Dieser Beitrag wurde geschrieben von Dr. med. Annalena Dehé

Heatstroke in children: What to do?

Dr. med. Annalena Dehé

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

Sunstroke in children: symptoms and sun protection

During the summer season, parents face rising temperatures, exposure to the sun, and the associated risk of heat-related harm such as overheating, sunburn and sunstroke in babies and toddlers. A baby's delicate skin is particularly vulnerable during the first year, which is why it is so important to protect your infant as well as possible from the dangers of sun and heat.

Table of contents

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

Warning: Heatstroke – Signs of heatstroke in children

The longer we stay in the sun with our baby, the higher the risk of suffering sun damage such as sunstroke. Infants should never be exposed to the sun without cover 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 sunstroke, partly because babies often have little or no hair.

The most dangerous time of day is between 11–15, as UV levels are highest then. We should avoid direct sunlight at this time and, to protect ourselves from sunstroke, find a place in the shade or even stay in cooler indoor spaces.

Since our babies cannot yet express themselves, it is important to watch them closely for changes in behavior, which can be the first sign of sunstroke.

The severe symptoms of sunstroke often only occur several hours after exposure to the sun.

Classic symptoms of sunstroke in babies may include:

    • Altered consciousness with increased drowsiness up to unconsciousness
    • Fever > 39 °C
    • Nausea with / without vomiting
    • Personality changes, e.g., with uncontrollable crying or agitation
    • 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 fluctuations in blood pressure.

The Right Sun Protection for Babies and Children

The best protection against sunstroke during the first year of life is and always will be avoiding direct sunlight. But let’s be honest: in summer, it’s almost impossible to protect your baby 100% from the sun’s rays. In summer, drugstores and pharmacies are packed with sunscreens. But finding the one right cream is almost impossible. Here are a few selection criteria for you and your baby’s healthy skin:

Please follow the age recommendation

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

Adequate sun protection factor

The SPF should be at least 50.

Test sunscreens

Sunscreens should first be tested on a small area of peripheral skin, such as the lower leg. Watch for signs of an allergic reaction, such as redness or itchy skin.

Sustainable sun protection

Organic doesn’t always mean the same thing. If possible, sunscreen should be environmentally friendly, cruelty-free, reef-safe, and biodegradable, and ideally free of those undesirable nanoparticles.

You can also protect your baby from UV radiation and sunstroke, of course, with the help of UV-protective clothing . It’s a good idea to check for the relevant product certifications, such as UV Standard 801 or proof that the clothing is free from harmful substances.

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Difference between sunstroke and heatstroke

In heat-related illnesses such as overheating or heatstroke , body temperature rises dramatically due to heat. Babies in particular have a limited ability to regulate their temperature. The increased body temperature and inability to regulate it lead to heat buildup.

A sunstroke , on the other hand, is overheating of the head, for example after prolonged direct exposure of the head and neck to sunlight. This also affects the brain. The intense sunlight causes the temperature of the brain to rise dramatically, with the risk of irritation of the meninges and even 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


    • Flushed face


    • Neck pain progressing to neck stiffness


    • Nausea and vomiting


    • Impaired consciousness


    • Personality changes

Preventing overheating in children: Dos and don’ts

What often starts as a genuinely good idea carries great risks. Covering the stroller with a cloth can have many harmful side effects. Since temperature regulation does not yet work properly during infancy, heat can build up in the stroller and cause your baby to suffer heatstroke. In addition, the oxygen content 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 feed ,
  • have slower breathing, and
  • possibly even experience pauses in breathing .


A more suitable option is a lightweight sunshade or UV-absorbing umbrella, positioned correctly to ensure that air can still circulate well.

Overheating in the car

Your baby has fallen asleep, exhausted after an outing, in the car seat. Unfortunately, overheating incidents in cars happen again and again when parents leave their babies in a parked car for just a few minutes while unloading all the bags or groceries. Because of the materials and the large window and glass surfaces, temperatures inside a car can rise very quickly and significantly. Just 5 minutes at an outdoor temperature of > 30 °C is enough to reach dangerous temperatures of around 40 °C or higher.

What should you do if a child gets sunstroke or overheats?

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

  • Move to a cooler area in the shade.

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

  • Now monitor the baby’s or child’s breathing and consciousness to decide what further measures need to be taken.

Whenever there is an unclear reduction in consciousness, the emergency doctor or emergency medical services should be called on 112. Babies and toddlers have a much lower fluid reserve than adults, meaning that any fluid loss affects them more quickly. These babies and toddlers are usually admitted for a short hospital stay for fluid therapy and controlled fever reduction.

We hope you were able to take away a tip or two for the summer.

Have a great time during those first sunny years!

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

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

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