With temperatures soaring above 30°C across the UK, an NHS midwife and health visitor has issued an urgent warning to parents about dangerous baby overheating mistakes. Angie Willis, known online as The Eco Midwife, cautions that common methods of dressing babies could significantly raise the risk of overheating, which in rare cases may lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Extreme Heat Warning in Effect
An extreme heat warning is in place for the East of England, London, and South East England. The Met Office forecasts temperatures peaking at 34°C in Birmingham and 35°C in London, while parts of Scotland will be cooler and thundery. On Thursday, the mercury hit 36.7°C at Merryfield, Somerset, making it the hottest June day on record for the UK.
Midwife's Key Advice on Baby Dressing
Angie, who has 14 years of experience and over 100,000 followers on social media, shared a TikTok video urging parents to think carefully about how many layers their baby wears during extreme heat. "The reason we are so obsessed as healthcare professionals with baby temperature is because of the risk of overheating, which can in rare cases sometimes lead and be a potential reason behind sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)," she said. "This is incredibly rare, but as heatwaves increase more frequently with climate change, adaptations and adjustments is something that we all really need to consider moving forward."
Her first piece of advice: "You should have no hats on your baby." A baby's head acts as a natural means of releasing excess body heat. Wearing a hat in hot weather can trap heat, leading to dangerous overheating—a well-documented risk factor for SIDS. According to The Lullaby Trust, putting a hat on a baby while sleeping significantly increases SIDS risk and can create a suffocation danger if the hat slips down over the face.
Room Temperature Guidelines and Clothing
Regarding clothing, Angie explained that if a room thermometer registers above 27°C, parents should consider dressing their baby in just a nappy. Between 24°C and 27°C, a nappy and a cotton vest are generally adequate. She also cautioned parents against trapping heat when using a muslin: "It's really important that you would only keep this as a single layer—only every time you fold, that traps the heat more, that can increase the overheating. So if you are using the muslin method, only one single layer and not folding up."
For sleeping bags, she recommended consulting manufacturer's guidelines and opting for breathable fabrics like cotton. "Sleeping bags that are made from cotton, that are breathable, that enable some of that heat flow to be able to come out and enable that baby to cool down a little bit easier," she said. She also encouraged parents to regularly monitor their baby's temperature by placing fingers on their chest or back. If the baby feels sticky, clammy, or very warm, remove a layer; if cool to the touch, add a layer.
When to Seek Medical Help
If a baby's temperature exceeds 38°C, Angie advised parents to contact their GP, midwife, or call 111 without delay. A spokesperson for baby care specialists For Your Little One said: "Angie's advice is a really important reminder that dressing a baby in a heatwave is not just about comfort, it is about safety. Parents often add layers out of habit or worry, but in extreme heat, less is genuinely more. A breathable single layer, no hat indoors, and a simple well-fitted sleeping bag in the right tog rating for the temperature can make a significant difference to how safely a baby sleeps. A room thermometer is one of the most useful and underrated tools a parent can have, as it helps monitor room temperature accurately, especially in homes that hold onto heat overnight."
