Dieser Beitrag wurde geschrieben von Dr. med. Annalena Dehé

Sunstroke in Children: What to Do?

Dr. med. Annalena Dehé

Co-founder of the 12minutes emergency training, mother of two, and specialist in internal medicine.

Heatstroke in Children: Symptoms and Sun Protection

In the summer season, parents face rising temperatures, sunshine, and the associated risks of heat damage such as overheating, sunburn, and heatstroke in babies and toddlers. The delicate baby skin is especially vulnerable during the first year, which is why it is so important to protect your infant as best as possible from the dangers of sun and heat.

Table of Contents

  • Signs of sunstroke
  • The right sun protection for babies and children
  • Difference: sunstroke and heatstroke
  • Avoid overheating: dos and don'ts
  • What to do in case of sunstroke or overheating?

Beware of Heatstroke – Signs of Heatstroke in Children

The longer we spend with our baby in the sun, the higher the risk of suffering sun damage such as heatstroke. Infants should never be exposed to the sun uncovered during their first year of life. In particular, the head and neck must be protected from sunlight, for example with a Sun Hat that absorbs UV rays. The sensitive skin on the head is especially vulnerable to heatstroke, partly due to the often absent or sparse hair.

The most dangerous time of day is between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., as UV exposure is highest then. During this time, we should avoid direct sunlight and instead seek shade or even stay indoors in cooler environments to protect against heatstroke.

Since our babies cannot express themselves yet, it is important to closely observe our baby for any changes in behavior, which can be the first sign of heatstroke.

Severe symptoms of heatstroke often appear only several hours after sun exposure.

Classic symptoms of a heatstroke in babies can include:

    • Impaired consciousness with increased drowsiness up to unconsciousness
    • Fever > 39 °C
    • Nausea with / without vomiting
    • Change in character, e.g., with uncontrollable crying or restlessness
    • Skin redness: This is occasionally observed, for example, on the head. The skin on the body does not necessarily have to be overheated; in some cases, the arms and legs may even cool down due to blood pressure fluctuations.

The right sun protection for babies and children

The best protection against sunstroke in the first year of life is and remains to avoid direct sunlight. But let's be honest, in summer it is almost impossible to protect your baby 100% from the sun's rays. Sunscreens fill the shelves in drugstores and pharmacies in large quantities during summer. However, filtering out the one right cream is almost impossible. Here we have summarized a few selection criteria for you and healthy baby skin:

Observe age recommendation

Be sure to check these, as some products are only approved or recommended from 6 months onwards.

Sufficient sun protection factor

The SPF should be at least 50.

Testing sunscreens

Sunscreens should first be tested on a peripheral area of skin, such as the lower leg, in a small area. Attention should be paid to signs of allergy such as redness or skin itching.

Sustainable sun protection

Organic is not just organic. Whenever possible, sunscreen should be environmentally, animal, and coral-friendly, biodegradable, and ideally free from unwanted nanoparticles.

You can of course also protect your baby from UV radiation and sunstroke with the help of UV protective clothing. It is advisable to pay attention to the relevant product certifications, such as UV Standard 801 or being free of harmful substances.

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Difference: Sunstroke and Heatstroke

In cases of heat damage such as overheating or heat stroke, the body temperature rises extremely due to heat and warmth. Especially babies can only regulate their temperature to a limited extent. The increase in body temperature and the lack of regulation lead to a heat buildup.

A sunstroke, on the other hand, is an overheating of the head, for example after prolonged direct exposure to sunlight on the head and neck area. This additionally affects the brain. This intense sunlight causes the temperature of the brain to rise extremely, with the risk of irritation of the meninges up to brain swelling, which can lead to further symptoms.

  • Overheating / Heatstroke:

    • Elevated temperature up to fever


    • Shallow and rapid breathing


    • Red skin


    • Signs of shock such as:


    • Low blood pressure


    • Rapid heart rate

  • Sunstroke:

    • Fever >39°C


    • Red face


    • Neck pain to neck stiffness


    • Nausea and vomiting


    • Impaired consciousness


    • Change in behavior

Preventing Overheating in Children: Dos & Don’ts

What often starts as a seemingly good idea carries great dangers. Covering the stroller with a cloth has many unfavorable side effects. Since temperature regulation in infancy is not yet fully developed, heat buildup in the stroller can lead to heatstroke in your baby. Additionally, the oxygen level in the air under the cloth decreases, and carbon dioxide from exhaled air can accumulate. This can cause your baby to

  • become sleepy and reluctant to drink,
  • have slowed breathing, and
  • possibly even experience breathing pauses.


Better options are airy sun sails or UV-absorbing canopies, which, when properly positioned, ensure that air can still circulate well.

Overheating in the car

Your baby has fallen asleep exhausted in the car seat after an outing. Unfortunately, incidents of overheating in the car frequently occur when parents leave their babies in the parked car for just a few minutes to unload all bags or groceries. In the car, due to the materials and the large windows and glass surfaces, temperatures can rise very quickly and significantly. Just 5 minutes at an outside temperature of > 30 °C is enough to reach dangerous temperatures of around 40 °C or higher.

What to do in case of sunstroke or overheating in children?

If you suspect your child has a sunstroke or heatstroke, you can proceed as follows:

  • Move to a cooler environment with shade.

  • You can dab the child's head and neck with a lukewarm-cool cloth, about 20 °C.

  • Now monitor the breathing and consciousness of the baby or child to decide which further measures need to be taken.

In any case of unclear consciousness impairment, the emergency doctor or paramedics should be alerted via 112. Babies and toddlers have a much smaller fluid reserve compared to adults, meaning any fluid loss affects them more quickly. Normally, these babies and toddlers are then admitted for a short stay for fluid therapy and controlled fever reduction.

We hope you were able to take away one or two tips for the summer.

Wishing you a great start to the sunny years!

Dr. med. Annalena Dehé
Dr. Annalena Dehé is a mother of twins and a specialist in internal medicine. Together with her husband, Dr. Lukas Dehé, she co-founded the 12minutes emergency training program, which empowers parents to provide first aid to children at home.

Mehr Informationen über Dr. med. Annalena Dehé findest du hier.

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