Ensuring that babies remain warm, safe and healthy in cold weather requires extra attention. The small size of babies’ bodies serves as a disadvantage since it makes them lose body heat much quicker compared to adults. The role of ensuring that the baby remains in the right temperature lies entirely in the hands of a parent or a caregiver since babies are less likely to know when they are overheating or freezing.
Overheating places the baby at the risk sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) while freezing causes health risks that include hypothermia and frostbites. On the other hand, you should avoid over bundling the baby in a warm room since it can destabilize the normal breathing pattern and inhibit the ability to resume normal breathing. Here is how you should keep your baby safe in cold weather.
Avoid too much bath time
Bathing babies too much during winter exposes them to the risk of getting dry skin. When bathing the baby use warm water and ensure that you do not soak him for too long. After drying the baby, use a moisturizer that does not contain the laundry list of chemicals. For better results, consider using ointments on your baby’s skin since they lock in moisture better than creams.
Heat the room safely
Space heaters are quite essential during cold weather seasons. However, they are hazardous since they cause fires, burns, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Before investing in a space heater, you should do thorough research and settle on one that meets latest safety standards. During usage, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s regulations.
Tools to have
Always ensure that you place the heater on a hard and non-flammable surface and at least three feet from flammable materials. Make sure that you have fire and carbon monoxide alarms as well as smoke detectors in the house. Keep radiators, heaters, and fires away from the baby’s sleeping space since they can lead to overheating. Avoid placing hot water bottle or electric blanket in the baby’s bed as well.
Dress the baby for the cold
The mode of clothing during cold weather plays a huge role in health and safety of your baby. Since babies face a hard time in regulating their body temperature, it is important to dress them in with one extra layer of clothing than adults need to wear. Avoid san strings and scarves since they pose a choking hazard.
Be cautious when covering the baby stroller
Baby stroller contains covers that protect the baby from rain or falling snowflakes while allowing proper air circulation. During cold weather, parents are tempted to throw blankets or plastic covers over the stroller to keep the baby warm. However, the blankets and plastic covers compromise the air flow to the baby inside.
What to do instead
Ensure that you put your baby in necessary clothes for cold weather such as hats, jackets, mittens and then tuck the baby with a blanket up to chest level. If possible, try to walk against the wind. When buying a stroller, consider one that can keep your baby warm and safe during the cold season. For getting the best baby travel stroller system visit strollerbuzz.com.
Take puffy jackets off your baby for car seat
Taking your baby’s puffy jacket off in cold weather to keep them safe seems to make no sense. However, the problem with puffy jackets is that they leave too much material between the baby and the car seat straps. The material can compress during an accident leaving space for the baby to become unsecured.
What to do instead
Cover the baby with a coat or a blanket after clicking her on to the car seat. Make sure that you remove any covering once the car warms up to prevent the baby from overheating. Alternatively, you can use a car seat cover over the lower part of the baby. Pre-warming the car also helps to create a cozy environment for the baby.
Ensure the baby is hydrated
For babies to stay warm, they require extra energy and water. Breastfeed or offer a sippy bottle or cup to the baby frequently. Check the baby’s diaper to know whether the baby is hydrated or not. Peeing less is a sign of dehydration.
Watch out for any warning signs
Some of the medical conditions that affect babies during cold weather include hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when the baby’s body temperature drops below normal. Some of the signs of hypothermia include baby’s skin becoming extra red, clumsiness, shivering or becoming lethargic. In such a case, you should take the baby inside, change any wet clothes and wrap her in warm blankets. When babies are suffering from frostbite, some of their skin tissue freeze leading to signs that include white or grayish skin, blisters on the fingers and toes.
Remedy
Avoid rubbing freezing skin since it can lead to more damage. Instead, use warm washcloths to reheat the skin then clothe the baby in warm and dry garments. If the situation of the skin does not improve within a few minutes, then you should call a doctor. In case of other warning signs such as blue lips or face, unresponsiveness means that your baby has become too cold and needs the attention of a doctor.
Final Verdict
Ensuring that babies stay healthy and safe in cold weather is a task that requires parents and caregivers to check required to check babies’ temperature regularly and respond appropriately. Some of the safety measures that parents should take include avoiding too much bath time since it can cause dry skin. It is also important to heat the room safely.
Most house fires occur during the cold weather season. Therefore, there is great need to place fire alarms and smoke detectors in the house. It is also essential to get off puffy jackets before clicking the baby on the car seat since they can cause more harm than good during an accident. It is also important to note any warning signs since some of them indicate a serious problem that requires medical attention.
