Heat exhaustion in infants: signs and urgent steps

An infant may become unusually sleepy, irritable, floppy or difficult to settle in hot conditions. Other clues include fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth, reduced feeding, vomiting, hot or flushed skin, pale skin, sweating or unusual breathing. Babies cannot tell you about [Dizziness](/symptoms/dizziness/) or [Excessive Thirst](/symptoms/excessive-thirst/), so changes in behaviour and feeding matter. Heat exhaustion can progress to a dangerous heat illness.

Move the infant indoors or to shade, remove excess layers and cool the skin gently with a lukewarm-to-cool damp cloth and moving air. Offer breast milk or the usual formula in small, frequent feeds if the baby is alert and swallowing normally. Do not force feeds, give unprescribed salt solutions, or leave the infant unattended. Never cool an infant with ice or place them in a parked car, even briefly. Contact a healthcare professional promptly.

Call emergency services immediately if the infant is hard to wake, confused, has a seizure, collapses, breathes abnormally, cannot feed, vomits repeatedly or feels extremely hot. Seek urgent assessment for fewer wet nappies, marked drowsiness, persistent crying, dry skin or [Dark Urine](/symptoms/dark-urine/). Do not wait for sweating or fever to appear before seeking help.

Tell the clinician the infant's age, feeding pattern, wet nappies, time in the heat and any vomiting. Ask how to replace fluids safely, how to check temperature, and how long to keep the baby away from heat after recovery.