Dieser Beitrag wurde geschrieben von Dr. Annalena Dehé, MD

Sunstroke in children: What to do?

Dr. Annalena Dehé, MD

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

Heatstroke in Children: Symptoms and Sun Protection

During the summer season, parents face rising temperatures, sunlight, and the associated risks of heat-related damage such as overheating, sunburn, and heatstroke in babies and toddlers. The delicate baby skin is especially vulnerable in 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: sunstroke and heatstroke
  • 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 spend time with our baby in the sun, the higher the risk of 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 sun exposure, for example with a Sun Hat that absorbs UV rays. The sensitive skin on the head is especially vulnerable to heatstroke—exacerbated by often little or no hair on the head.

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

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

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

Classic symptoms of a sunstroke in babies can be:

    • Impaired consciousness with increased drowsiness up to unconsciousness
    • Fever > 39 °C
    • Nausea with / without vomiting
    • Change in behavior, 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 even cool down due to blood pressure fluctuations.

The right sun protection for babies and children

The best protection against heatstroke 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 sun protection factor should be at least 50.

Test sunscreens

Sunscreens should first be tested on a peripheral area of skin, such as the lower leg, in a small patch. During this, watch for signs of allergy like redness or skin itching.

Sustainable sun protection

Organic is not always the same as organic. Whenever possible, the sunscreen should be environmentally, animal, and coral-friendly as well as biodegradable and ideally free from the unwanted tiny particles.

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 here, such as UV Standard 801 or being free of harmful substances.

Tip: Feel free to browse our range of UV protective clothing for children and babies.

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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 up to neck stiffness


    • Nausea and vomiting


    • Impaired consciousness


    • Change in behavior

Avoid overheating in children: Dos & Don'ts

What often starts as a well-intentioned idea carries significant risks. 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 feed,
  • have slowed breathing, and
  • possibly even experience breathing pauses.


Better options are airy sun canopies or UV-absorbing umbrellas, which, when properly positioned, ensure good air circulation.

Overheating in the car

Your baby has fallen asleep exhausted in the car seat after an outing. Unfortunately, incidents of overheating in cars continue to occur when parents leave their babies in a parked car for just a few minutes to unload all bags or groceries. Inside the car – due to the materials used and the large window 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. Usually, these babies and toddlers are then admitted for a short stay for fluid therapy and controlled fever reduction.

We hope you could take away a few tips for the summer.

Wishing you well through the first sunny years!

Dr. Annalena Dehé, MD
Dr. Annalena Dehé is a mother of twins and also 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. Annalena Dehé, MD findest du hier.

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