NHS midwife and health visitor Angie Willis, known online as The Eco Midwife, has issued a warning to parents about common baby dressing mistakes that could increase the risk of overheating during the current heatwave. With temperatures exceeding 30°C across much of the UK on June 26, and an extreme heat warning in place for the East of England, London, and South East England, Willis stressed the importance of proper baby care.
Key Advice: No Hats and Minimal Layers
In a video shared on TikTok, Willis explained that babies regulate their temperature through their heads, so hats should be avoided indoors. “You should have no hats on your baby,” she said, noting that the head is a natural cooling mechanism. For clothing, she recommended that if a room thermometer shows temperatures above 27°C, parents should consider dressing their baby in only a nappy. Between 24°C and 27°C, a nappy and a cotton vest are usually sufficient.
Risks of Overheating and SIDS
Willis, who has 14 years of experience and over 100,000 social media followers, highlighted the serious risks of overheating. “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,” 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.”
Safe Use of Muslins and Sleeping Bags
Willis also warned against trapping heat with muslin cloths. “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,” she said. “So if you are using the muslin method, only one single layer and not folding up.” For sleeping bags, she advised parents to check manufacturer instructions and choose breathable materials. “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.
How to Check Baby's Temperature
Willis urged parents to regularly check their baby's temperature by placing two fingers on the chest or back. “If your baby feels really sticky, clammy, very warm, then remove a layer. If they feel cool to the touch, then add a layer.” She added that if a baby has a temperature over 38°C, parents should contact their GP, midwife, or call 111 without delay.
Expert Endorsement
A spokesperson for baby care specialists For Your Little One endorsed Willis's advice: “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.”
Heatwave Context
The UK has been experiencing record-breaking temperatures, with 36.7°C recorded at Merryfield, Somerset on June 25, making it the hottest June day on record. On June 26, temperatures were forecast to reach 35°C in London and 34°C in Birmingham, with cooler, thundery conditions in parts of Scotland.
