Baby Heat Rash: What You Need To Know - Forbes

There are a few causes of baby heat rash to be aware of. By avoiding these factors, you may be able to reduce or eliminate most benign cases of heat rash in babies.

Overdressing in Warm Weather

"I usually recommend dressing the baby similarly to how parents are dressed," says Dr. Siddiqui, with perhaps one extra layer in case of temperature changes when going outside. "For example, if it is warm outside and the parents are dressed in only one layer or short sleeves, then that's how you would dress your baby. Keeping them cool is actually better than keeping them too warm," she explains.

Excess Heat and Humidity

Due to their limited range of motion and inability to express when they're feeling hot, many babies can experience heat rash when they spend time in an excessively hot or humid location. When you're indoors in the summer, consider bumping the A/C down if it's starting to feel warm and stuffy, or running a ceiling fan or portable fan to help circulate air and reduce humidity. Just avoid pointing the fan directly at your baby; if your fan has the option to oscillate, that's a good way to generate air flow without making your baby feel too cold.

Using Too Much or Excessively Heavy Products on Baby's Skin

Newborn skin can dry out quickly, which is why there are shelves full of baby moisturizing products at the store. Sometimes, well-meaning parents can overdo it by applying heavy creams and lotions to their baby's skin. This can lead to heat rash, says Dr. Siddiqui, since it can cause sweat glands to become blocked.