnight temperatures remain high, a home without air conditioning can stay above 30 degrees even at 2am. A baby who is hot, dry, and restless during the night is at risk for the same reasons they are during the day, but it can be harder to spot the signs when you are tired and the room is dark.

The Bureau of Meteorology defines a heatwave as a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather. Extreme heat warnings are issued when forecast temperatures are expected to cause severe health consequences, particularly for vulnerable groups including babies, young children, elderly people, and those with chronic illness. When you see an Extreme Heat warning issued for your area, treat it as a signal to change your plans for that day and the days following.

Where to go when your home gets too hot

The single most important thing you can do during a heatwave is keep your baby in an air-conditioned environment. Healthdirect Australia advises going indoors with air conditioning when outdoor temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius or above. If your home has reliable air conditioning, use it. Set it to maintain the room below 26 degrees Celsius and keep your baby away from the direct airflow of the unit.

Many Australian homes, particularly older homes and rentals, do not have air conditioning or have systems that cannot cope with extreme heat. If that is your situation, do not stay at home during a heatwave. Take your baby to:

Community cooling centres are a specifically Australian resource. During declared heatwave events, local councils across every state and territory open free, air-conditioned public spaces for people without adequate cooling at home. Locations vary by council and by event. Check your council's website before the heatwave hits to find out where your nearest cooling centre is and what its hours are during an extreme heat event. If you cannot find this information online, call your council directly.

The Bureau of Meteorology publishes Extreme Heat warnings on its website at bom.gov.au and on its app. State health departments, including NSW Health, SA Health, and VIC Health, also issue heatwave health alerts and often publish lists of cooling centre locations. Checking these resources the day before a forecast extreme heat event gives you time to make a plan before the heat is at its worst.

If you are planning to travel by car to reach a cool space, do so in the early morning before temperatures peak, or after they begin to drop in the late afternoon. Avoid travelling with a baby in a car during the hottest part of the day if it can be avoided.

Keeping your baby cool at home

If you do have air conditioning, or during the cooler parts of a heatwave day, there are practical steps you can take to reduce the heat load on your baby at home.

Dress your baby appropriately. During a heatwave, a lightweight cotton singlet and a nappy is enough clothing. Natural fabrics like cotton breathe and allow heat to escape from the skin. Remove any extra layers. Do not swaddle tightly in hot weather as this traps heat against the body.

Cool the room, not just the baby. Close blinds, curtains, and external shutters on windows that receive direct sun during the day. This can make a significant difference to room temperature. Open windows and doors in the evening when outdoor temperatures fall below indoor temperatures to let cooler air through overnight.

Use a fan with care. A fan can help circulate air and make a room feel cooler. Do not point it directly at your baby. Position it to move air around the room rather than blowing a concentrated draught onto your baby's face or body. On its own, a fan does not cool the air temperature: it helps the body lose heat through evaporation from the skin, which is why it is less effective when a baby is very hot and not sweating.

Cool sponge-downs. Wipe your baby's skin with a cloth dampened with cool (not cold) water. Focus on areas where blood vessels are close to the surface: the forehead, neck, wrists, and the backs of the knees. Avoid using very cold or iced water, which can cause the skin's blood vessels to constrict and actually trap heat inside the body. Lukewarm or cool water is the right temperature.

Aim for a room temperature below 26 degrees Celsius. A room thermometer placed at the level where your baby sleeps or rests is the most reliable way to monitor this. Relying on how the room feels to you is not an accurate guide.

Hydration during a heatwave

Babies lose more fluid through sweat and faster breathing in hot weather. Keeping your baby adequately hydrated is critical during a heatwave.

Breastfed babies: Offer feeds more frequently than you usually would. Breast milk is made up mostly of water and provides everything a breastfed baby needs to stay hydrated, even in extreme heat. Your body will adjust to produce more milk in response to more frequent feeding. Do not give breastfed babies under 6 months water in addition to breast milk as the primary source of hydration.

Formula-fed babies under 6 months: Continue to offer formula feeds as usual. During a heatwave, you can also offer small amounts of cool boiled water between feeds. Do not dilute formula with extra water, as this reduces the nutritional content and can cause electrolyte imbalance in young babies.

Formula-fed or mixed-fed babies over 6 months: Offer cool water freely. At this age, water can be given in a bottle or a sippy cup alongside formula and solid foods. Aim to offer water at regular intervals, not just when your baby seems thirsty, as babies do not always show obvious signs of thirst before dehydration sets in.

Signs of dehydration to watch for during a heatwave:

If you notice signs of dehydration, offer a feed or water immediately and contact your GP or call the Healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222. If your baby is very lethargic, not waking easily, or has sunken eyes alongside no wet nappies, seek urgent medical attention or call 000.

Never leave a baby in a car

This cannot be stated strongly enough: never leave a baby alone in a parked car during hot weather, and never leave them in a parked car at any time in Australia, even for a moment.

The interior of a parked car heats up with extraordinary speed in Australian conditions. On a 30-degree day, the inside of a car with the windows closed can reach 50 degrees within 20 minutes. On a 40-degree day, the interior can reach 70 degrees or above within minutes. A baby left in a hot car can develop heatstroke and lose consciousness within minutes, and can die within a short period of time. Cracking a window does not meaningfully slow this process.

