If you are a new parent, surely you have been wondering how you can best dress your little one in appropriate clothing for all seasons. The most difficult to dress for could be the cold winter. Your top priority could be keeping your baby comfortable in colder climates and during harsh winter weather. A newborn baby is still developing the ability to regulate their internal temperature, so it is especially important to make sure they are kept warm. But not too warm though. Here’s how to keep your little ones safe for the winter.
SHOULD YOU TAKE THEM OUTSIDE?
You may be mostly hesitant to take your baby outside during winter. It’s not particularly necessary to keep your baby home always, it would be nice to introduce them to the fresh air so they can also get used to it over time. All you will have to remember is that it is important to safely take them outside whenever you can or do. Unless it’s freezing cold, being outdoors will help your infant acclimate to the day-and-night cycle and even reduce their fussiness. Just by taking a few precautionary steps, you and your baby can enjoy the outdoors even during winter. What’s more, you wouldn’t have to worry about finding a babysitter or what your baby is doing at home without you when you have to run errands.
WHY THE EXTRA CARE?
Limiting exposure to the cold elements to a few minutes at a time is much better for a baby’s body to get used to the cold. Newborns cannot yet self-regulate their core temperature. So, they lose heat faster than adults and the younger their age, the less ability they have to cope with their cold. Infants also do not have ample body fat required to warm their bodies if they are cold. This should explain why your baby is completely dependent on you to dress them pretty in layers of clothes!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
A jacket or snowsuit and a blanket, any of these would keep your baby warm when you take them out in the winter. Dressing your infant in layers allows you to adjust to their needs especially when moving between the cold outdoors and heated indoor spaces. Whenever you’re indoors, you can just take off the warmest layer from the top while your child can relax with their tights or bodysuit underneath. Under their jacket, you can put on pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt/shirt on them. To add more to the warmth you can use a coat, mittens, and warm shoes as well to keep hands and feet warm.
WHAT TO DO INSIDE THE CAR?
Please be mindful that your baby isn’t wearing any coat or snowsuit in the car or when they are in the car seat. Why? If there’s too much material between the baby and the car seat straps, the material could compress during an accident, leaving space for your baby to become unsecured. You may use a blanket or coat slightly placed on top of the car seat and your baby. Remove it once the car warms up so the baby doesn’t get overheated. You can always pre-warm the car to keep your baby cozy. Be sure of it that are always keeping an eye on your baby to notice any hazard of a blanket covering their face.
SOME CLEAR SIGNS
It is advised that if their face gets red, their skin is warm, and they’re fussy, your baby is probably overheated. If your baby is fussy and teary-eyed and their skin is cold to the touch, they’re probably not bundled up enough. If your baby starts shivering or their hands, feet, and face are cold and red or have turned pale and hard, bring them inside immediately to warm up. Hold them close and wrap them up in a blanket. You shouldn’t rub their hands and feet to increase the body temperature though. This could further damage a baby’s cold skin. So it is wiser to use a warm washcloth and smoothly rub on the cold parts of their body to regain body temperature safely.
DRY SKIN
Just as adults face the issue of dry, itchy, scaly skin during the winter, your baby does too. Babies have comparatively much smoother and softer skin. Their supple skin can lose all the moisture during winter which is why you must keep them moisturized. At home, try to keep the indoor temperature right. Indoor heating has low humidity, and it’s that lack of moisture in the air that can dry your baby’s delicate skin. Anywhere between 68 F and 72 F should be a good indoor temperature for your baby. After your baby is asleep, turn the temperature to between 65 F and 68 F, which will not only benefit your baby’s skin but can also reduce the risk of SIDS, as doctors suggest. Water can also dry out skin, and most babies don’t need to be washed daily in the winter. Simply spot-clean any areas that need it such as the hands, face, neck, and diaper area. Use warm water to bathe your baby, and don’t let your baby soak too long when they need a bath.
COLD FROM WINTER
Your newborn is highly vulnerable to infections since the temperature drops drastically. There may be signs of infections like cold, congestion, or fever even if you take all possible precautions and follow strict winter care for newborn babies. Do not wait for severe symptoms, and get alert when you see your child being fussy or lethargic, as these are the usual initial signs that the child is having some issues. Take your child to the doctor as soon as possible.
PREVENTION METHODS
The best prevention against the common cold is to keep away from folks who are sick and sniffy to begin with. Wash your hands often and insist your visitors, friends, and family do so too. Avoid crowds where there may be coughing and sneezing when you take your baby outside. Make sure the adults and children around your baby are up-to-date on their whooping cough, vaccine, and flu shots. It’s important to reduce your guests to very close family and friends. If possible, keep your baby’s contact with older children to a minimum. Breastfeed your baby if possible, as breast milk can give your newborn a head start in preventing and fighting infections, according to the AAP. Mother’s milk contains antibodies, proteins, fats, sugars, and even white blood cells that can fight infection and even small amounts supplemented with formula can help.
