Intermountain Primary Children’s Experts Say to Not Cover Infant Carriers

Although parents want to protect babies’ sensitive skin from the sun, that lightweight blanket can actually put your child in danger, according to Intermountain Health Primary Children’s safety experts.

Even a light blanket or cover draped over your child’s car seat can create a greenhouse effect where the temperature rises rapidly. This can be especially hazardous because a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s.

Heatstroke starts when the core body temperature reaches 103 degrees, and a core body temperature of 107 can be fatal.

“Our tests found that the temperature inside an infant car seat covered with a light-colored, lightweight muslin blanket rose by 7 degrees in just 15 minutes,” said Michelle Cameron, community health specialist at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.

“In 30 minutes, the car seat was 10 degrees warmer, and in one hour, it was 18 degrees warmer. Meanwhile, the outside temperature rose by just 2 degrees, from 91 to 93,” Cameron added. “That’s a lot of heat for a baby to endure and can lead to heat illness or worse on a hot day.”

To prevent heat illness, Cameron suggested taking a baby out of the car seat once they’re out of the car.

If a parent needs to keep a baby in the car seat or stroller, they should place it in the shade, uncovered, and avoid direct sunlight. Several tests found the temperature on an uncovered car seat, placed in the shade for 30 minutes, either remained the same as the outdoor temperature or rose by just 1 degree, Cameron said.

Here are some other tips to help keep your baby from getting too hot while out and about:

• Use sunscreen when they’re old enough (age 6 months or older)
• Dress them in light, breathable clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat
• Place a cooling towel or cold pack in the empty car seat or stroller
• Use a stroller fan if you have one. Remember to take it off when you put the child back in the car
• Limit time outdoors on hot days so they don’t overheat, and make sure they stay well hydrated.

Intermountain Children’s Health also is reminding drivers to prevent hot car injuries by always checking the back seat to make sure all passengers are out of the vehicle before they leave.

“When drivers park their vehicles, we want everyone to ‘Stop. Look. Lock.’ to prevent accidental injury or death to a child,” Cameron said. “This means when you park, stop and look in the back seat for children. When you get out of the car, lock it to prevent children from accessing the vehicle and becoming trapped.”

The inside of a vehicle can heat up by 20 degrees within just 10 minutes and become deadly to a child left inside. Cracking a window has very little effect on the interior temperature.

Drivers also are advised to put something in the back seat that they’ll need when they get to their destination, like a briefcase, phone, or left shoe, so when they reach for the item, they’re more likely to see the child.

Primary Children’s Hospital is offering free “Forget Me Not” window clings while supplies last to give drivers a visual cue that a child is in the car. Request a window cling by emailing PCHHOTDL@imail.org with your name, mailing address, and desired quantity (10 maximum per person).

For more information about child safety and injury prevention, visit primarychildrens.org/safety.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.