We finally attempted the highly sought-after Angel’s Landing hike in Zion National Park with our baby in 2019. Only to turn around an hour later as the temperature was climbing faster than we could, and our one-year-old was overheating in the carrier.
Babies and toddlers are prone to suffer from heat stroke and dehydration faster than adults and older children are. They have a difficult time regulating their temperature, especially since babies don’t sweat.
It might be best to gradually bring down a baby’s temperature if they are becoming too hot, (so don’t go dumping ice cold water on their head), but most importantly prevent them from getting too hot in the first place.
When holding an infant, use cooling devices for yourself to keep baby cool. If you’re hot and sweaty with baby in the carrier, I bet baby is hotter. That was me in Rome, the London tube during a heat wave… I think those were the worst. We were wiping that boy down with water left and right.
Here are some tips while you’re out enjoying the summer sun.
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Dress Appropriately
And no, I don’t mean your “dressy sweats.” I mean dress the baby how you are dressed.
I know, common sense, right? Well, you’d be surprised.
Light-colored, breathable material like organic bamboo or linen/cotton blends are best.
Get ‘Milk Drunk’
Babies need more fluids when flying on a plane or out in the heat, even if they aren’t the ones doing the hiking!
Babies over 6 months can have moderate amounts of water, but under 6 months may need a bit more milk or formula than usual when out in the heat.
It is recommended to give baby 50% more milk when in the heat. Therefore, a 10-pound baby who usually gets 20 ounces should be offered at least 30 ounces.
If you have a toddler that doesn’t want to drink extra fluids, try popsicles or frozen berries in a silicone feeder. Who would pass up that yummy refreshing treat? If that still doesn’t do the trick, try watermelon or other hydrating fruits if they are eating solids.
Give Pedialyte if your baby is approaching dehydration. These packets are easy for on-the-go.
I also like the Pedialyte freezer pops idea. We have them but have yet to use them. You can eat them frozen or at room temp, but I’m sure they are more enjoyable frozen. The box says they are for age 1 and up.
Keep That Air Flowin’
Use a portable fan to keep baby cool. Attach one of these to the stroller or hiking carrier.
Make sure the fan is not in baby’s arms’ reach, so their adorable short fingers don’t become even shorter.
We also use the fan spray bottles to spray hands, feet and head (from a distance so you aren’t dousing them!). I just buy little cheap old-fashioned spray bottles from the dollar store or Walmart so you don’t need a battery, but here is something fancy from Amazon:
Cooling Cloths
Use a cool washcloth or burp cloth to dab baby’s hands, feet, head and place on the back of their neck if they’ll let you!
Remove their hat while in the shade to allow their head to cool down.
This is not intended for children under 3, however you should use one like this for yourself if holding baby or using a carrier.
Insert a frozen gel pack into this cooling burp cloth and place for them to lie on (in stroller, on you, or in the carrier). These may not be travel-friendly though, depending on what time you leave and set out for the heat and whether you have a cooler to keep it frozen. I’m not sure how long they last.
Find Some Shade
Find and rest in the shade as much as possible. Leave early to avoid mid-day heat. Both no-brainers. But we were one for two.
Take frequent breaks to keep yourself cooler. Also make sure your toddler isn’t over-exerting if they are out in the heat.
Put a hat and sunscreen on your little ones.
Use a sunshade: in the car, in the stroller, on the hiking carrier…wherever baby is!
Those car seats can get pretty hot, so make sure it is well-ventilated in the backseat. They make cooling devices for car seats but that would alter the safety of the seat itself, so I don’t have them linked here.
Keep baby covered with a breathable sun shade while in the stroller. There are several on Amazon depending on the style of stroller that you have.
I’d still place a fan on the inside of this for some added ventilation.
This shade has the best ratings:
These have some mixed reviews:
I couldn’t find any good shades for hiking carriers. Leave a comment below if you have any good recs. We have the Deuter carrier and theirs are out of stock.
I’d recommend getting a carrier that comes with one, like this one (although it isn’t shown here):
Choose the Right Baby Carrier
Walking around Rome in June with a baby carrier – you both are going to be sweating. Take it from my personal experience!
Choose a breathable carrier and keep yourself as cool as possible since these are still very warm. Choose something like these top-rated ones:
Remember, the biggest tips are these obvious ones:
- leave earlier than you think
- stay well-hydrated, offer at least 50% more fluid than usual
- find some shade or plan ahead for shaded trails
- avoid lines or crowded places where you might get “stuck” in the heat (e.g. Rome!)
- always have extra water and a cool, wet rag to put on your baby or toddler
Oh, and the Angel’s Landing hike? We went back two years later and finished it (well, up until the more dangerous section with chains). We left much earlier in the day during our second attempt, and we were more prepared to keep our little guys cool.
