During the summer months, we do our best to ensure that our little ones are safe, whether that means applying sun cream to ensure they don’t get burned, or not giving babies under one water to drink.
But there’s one thing that we tend to do, whether it’s warm or not – and the effects could be truly devastating.
When your baby is in their pram or pushchair, you may find yourself covering it with a blanket, either to offer them shade on a sunny day, or to block out the light while they are sleeping.
However, experts have warned that this covering technique is incredibly dangerous for babies as it could force them to stop breathing and, in severe cases, cause death.
A video reveals the truly shocking truth that covering the pram causes the inside temperature to rise so dramatically that within 20 minutes it had reached a scorching 37 degrees.
This can then lead to heatstroke or sudden infant death syndrome.
Paediatrician and forensic scientist, Torleiv Ole Rognum, told TV2 – a Norwegian broadcaster – how it happens.
“It gets extremely hot down in the pram, something like a thermos. There is also bad circulation or the air and it is hard to see the baby with a cover over the pram,” he said.
“It would quickly become uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for the child … if a child gets too hot then the child may think that it is back in the womb, which is why breathing may stop.”
Have you ever covered the pram in order to protect your baby without realising it was harmful? Let us know via Facebook and Twitter (@CloserOnline)