Winter is here and one thing that means for many of us is cold weather, wind, storms, and perhaps even a lot of snow. Outdoor activities with the family and for your kids do not have to be out of the question in the cold weather, but there are definitely different measures to take to make sure your child stays warm and safe in the Winter weather.
- Dress children in warm clothes for outdoor activities. This can include thin layers, warm boots, gloves, mittens, and a hat.
- When riding in the car children should wear thin layers. Take off the bulky coat, snow pants, or other clothing that will hinder car seat straps from being snug.
- Keep bulky bedding out of an infant’s bed, rather to keep them warm one-piece pajamas or sleep sacks will help keep them warm.
- Set time limits for outdoor play to prevent hypothermia and frostbite.
- When dressing your child think about the amount of activity they will be doing outside. Using energy, running, jumping, etc will make them warmer.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is defined as a body temperature of less than about 95 F. There are many symptoms of hypothermia you can watch out for when your children spend time outside in the cold:
- Shivering
- Fatigue
- Hunger
- Nausea
- Mild Confusion
- Difficulty with speech and coordination.
When hypothermia is severe (body temperature less than 82 F) symptoms can include:
- Shivering stops
- Extreme confusion
- A decline in consciousness
- A weak or irregular pulse
- Slow and shallow breathing
- Coma
As your kids get older Winter sports may become a usual activity. Whether it’s snowboarding, skiing, playing hockey, or snow shoeing there are many tips to make sure your children stay warm.
- Use appropriate and properly fitted sports equipment.
- Encourage kids to drink plenty of water. Children have an increased risk of dehydration.
- It’s a good idea to bring kids indoors periodically.
What fun activities do your children do during the Winter and how do you make sure to keep them warm?
Sarah
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This is helpful. I’ve been nervous to get my kids out but I recently started reading a book on how they deal with the long cold winters in Scandinavian cultures. In the book it gave suggestions for a moisture wicking layer close to the skin, an insulating layer, and then a windbreaker layer. I’m stocking up because I really want to enjoy the outdoors in the winter too, not just the warmer months.
Great tips! Thank you for posting this as I always forget how to make sure they are safe and end up keeping them inside all day because I am so nervous. I needed to see this.
I live in IL where we experienced the Polar Vortex last year. It’s so important to remember to keep the little ones safe in such cold weather.
[…] Keep Kids Safe in Winter Weather […]
We have some intense winters here, and it is good to be prepared. It is good to have waits to work through the cold weather so that it is more bearable.