Dieser Beitrag wurde geschrieben von Dr. med. Annalena Dehé

Heatstroke in children: What to do?

Dr. med. Annalena Dehé

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

Sunstroke in children: Symptoms and sun protection

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

Table of contents

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

Beware of sunstroke – Signs of sunstroke in children

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

The most dangerous time of day is between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., because UV exposure is highest then. During this time, we should avoid staying in direct sunlight and, to protect against sunstroke, seek a place in the shade or even stay in cooler indoor spaces.

Since our babies cannot yet express themselves, it is important to observe our baby more closely if there is a change in behavior, which may be the first sign of sunstroke.

The serious symptoms of sunstroke often do not appear until several hours after exposure to the sun.

Classic symptoms of sunstroke in babies may include:

    • Impaired consciousness with increased drowsiness progressing to unconsciousness
    • Fever > 39 °C
    • Nausea with / without vomiting
    • Changes in behavior, e.g., with uncontrollable crying or restlessness
    • Skin redness: This can occasionally be 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 your baby’s first year of life is—and remains—avoiding direct sunlight. But let’s be honest: in summer, it’s nearly impossible to protect your baby from the sun’s rays 100%. Sunscreens fill the shelves of drugstores and pharmacies in huge quantities during summer. Yet it’s almost impossible to identify the one right cream. We’ve summarized a few selection criteria for you and for keeping your baby’s skin healthy:

Observe the recommended age.

Be sure to check these, as some products are only approved or recommended for ages 6 months and up.

Sufficient 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 itching.

Sustainable sun protection

Organic isn’t always organic. Whenever possible, sunscreen should be environmentally, animal, and reef friendly, as well as biodegradable and, ideally, free from the much-disliked nanoparticles.

You can of course also protect your baby from UV radiation and sunburn with the help of UV-protective clothing. It is advisable to look for the relevant product certifications, such as UV Standard 801 or freedom from harmful substances.

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Difference between sunstroke and heatstroke

In heat-related injuries such as overheating or heatstroke, body temperature rises extremely due to heat. Babies in particular have only limited ability to regulate their temperature. The increase in body temperature and the lack of regulation lead to heat buildup.

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

  • Overheating / heatstroke:

    • Elevated temperature, up to and including 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


    • Changes in behavior

Preventing overheating in children: Dos & Don’ts

What often begins as an apparently good idea can pose significant dangers. Covering the stroller with a cloth has many undesirable side effects. Since temperature regulation does not yet function properly during infancy, heat buildup in the stroller can cause your baby to suffer heatstroke. In addition, the oxygen content in the air under the cloth decreases, while 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 .


Airy sun canopies or UV-absorbing umbrellas are better suited; when positioned correctly, they allow air to continue circulating properly.

Overheating in the car

Your baby has fallen asleep exhausted in the car seat after an outing. Unfortunately, incidents of overheating in cars occur time and again when parents leave their babies in a parked car for even just a few minutes to unload all the bags or groceries. Due to the materials used and the large window and glass surfaces, temperatures inside the car can rise very quickly and dramatically. 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 if children suffer from sunstroke or overheating?

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

  • Move to a cooler area with shade.

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

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

In the event of any unexplained impairment of consciousness, the emergency doctor or emergency medical services should be called via 112. Babies and toddlers have a much smaller fluid reserve than adults, meaning that any fluid loss affects them more quickly. These babies and toddlers are therefore usually admitted briefly as inpatients for fluid therapy and controlled reduction of fever.

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

Have a great time getting through those first years in the sun!

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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