How To Keep Baby Cool In Rear Facing Car Seat? Complete Guide

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
11 min read

Sweaty newborns aren’t much fun to carry around, and they’re not going to be very happy in a car seat for very long.

When it comes to keeping your infant cool, there are many of options, from simple cooling towels to the most advanced ventilation systems on the market.

Why do babies sweat so much? We’ll address all of your questions here.

Dangers Of Infant Overheating

Heatstroke

When the body’s cooling mechanisms fail and it becomes overheated, this occurs. When a baby is just a few weeks old, his or her body temperature cannot be controlled. It is our responsibility as adults to provide children with new experiences.

Signs to watch for if your baby is suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke include:

  • Breathing that is shallow and rapid
  • Restlessness
  • An intense burst of activity
  • Higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 Celsius) yet little perspiration.
  • Skin that is swollen, irritated, and cracked
  • Irritable
  • Vomiting
  • Unconsciousness
  • When you call his name or tickle him, he doesn’t reply well enough.

Dehydration

When it’s hot outside, it’s easy for babies to become dehydrated. In comparison to adults, newborns and children have a higher risk of dehydration. Even if he drinks a lot of water, sweating might cause him to lose a lot of fluid.

How to Keep Baby Cool in Their Car Seat (5 Simple Tips)

The symptoms of severe dehydration can be deadly, so be aware of them.

  • While weeping, there will be no tears.
  • Lethargy
  • Urine that is darker and more pungent than usual.
  • There are less wet diapers.
  • Lips and mouth feeling parched
  • Eyes that have drooped
  • Frustration or excessive drowsiness
  • Some babies have soft areas on their heads called “sunken fontanels.”

SIDS

Overheating has been connected by the American Academy of Pediatrics to an increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Until today, no one knows what causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers, on the other hand, feel that temperature has an impact.

Brain Damage

The tissues that make up our brains are extremely delicate. In an infant, the brain’s temperature sensitivity is significantly greater than in an adult. Overheating can cause harm to the brain, and the skull is where the majority of that heat escapes.

Prickly Heat

Prickly heat, also known as miliaria, is typically associated with excessive heat, but it is not as harmful as the other three. It’s common for heat rash to appear on clothed regions of the body, such as the groin, abdomen, and underarms.

It’s not a big deal because they’ll go away in a few days anyway. Because of this, you should seek medical attention for any rash that goes beyond the regular regions.

Signs A Baby Is Overheating

Overheating signs may not become apparent until a baby’s condition deteriorates to a critical level. A infant can become dehydrated in just a few minutes, leading to brain damage.

It is imperative that there be a sense of urgency.

A baby’s overheating can be detected using the methods outlined in the next section.

  1. When in doubt, feel your baby’s neck and head to see whether they’re damp. These are the typical indicators of a child who is overheated.
  2. Look into the eyes of your child. He may be overheated if his skin is rashy or redder than usual.
  3. It’s important to check if your baby’s chest is hotter than usual and if his heartbeat is faster than usual. If he’s also inhaling and exhaling quickly, this could indicate that he’s overheating.
  4. They may vomit because they are overheated, even if they aren’t unwell.
  5. A baby who doesn’t seem to respond or is less lively when you interact with them is a sign of overheating.

Ways To Keep Your Baby Cool In The Car Seat

I know I’ve freaked you out with all this talk of overheating, but don’t worry. Products and advice aimed at keeping your infant cool abound. There are a few basic steps you can do to improve your life:

  • The greatest strategy to avoid overheating is to avoid being in a place that’s too hot (obviously). So when you’re driving, utilize the air conditioning if you can to keep the environment cool.
  • The temptation to wrap baby up while out and about may be strong, but this can soon lead to overheating. Politely advise her to mind her own business if your mother-in-law is insistent that your infant wear a hat and you feel your baby is too hot. It could save your child’s life.
  • Cooling towels come in handy when you need to get your baby’s body temperature down immediately. Helps reduce overheating by lowering the body temperature. When using cooling towels, they should never be utilized underneath the harness.

