When It’s Cold Outside
As we dive further into November and our local kids are having the first snow days off of school for the year, I realized it was a good time to talk about keeping kids warm in the winter. This will look different for various areas – where I live now it gets very cold in the winter, but growing up in the desert of the Southwest was a very different experience. Today we will mostly be discussing significant or extreme cold exposures, but you can adjust these recommendations to fit your home and vacation environment as needed!
How to dress your child
It sounds obvious, but if you are cold, your child will be colder. A good rule of thumb is to dress infants and younger children in one more layer of clothing than adults are wearing.
- Layer! Long underwear or other base layers under regular clothing will help trap body heat.
- Accessorize! Use warm boots, gloves or mittens, scarves, and snug-fitting hats. Use socks and hats on infants while inside to help them conserve heat.
- Protect! Use waterproof snow boots or rain boots with thick socks to keep little feet warm and dry.
Infant sleep safety
The same sleep safety rules apply. Always place infants on their backs, in their basinet or crib to sleep. Avoid extra blankets. If you are concerned about cold room temperatures overnight and you are unable to increase the heater settings, you can add layers to sleep in, use a snug-fitting hat, and swaddle infants who are under 4 months of age.
Again, do not add extra blankets. This is a significant safety and suffocation risk for infants.
Winter car seat safety tips
While you want to be sure to dress your child warmly for the times they will be outside, this can cause issues with car seats. Bulky winter coats, sweatshirts, and snowsuits can cause car seat straps to fit incorrectly and should not be worn while in the car seat. The thick padding of these items do help to keep children warm, but also create extra space between the seat restraints and the child’s actual body. In a car crash, this extra space can cause a child to slip from under the restraints or even to have more of a whiplash effect due to increased movement of the child.
Instead, dress your child in thinner layers and remove the top bulky layer once you are in the car. For infants, keep the carrier in the house instead of in the car. Place your infant in the carrier and use a cover to protect the infant during the trip from the house to the car. Ensure your car temperature is comfortable while driving.
If you are worried about your child being cold without a thick jacket, place a blanket on top of the car seat straps.
Dangerous cold
There are a few serious conditions to be aware of with exposure to the cold:
Frostbite: This is a condition that occurs when skin becomes frozen. It most commonly affects the extremities – fingers, toes, ears. Skin may become pale and blistered. Children may complain of a burning sensation or that the area is numb. If you are concerned for frostbite, bring the child indoors and place the affected skin in warm (NOT hot) water. Do not rub the area. If the burning or numbness is persistent, call your child’s Pediatrician.
Hypothermia: This occurs when the body temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold. With children, this often will happen because they are playing outside without proper outerwear when it is very cold. It happens more quickly when clothing gets wet. Signs of hypothermia include shivering that leads to lethargy. Children become clumsy and speech will be slurred. If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 immediately. Move the child indoors, remove wet outer clothing and wrap him or her up in blankets. If you are warm, skin-to-skin contact can help with warming as well.
Final thoughts
While it can be fun to play in the snow and experience the outdoors in colder weather, special care must be given to children in these environments. The cold can affect them more quickly, as they do not have the body surface or energy reserves that adults do. Be sure to monitor young children closely during exposure to cold – bring them inside more frequently to warm up and check for wet clothing. Pay attention to your child’s comfort level while playing in the snow or while otherwise exposed to colder temperatures.
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