What should a baby wear in 70 degree weather? Our starting point in the shade is a short-sleeve bodysuit and light cotton pants at 70°F (21°C), one short-sleeve cotton romper at 75°F (24°C) and one loose sleeveless or short-sleeve romper at 80°F (27°C). In direct sun (6 months and up), the outfit gets more coverage, not less.
By the Babbez team · Warm-weather dressing guide · Checked October 2026
Key takeaways
- In direct sun (6 months and up), every row uses long sleeves and adds a brimmed sun hat.
- Under 6 months, use the shade column only, plus FDA’s tips for infants younger than 6 months. The NHS says to “keep babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight” (Information from the NHS website, as at 181026).
- UK or Australia? The °C finder gives a row for every whole degree from 18°C to 30°C.
The warm-day outfit ladder: 65°F to 85°F and up (18°C to 29°C and up)
This page covers daytime clothes for babies and toddlers, outdoors or going in and out, at 65°F (18°C) and warmer. The Warm-Day Ladder is our starting point, not a rule: every baby and every day differ. In the shade:
- 65°F: long-sleeve bodysuit, light cotton pants, thin socks
- 70°F: short-sleeve bodysuit, light cotton pants
- 75°F: short-sleeve cotton romper
- 80°F: loose sleeveless or short-sleeve romper
- 85°F and up: one loose, thin layer
Below 65°F (18°C), use our 50 and 60 degree guide. Fabric for every row: thin cotton in light colors, cut loose; in direct sun, a close weave you can't see through.
The loose, light part follows CDC's line for hot days, according to its heat page for infants and children: “Dress infants and children in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.” (Source: CDC). Fabric by fabric: our baby fabrics compared guide.
Under 6 months, use the shade column only, plus FDA’s tips for infants younger than 6 months. FDA's sun tips for infants younger than 6 months start with “Keep your baby in the shade as much as possible.”
What should a baby wear in 70 degree weather?
70°F (21°C)
- In the shade: short-sleeve bodysuit, light cotton pants.
- In direct sun (6 months and up): long-sleeve cotton top, light cotton pants, brimmed sun hat.
- Bring along: a thin long-sleeve layer for shade, a breeze or air conditioning.
Bodysuit or romper? Our clothing types guide shows each one. A cooler start:
65°F (18°C)
- In the shade: long-sleeve bodysuit, light cotton pants, thin socks.
- In direct sun (6 months and up): long-sleeve bodysuit, light cotton pants, thin socks, brimmed sun hat.
- Bring along: a light cardigan or zip-up for shade or a breeze.
What should a baby wear in 75 degree weather?
75°F (24°C)
- In the shade: short-sleeve cotton romper.
- In direct sun (6 months and up): loose long-sleeve cotton romper, brimmed sun hat.
- Bring along: a thin long-sleeve layer for air-conditioned shops or cars.
The honest answer to "is a romper enough?" is that it depends on where you'll stand, not just the forecast.
What should a baby wear in 80 degree weather, or hotter?
80°F (27°C)
- In the shade: loose sleeveless or short-sleeve romper.
- In direct sun (6 months and up): loose long-sleeve cotton romper, brimmed sun hat.
- Under 6 months, use the shade column only, plus FDA’s tips for infants younger than 6 months (quoted below).
- Bring along: a spare romper for sweat or spills.
85°F and up (29°C and up)
- In the shade: one loose, thin layer.
- In direct sun (6 months and up): loose long sleeves, brimmed sun hat.
- Bring along: a spare outfit for sweat or spills.
At 80°F and up, carry a spare outfit for sweat or spills instead of a layer. For heat itself, read what CDC, FDA and the NHS say below; we don't set a temperature cut-off for going out.
Shade or direct sun: why does the sun outfit have more fabric?
In the shade, fewer and thinner clothes as it warms up. The exception is direct sun: every row's sun outfit has one more piece than its shade outfit. We call it the Sun-Flip Rule:
- In the shade, dress for the forecast's 'feels like' temperature, or the air temperature if none is shown.
- In direct sun (6 months and up), every row uses long sleeves.
- In direct sun (6 months and up), every row adds a brimmed sun hat, and a close weave you can't see through.
| Temperature (°F) | Shade outfit (pieces) | Direct sun, 6 months and up (pieces) |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 3 | 4 |
| 70 | 2 | 3 |
| 75 | 1 | 2 |
| 80 | 1 | 2 |
| 85 and up | 1 | 2 |
The NHS sunscreen and sun safety page says: “From March to October in the UK, children should:” “cover up with suitable clothing”, “spend time in the shade, particularly from 11am to 3pm” and “wear at least SPF30 sunscreen” (Information from the NHS website, as at 181026).
