This is the reason you should NEVER put a blanket over your child’s pram in hot weather to protect them from the sun
It's something a lot of parents do, but it's actually really dangerous
IT'S hard enough for adults to keep cool at the moment, but helping babies cope during the heatwave is even harder.
Making sure they don't overheat is really important because it's been found to increase their risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
This is why so many parents try to shield their little ones from the sun by covering their pram with a blanket or muslin cloth - but it's actually one of the worst things you can do as it INCREASES their chance of overheating.
That's because covering the pram makes the temperature inside it, where your baby is, soar.
In fact, researchers in Sweden claim the area gets so hot it's like a FURNACE.
Dr Svante Norgren is a paediatrician at a hospital in Stokholm, and explained to : "It gets extremely hot down in the pram, something like a thermos.
"There is also bad circulation of the air and it is hard to see the baby with a cover over the pram."
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Covering a pram with a blanket is such common practice you might not be completely convinced by the claim.
But Svenska Dagbladet tested the research itself.
A pram was put outside between 11.30am and 1pm, so when the sun is at its very hottest.
Without a blanket over it, the temperature inside was 22 degrees Celsius.
The pram was then covered, and the temperature jumped to a whopping 34 degrees.
That's a staggering leap, especially as baby's aren't as good at regulating their body temperature as adults.
It's a much better idea to keep your baby in the shade if you happen to be outside when it's hot.
If possible, remove the sides of your buggy too so air circulates, as that'll help keep your little one cool.
If you're not sure whether your baby is too hot, feel their tummy.
If it's warm, they are probably too hot and you should take some of their clothing off.
How to keep your baby cool in the heatwave
- Use lightweight blankets at night, as you can easily remove layers
- Babies lose heat from their heads, so at night make sure their head isn't covered by bed clothes
- Give you baby a quick, cool bath before bed
- Put ice in the room with the baby, it'll cool things down as it melts
- Place a bowl of cold water in front of a fan, it'll help bring the temperature down
- Don't worry about outfits if it's super hot, sometimes a vest and nappy is enough