Dubai summers are long, bright and intense, and for babies and young children that heat needs a different level of planning. Little bodies heat up faster than adults, lose fluids more quickly, and cannot always tell you when they are struggling. With a few steady habits around hydration, sun protection and car safety, most families can still enjoy daily life comfortably through even the hottest months.
Hydration Comes First, Little and Often
Offer fluids regularly rather than waiting for a child to say they are thirsty. For babies, follow your paediatrician’s guidance and Dubai Health Authority guidance on feeding in hot weather — breastfed babies may want to feed more often, while formula-fed babies should be offered their usual feeds plus small amounts of cooled boiled water only if your doctor advises it. Toddlers and older children do best with water as the main drink throughout the day, with milk at mealtimes.
Keep a filled water bottle with you at all times, at home, in the pushchair and in the car. Signs of dehydration to watch for include fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth, no tears when crying, unusual sleepiness, and dark yellow urine in older children. If you are worried, or if a baby under six months shows these signs, seek medical advice promptly rather than waiting to see if it passes.
Sun Protection for Delicate Skin
The safest approach for babies under six months is shade, not sunscreen. Keep them out of direct sun, use a pushchair canopy or shade, and dress them in lightweight, loose cotton clothing that covers arms and legs without overheating them. A wide-brimmed hat that you can keep on with a soft strap makes a real difference on school runs and short walks.
For older babies and children, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen suited to sensitive skin around 20 to 30 minutes before going out, and reapply typically every two hours and after swimming. Try to plan outdoor play for early morning before around 10am or later in the afternoon after around 4pm, when the sun is less fierce. Even on cloudy days or during a short hop between car and entrance, UV levels in Dubai are usually high, so hats and shade are still worth it.
Car Safety: Never Leave a Child Alone
A parked car in Dubai can heat up dangerously within minutes, even with a window slightly open and even on a day that feels manageable outside. Never leave a baby or child alone in a car, not even for a quick errand. Build a routine that makes a mistake less likely when you are tired or distracted, which happens to every parent.
- Keep a nappy bag, shoe or phone on the back seat so you always open the rear door
- Ask your nursery or caregiver to call you if your child does not arrive as expected
- Check the back seat every single time you lock the car, without exception
- Keep car keys out of children’s reach so they cannot climb in and lock themselves inside
On journeys, pre-cool the car where you can, check that child seat buckles and straps are not burning hot before buckling up, and never cover a baby seat with a thick blanket that traps heat. Light muslin shade for windows helps, but airflow matters more.
Cooling Down and Knowing When to Get Help
After time outside, bring children into air conditioning, offer fluids, and change them out of damp or hot clothing. Lukewarm baths or a damp flannel on the neck and wrists can help them settle. Watch for heat exhaustion signs such as pale or clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, headache, rapid breathing or unusual irritability. Move to a cool place, loosen clothing and offer small sips of water.
Heatstroke is an emergency. Warning signs include a very high temperature, hot and dry or flushed skin, confusion, vomiting, or a child becoming drowsy or unresponsive. Cool them quickly with fanning and damp cloths and seek urgent medical help straight away. When in doubt, it is always better to be checked.
A little preparation — water within reach, shade planned in, and that back-seat check every time — makes Dubai’s summer much safer and far less stressful for the whole family.