Even if you have braved the heat until now, the continuing heatwave - due to carry on into August - is no fun.
During a heatwave in France three years ago, 10,000 people died due to lack of health care or awareness of keeping cool and hydrated during hot days and steaming nights.

Young babies cannot regulate their own temperature so you need to be especially aware of there well-being.

Enough to drink
If you are breastfeeding and your baby is feeding regularly, there is no need to supplement their feeds with bottles of water.
If you are feeding formula, don't be tempted to water it down. Stick to the formula-water proportions as stated on the packaging.
However, if you do wish to give them extra drink, make sure you give them cool, boiled water (NOT straight from a tap and NOT bottled water) in a sterilised bottle. Cool boiled water from six months is fine, but make sure you keep up your baby's milk feeds too.
If your baby is teething and not drinking very much because the sucking distresses him, try to get liquids down him with a medicine syringe. These allow a little fluid in without your baby having to suck. However, make sure they are sterilised and that you keep an eye on sufficient intake of fluid.

Dressing your baby
Your baby does not need to be dressed in anything more than a nappy. When he is dressed, change your baby's clothes if they get wet and sweaty so they don't aggrevate his skin.

Keeping out of the sun
Keep young babies (under six months) in shade at all times rather than applying sun block. For older children, use sun block of minimum SPF 30, keep them out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, and reapply block regularly, especially if your toddler is playing in water or sand.

If you are pregnant...
If you are pregnant, be aware of how much stress you are feeling, or exercise you are taking. For once, don't feel guilty about using a fan in your room overnight.
Keep water with you at all times, eat refeshing, watery fruits and salad items like melon and cucumber, and reduce your intake of fluids like tea and coffee. Try not to eat too much in one sitting at mealtimes and snack regularly.
If you get swollen ankles by evening, give your feet a cooling footbath and mint-massage (you can get fabulous foot balms in places like Boots and Body Shop), then literally put your feet up and try to relax. If the swelling doesn't go down, go to bed with your feet slightly raised on a pillow.
I remember being heavily pregnant three years ago in a heatwave and just watching and waiting until the overnight temperatures on the news forecasts dropped down below 20 degrees C. It was good to get out early in the morning before it got too hot, to get things sorted which needed to be done. Then I could retreat to a cool bath by early afternoon and sit there for an hour. I know other pregnant mums who have enthusiastically embraced their children's paddling pools!

Check out the various ThinkBaby articles below all about hot weather and sun safety.
If you are feeling unwell and rest and water does not help, or you are worried about your baby, call your GP, or NHS Direct on 0845 4647.