On hot summer days, parents often act with the best intentions—covering their child’s car seat or stroller with a thin blanket to protect them from the sun. A blanket seems like a convenient and safe solution: the baby is shielded from direct sunlight, the breeze is blocked, and it appears the child rests more peacefully. However, this practice conceals a serious danger—the risk of overheating.

When you drape a blanket over a car seat or baby stroller, you create a closed environment where air circulation is severely restricted. Under the sun, the temperature beneath the blanket rises rapidly, turning the space into a kind of oven—the very place you intended to protect your child.

This is particularly dangerous for newborns, whose bodies have not yet developed the ability to regulate temperature as effectively as adults. Consequently, they overheat much faster, which can lead to severe health complications.

Simply put, the baby blanket that parents believe offers protection actually transforms the car seat or stroller into a hot, stuffy little greenhouse.

Why should you avoid covering a car seat or stroller with a blanket?

Many parents assume that a light, breathable blanket will create a comfortable shade and shield their child from direct sunlight. In reality, however, covering a infant car seat or stroller with such a blanket forms an enclosed space where air hardly circulates. This causes heat and humidity to build up quickly, resulting in a rapid rise in temperature.

This is especially risky because the child is effectively trapped in a greenhouse-like environment, where fresh air is nearly absent and temperature can soar within minutes. Despite the feeling of shade, the blanket does not protect against the sun as effectively as it seems—its primary effect is to restrict airflow, not to block or reflect sunlight.

Therefore, using a blanket in a car seat or stroller creates an illusion of protection and comfort but can actually cause your child to overheat, posing a serious health risk. Instead, it is better to use specialized sunshades or mesh covers that provide shade while allowing free air circulation.

How can you tell if your baby is overheating under a blanket in a stroller or car seat?

A child cannot tell you directly that they are too hot, but their body will send clear warning signs.

If your baby is overheating in a stroller or car seat, you might notice:

• Changes in skin color—from mild redness to intense flushing or paleness;
• Excessive sweating;
• Breathing that is either faster or unusually slow;
• A rapid heartbeat;
• Lethargy and apathy, or conversely, unusual irritability and restlessness;
• Possible vomiting, weakness, and dizziness.

Infants’ thermoregulation is not yet fully developed, so overheating is more than just uncomfortable—it is a serious health threat. If untreated, the condition can escalate into hyperthermia.

What should you do before placing your child in a car seat or stroller?

• Dress your baby in light, breathable clothing—cotton is ideal as it allows the skin to breathe, absorbs moisture, and reduces overheating risk;
• Do not put a jacket on your child when buckling them into a car seat, even if it’s cold outside. Jackets prevent the safety harness from fitting snugly and securely, increasing the risk of the child slipping out during sudden stops—since the harness would fasten around the clothing, not the body;
• If the car is cold, you can cover your baby with a thin blanket only after the safety straps are properly and tightly fastened over their clothing.

What to do if you notice signs of overheating?

• top the car or place the stroller in a safe, shaded spot;
• Gently remove your baby from the child car seat or stroller;
• Take off any excess clothing;
• Wipe your baby’s body with a damp, soft cloth, paying special attention to the neck, armpits, and feet;
• Offer fluids appropriate for their age—breast milk, water, or formula;
• Move your child to shade or a cool environment and monitor their condition closely.

How to prevent your child from overheating in the car seat or stroller?

• Use specialized car sun shades or covers that allow air to flow freely while creating comfortable shade for your baby;
  
• Before placing your child in the car, ventilate the interior—open windows or run the air conditioning to keep the temperature cool;
• Avoid stroller walks during the hottest part of the day; the best times are early morning or evening when temperatures are lower.
• Never leave your child unattended in a car seat, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can rise drastically in seconds, posing a grave danger to your baby.

Overheating can occur almost unnoticed, which is why it is vital for parents not only to practice preventive measures but also to recognize early signs of discomfort in their child. Remember: a safe journey depends not only on properly fastening the harness but also on parental vigilance, creating the most comfortable conditions, and attending to every detail to ensure your child’s protection.

Labebe Boutique and Your Car Seatoffer personalized consultations to help parents find the right car seat and install it safely, so every child can travel with full protection.