For everyone, not only children, the same page says: “Wear clothes and sunglasses that provide sun protection, such as:” “a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears”, “a long-sleeved top” and “trousers or long skirts in close-weave fabrics that do not allow sunlight through” (Information from the NHS website, as at 181026).
For babies too young for the sun column, FDA's tips for infants younger than 6 months add: “Make sure your child wears clothing that covers and protects his or her sensitive skin. If you hold the fabric against your hand and it’s sheer enough to see through it, it probably doesn’t offer enough protection.”
The same FDA list for infants younger than 6 months says: “Make sure your baby wears a hat that provides shade to the face, neck, and ears.” and “Talk to your pediatrician before using any sunscreen on your baby.”
UK and Australia: a °C finder
A °C forecast isn't a different rule: the Nearest-Row Rule picks the row nearest the temperature. Per the NIST Guide to the SI, °C = (°F − 32)/1.8; the °F values in the finder are our conversion. So 22°C is 71.6°F and uses the 70°F row.
| Temperature (°C) | Temperature (°F) | Ladder row (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 64.4 | 65 |
| 19 | 66.2 | 65 |
| 20 | 68.0 | 70 |
| 21 | 69.8 | 70 |
| 22 | 71.6 | 70 |
| 23 | 73.4 | 75 |
| 24 | 75.2 | 75 |
| 25 | 77.0 | 75 |
| 26 | 78.8 | 80 |
| 27 | 80.6 | 80 |
| 28 | 82.4 | 80 |
| 29 | 84.2 | 85 and up |
| 30 | 86.0 | 85 and up |
Hot days, cars and drinks: what CDC, FDA and the NHS say
We relay these lines word for word; they are the agencies' words, not our verdict. CDC: “Infants and young children rely on others to keep them cool and hydrated when it's hot outside.” (Source: CDC).
The NHS heatwave page: “A heatwave can affect anyone, but some people are more vulnerable, including:” “babies and young children aged 5 years and under” (Information from the NHS website, as at 181026).
Cars, from CDC: “Never leave infants or children in a parked car, even if the windows are open.” “Leaving a window open is not enough- temperatures inside the car can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes, even with a window cracked open.” (Source: CDC). That is a rise of about 11°C (our conversion).
Drinks, from FDA's tips for infants younger than 6 months: “Hydrate! Give your child formula or breast milk if you’re out in the sun for more than a few minutes.”
When to get help, from CDC: “Seek medical care immediately if your child has symptoms of heat-related illness.” In the US, CDC also says: “Enter your zip code on the CDC HeatRisk Dashboard for the heat risk forecast in your area and recommended actions to protect your health.” (Source: CDC).
This guide is about daytime clothes, not sleep and not room temperature at night.
Printable: the one-page warm-day outfit guide (PDF)
Download the one-page warm-day outfit guide (PDF): the ladder, the °C finder and our rules on one sheet.
What to buy for a hot season: our baby summer clothes guide.
Frequently asked questions
What should a newborn wear on a warm day?
There is no separate newborn row. Under 6 months, use the shade column only, plus FDA’s tips for infants younger than 6 months. FDA notes: “But younger babies don’t sweat like adults do. Their bodies haven’t fully developed that built-in heating-and-cooling system, so they can become easily overheated – and have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated.” If you're unsure, ask your baby's doctor.
Does my baby need a hat on a warm day?
In the shade, our 75°F row has no hat. In direct sun, for babies 6 months and up, every row adds a brimmed sun hat. For infants younger than 6 months, FDA's tips say: “Make sure your baby wears a hat that provides shade to the face, neck, and ears.”
What should a baby wear in 20, 22 or 24 degrees Celsius?
20°C and 22°C use the 70°F row; 24°C uses the 75°F row.
What if it starts cool and gets hot by lunch?
Dress from the row nearest the temperature for the hours you will be out, and carry the bring-along item for the cooler start.
Sources: CDC (Infants and Children and Heat, reviewed June 25, 2024); FDA (Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually, content current as of 09/10/2026); NHS (Heatwave: how to cope in hot weather, last reviewed 12 June 2026; Sunscreen and sun safety, last reviewed 24 March 2026); NIST (Guide to the SI, conversion factors: the temperature formula and, for the car figure, the interval factor for a temperature rise). All read October 18, 2026; we checked every quote against its source page, word for word.
Source: CDC. The CDC lines are quoted word for word from CDC's Infants and Children and Heat page. All CDC material on this page is otherwise available on the CDC website for no charge. Use of CDC material on this page, including links to CDC web pages, does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government of Babbez or its products or services.
Each NHS line is marked "Information from the NHS website" with the date we copied it. Information from the NHS website is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. FDA lines: source U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Use of FDA, NHS and NIST material, including links, does not imply their endorsement of Babbez. The ladder, the finder and the rules are Babbez's own (editorial standards). General information, not medical or safety advice; see our content disclaimer and medical disclaimer.