How to avoid your holiday 'going South' in a heatwave:
Heat safety tips for kids
🧳 Heading South with Small Kids? Here’s How to Handle a Heatwave
If you’re one of the many Irish or UK families heading to Southern Europe this summer-Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy-you might already be dreaming of warm beaches and outdoor cafés. But the headlines are full of news of a heatwave in Southern Europe. And if you're bringing a baby, toddler, or young kids with you, a heatwave can turn dreamy into daunting... fast.
Here’s a guide to keeping little ones cool, safe, and hydrated when the mercury rises.
☀️ Timing Is Everything: Avoid Peak Sun
Let’s start with the basics. In Southern Europe, the sun is strongest between 11am and 4pm—that’s when the risk of sunburn, heat exhaustion, and cranky meltdowns skyrockets.
🕗 Best time to go out?
Before 10am and after 5pm.
Think early breakfasts outdoors, evening strolls, and lazy mid-afternoons inside.
🏖️ Shade Is Your Best Friend
Whether you're on the beach or at a café:
Look for natural shade (trees, canopies, awnings).
Invest in a UV-protective parasol or pop-up tent.
For buggy naps, use a clip-on shade—not a blanket (those trap heat!).
🥤 Hydration: What Kids Need (and When)
Dehydration creeps in quickly, especially when kids are too distracted or young to ask for a drink.
Toddlers & Older Kids:
Offer water constantly, not just when they’re thirsty.
Avoid sugary juices or fizzy drinks in the heat.
Tip: Watermelon, cucumber sticks, and fruit ice lollies count!
Babies Over 6 Months:
Can have cooled, boiled water between feeds (up to around 240ml/day).
Breastmilk or formula still comes first.
Babies Under 6 Months:
No water! Just breastmilk or formula on demand.
Offer more frequent feeds—this keeps them hydrated.
🔴 What’s Heat Rash?
Those tiny red bumps on your baby’s neck or back? Likely heat rash (aka prickly heat). It happens when sweat clogs little pores.
👶 To prevent it:
Dress kids in loose cotton, not synthetic fabrics.
Keep their skin dry and well-ventilated.
🧴 To treat it:
Cool baths.
Gentle pat dry (don’t rub!).
Calamine lotion if needed.
👒 Sunhats: Essential… Even If They Resist
Look for:
Wide-brimmed or legionnaire-style hats.
Made of lightweight, breathable cotton with UV protection.
🎩 Got a hat refuser?
Normalize it at home—make it part of your routine.
Let them pick the hat.
Distract, play, or put your own on (kids love to copy!).
😅 Is It Normal for Babies to Sweat?
Yep! Babies can and do sweat—especially during naps or feeding. But if they’re soaked, looking flushed, or irritable, they could be overheating.
⚠️ Heat Stroke: What Parents Must Know
Know the danger signs:
Flushed, hot, dry skin
Rapid breathing or weakness
Lethargy, vomiting, or confusion
🆘 If you suspect heat stroke:
Get them out of the sun immediately.
Cool them with damp cloths or a lukewarm bath.
Offer water if they’re awake.
Seek medical help immediately.
🔥 Is Extreme Heat Dangerous for Kids?
Yes. Babies and toddlers:
Overheat quickly
Are more vulnerable to dehydration
Can’t always communicate when they feel unwell
🪭 Keeping Cool Without Air Con
Not all apartments or campsites in Europe have air conditioning.
Here’s what helps:
Use battery-powered fans.
Keep curtains closed during the day.
Open windows in the evening.
Dress baby in just a nappy or a single layer for sleep.
Damp flannel wipe-downs can be incredibly refreshing.
🧴 The Lowdown on Sunscreen
Babies Under 6 Months:
No sunscreen—their skin is too delicate.
Rely on shade, clothing, hats.
6 Months+:
Use a broad-spectrum SPF 50, water-resistant, mineral-based if possible.
🔍 Why the sunscreen drama?
There is a strange trend of fearmongering around sunscreen at the moment. Sunscreen protects your child against sunburn in the short term, and skin cancer in the long term. You might prefer to use a mineral sunscreen instead of a chemical based sunscreen, but please, for your child’s safety, use sunscreen.
❓Should You Cancel If a Heatwave Is Forecast?
Honestly? If you're travelling with a baby or toddler and it’s heading for 40°C+, it's worth a rethink.
👀 Consider:
Choosing a coastal or mountain area instead.
Booking a place with guaranteed air con.
Going off-peak. Early June or September are far more manageable.
🧘♀️ Final Word: Stay Flexible
Don’t try to stick to a strict itinerary. In high heat, everything slows down…and that’s OK. Embrace it.
🏖️ A slow, shaded beach morning.
🧊 A long nap during the hottest hours.
🍉 A cold slice of watermelon under a tree.
💦 A splash in a cool pool before dinner.
That’s the kind of holiday your kids will remember and you’ll actually enjoy.