These are not worst-case scenarios. Every summer in Australia, children die in hot cars and many more are hospitalised. Most of these cases involve a momentary lapse of attention, a routine broken by distraction, or a misunderstanding about who was responsible for the child.

When you park your car with your baby, develop a habit of always checking the back seat before you lock and walk away. If you see a baby or young child alone in a hot car, act immediately: call 000. Do not wait to see if someone returns to the vehicle. If the child appears to be in distress and no one is coming, emergency services may authorise breaking a window to get them out. Follow the instructions of the 000 operator.

When driving with your baby, use window sunshades on rear windows to reduce the heat around the car seat. Run the car's air conditioning for a few minutes before putting your baby in on hot days. Never leave your baby in the car while you refuel, pay for parking, or run a quick errand.

Signs of heat stress and heatstroke: when to call 000

Recognising the difference between heat stress and heatstroke could save your baby's life. Both are serious, but heatstroke is a medical emergency that requires calling 000.

Signs of heat stress

Heat stress (also called heat exhaustion) occurs when your baby's body is struggling to cope with the heat but has not yet reached a dangerous core temperature. Signs include:

If you see these signs, act immediately: move your baby to a cool, air-conditioned space, remove clothing down to their nappy and singlet, offer a feed, and use a cool damp cloth on their skin. Monitor them closely. If the signs do not begin to improve within 30 minutes of cooling, or if they worsen at any point, call 000.

Signs of heatstroke: call 000

Heatstroke occurs when the body's temperature-regulating system has failed and core temperature has risen to a dangerous level. This is a medical emergency. According to Healthdirect Australia, signs of heatstroke include:

Call 000 immediately if you see any of these signs. Tell the operator you have a baby with suspected heatstroke and follow their instructions. While waiting for emergency services, move your baby to the coolest place you can find, remove their clothing, and apply a cool (not ice cold) wet cloth to their skin, particularly around the neck, armpits, and groin where major blood vessels are close to the surface. Do not submerge your baby in cold water or apply ice.

Do not wait to see if things improve before calling. Heatstroke in a baby can cause brain damage and be fatal if treatment is delayed. The 000 operator will guide you through what to do while help is on the way.

Preparing for heatwaves before they hit

The most effective thing you can do for your baby's safety during a heatwave is to make a plan before temperatures rise. Once a heatwave is underway, acting in the heat with a distressed baby is harder and more stressful than having a plan already in place.

Find your nearest community cooling centre now. Check your local council website to find out where cooling centres in your area are located and how to find out when they are open. Save the council phone number in your phone. Do this before summer begins, not on the morning of an extreme heat event.

Make sure you have a portable fan. On days when air conditioning fails or you need to stay home for part of the day, a portable fan gives you options. A battery-powered fan is useful if power is unreliable.

Keep cool boiled water in the fridge. Having cool boiled water ready means you are not preparing it in the heat when you need it quickly.

Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast daily in summer. The BOM app and bom.gov.au publish multi-day forecasts and issue Extreme Heat warnings well in advance. Knowing 48 hours ahead that a heatwave is coming gives you time to arrange where you will spend the hottest days.

Check on neighbours and family. Heatwaves are community-wide events. Elderly neighbours, families without air conditioning, and people living alone are all at elevated risk. A phone call or a knock on the door costs nothing and can matter enormously during an extreme heat event.

Know your signs and know your number. In Australia, the emergency number is 000. Programme it to the front of your mind alongside the signs of heatstroke above. If you are ever in doubt about whether your baby needs emergency help during a heatwave, call. It is always better to call and be reassured than to wait and regret it.

Frequently asked questions

At what temperature is it too hot for a baby in Australia?

Healthdirect Australia recommends keeping babies indoors in an air-conditioned space when outdoor temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius or above. At these temperatures, babies face a real risk of heat stress because they cannot regulate their own body temperature. If your home does not have effective air conditioning, go to a library, shopping centre, community cooling centre, or a friend or family member's home that is air-conditioned.

What should I do if my home gets too hot for my baby?

Leave and go somewhere cool. Australian councils operate community cooling centres during declared heatwaves: these are free, air-conditioned spaces open to the public. Libraries and shopping centres are also good options. Close blinds and curtains before you leave to slow heat build-up in your home. Aim to be in a cool space during the hottest part of the day, typically between 11am and 4pm during a heatwave.

What are the signs of heatstroke in a baby?

Heatstroke in a baby is a medical emergency. Signs include a very high temperature, hot dry skin that is not sweating, rapid or difficult breathing, a baby who is very difficult to rouse or unresponsive, pale or grey skin, and a floppy body. If you see these signs, call 000 immediately. While waiting for help, move your baby to the coolest place available and apply a cool (not iced) damp cloth to their skin.

Can I give my baby water during a heatwave?

If you are breastfeeding, offer feeds more frequently: breast milk provides all the hydration a breastfed baby needs. For formula-fed babies under 6 months, small amounts of cool boiled water can be offered between feeds during a heatwave. For formula-fed or mixed-fed babies over 6 months, offer cool water freely alongside formula. Do not dilute formula with extra water.

What is a community cooling centre?

A community cooling centre is a free, air-conditioned public space that Australian councils open during declared heatwave events, specifically for people without adequate cooling at home. Locations vary by council and are typically community halls, libraries, or other public buildings. Check your local council's website or call them to find your nearest cooling centre before a heatwave is forecast. State health department websites, such as NSW Health and SA Health, often publish updated lists during extreme heat events.

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