How To Stay Warm In Cold Weather
It's that time of year where the weather is getting colder, and bundling up becomes very important! Children have a harder time regulating their body temperature, so being extra cautious is a must when being outside! Follow these easy tips for staying warm when being outside!
- Bundle Up: The most important thing is to keep your child properly dressed. Bundle them in warm layers and make sure they wear a hat, scarf, gloves, or some other combination to keep their hands, neck, and head warm. The body gets cold faster in wet clothing, so keep little hands and feet dry. Check clothes and gloves periodically to make sure they are still dry, and change any wet clothes immediately.
- Set Limits: Keep tabs on how long your child plays outdoors while it's cold. A few hours spent outside is fine, but if it is very winy or cold, the chance of overexposure and consequent conditions like frostbite can increase. Bring your child inside every 30-60 minutes to warm them up with hot apple cider or hot chocolate.
- Beware Frostnip and Frostbite: Frostnip is like a warning sign for frostbite, and occurs when cold temperatures damage the skin and blood vessels. Frostbite is literally the freezing of the body, from the skin in.
- Come In And Warm Up: If you suspect frostnip, remove any circulation-restricting or wet clothing right away! Tell your child to wiggle his fingers and toes to increase circulation. Place their hand and foot in very warm water (just over 100 degrees), until the area flushes and turns pink. For other areas, place warm towels on them or cover them with blankets and let them cozy up. If they have frostbite, don't warm them by the fire or with really hot water bottles, or heating pads, as frostbitten skin is easily burned. Don't pop any blisters, and if there are lots of blisters, or if any blister is bigger than a nickel, call your pediatrician right away.
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