1. Blocking the Sun

There’s more to sun protection than a bottle of lotion. In order to prevent your car’s interior from being overheated, you can use a variety of methods to shield the sun. They’re all good choices to think about because they each have their own perks and disadvantages:

Window Tint

Window tinting has several other advantages besides enhancing the privacy of motorists and passengers. It can help protect your automobile from dangerous UV rays and keep the interior cooler. To top it all off, if you are in an accident, a tinted window will keep shards of glass from flying inside your car.

The interior temperature of your car can be reduced by as much as 70% when using window tinting. But don’t forget that there are rules and regulations in place. Check with your state’s regulations on window tint before applying it to any of your windows.

Reflective Sunshades

When you’re out and about and your car isn’t sheltered or parked in the sun, these are ideal. Reflective sunshades come in a variety of forms:

  • As if an accordion were unfolded and placed on the windshield, they fold open like an accordion. Using a reflective surface helps to keep the interior cooler by reflecting sunlight outward.
  • Side window mesh sunshades: These can assist keep out the sun while you’re behind the wheel. In addition to keeping the harsh sun out of your eyes, sunglasses can reduce the light coming through your window. Driving in a parking lot or changing lanes can be difficult because of this.
  • For those without a garage, solar/reflective car covers can help keep your vehicle cool while it’s being stored outside. They are similar to accordion-style sunshades, except they cover the entire vehicle. This, of course, is the most time-consuming choice.

2. Light-Colored Car Seats

To be clear, I’m not advocating that you trade in your dark seats for lighter ones. This also applies to the car seat that you use to transport your child.

You may want to consider purchasing a light-colored car seat if you’re having a kid soon and you’re concerned about the warmer months. Darker colors absorb more heat, therefore this one won’t.

Temperatures in black automobile seats can rise to 192°F. It’s possible to manage sweating and body temperature by using moisture-wicking fabric in some automobile seats.

How to Keep Baby Cool in Rear Facing Car Seat - Krostrade

3. The Noggle

Noggle is another gadget that can be useful if your backseat isn’t cooling down quickly enough. Your car’s air vents can be used to deliver a stream of Noggle into the backseat. Your children will benefit from the AC more if you do this. I haven’t tried this myself, but it appears to have a decent number of satisfied customers.

There are Noggle options for forward-facing and rear-facing babies. They also come in 6-foot and 10-foot options. This is nice because you can find one to accommodate your car interior best.

Forward-facing and rear-facing Noggle versions are available. There are additional 6-foot and 10-foot versions available. Good news: you now have the option of finding one that’s exactly right for your automobile’s interior!

4. Encourage Sweating

I discussed sweating briefly above, but I didn’t go into much depth on how you may increase it. In the event of overheating, a baby’s strongest protection is his or her own sweat.

Those spray bottles with fans may be entertaining for older kids or toddlers (if you aren’t worried of the possible mess).

5. Don’t Leave Your Child Alone in the Car

This is a no-brainer, but it’s such a big deal that I feel compelled to bring it up. Overheating and even death can occur if you leave your child in a hot car unattended.

Even in mild weather, the temperature inside a car can rise by roughly twenty degrees in just ten minutes. Leaving your child alone in the car for even a minute is never acceptable.

Is The Car Seat The Cause Of Overheating?

Overheating in certain car seats has been a source of concern for some parents. The problem is that it doesn’t apply to any single model in particular. Furthermore, there is no evidence that a vehicle seat can induce overheating.

Automobile seats, regardless of price, are prone to overheating. Many of the materials used in today’s car seats are designed with durability and stain resistance in mind.

Car seats with a mesh cover are better than those without. As a result, your child is less likely to overheat when wearing this style of clothing. It’s possible to find strollers with mesh.

For example, have a look at these car seats.

Best car seats for babies and toddlers 2022 tried and tested | Evening Standard

Conclusion

The sun’s rays are something that most people crave. For those who live in areas with very little sunlight, the summer months are eagerly anticipated. However, you must be careful not to expose your child to too much heat.

As long as you follow the guides in here, you can rest easy and enjoy the sun knowing that your precious passenger is safe and sound.

Rest assured that your guest is secure and sound as long as the instructions in this section are followed.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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