Strollers can overheat babies in hot weather

What the research found

A 2023 study in Ergonomics tested eight stroller set-ups across 16 hot summer days, with an average air temperature of 33.3°C. Draping a dry muslin over the stroller raised the temperature inside by 2.6°C. A flannelette cloth raised it by 3.7°C.

The same study found that a moist muslin cloth combined with a battery-operated clip-on fan cooled the stroller best. It lowered the air temperature inside by 4.7°C compared with a standard set-up.

Red Nose Australia says covering a pram with plastic, a blanket or dry fabric cuts airflow and raises the temperature inside. It notes that overheating is a known risk factor for SIDS and sudden unexpected death in infancy. Its advice for health professionals says even light muslin can create unsafe heat.

What it doesn’t mean

• The study measured temperatures inside an instrumented stroller. It did not measure babies' body temperatures, so it shows the risk rather than how often babies actually overheat.
• Guidance differs a little on covers. One Red Nose page suggests a damp muslin, re-wetted every 20 minutes, as a safer option than dry cloth. Another says any cloth cover can be unsafe. Shade, an umbrella, and outings earlier or later in the day avoid the problem.
• Check your baby often in the heat. Signs of heat stress include listlessness, irritability, pale and clammy skin that becomes hot and flushed, and sweating that eases off. If you are worried, talk to a GP or child health nurse.