Before sending your child out to conquer the winter wonderland, it's important to make sure you've protected your darling from the cold.
Cold weather tips for babies:
- Know the temperature and how the wind chill factor can affect the body. Do you really have to go outside?
- Invest in a car seat with a carrier. Warm the carrier inside so baby gets a warm seat.
- Dress your baby in a normal layer of clothing and a hat. Strap baby into the car seat, then drape a blanket over the baby. Be sure your baby's face is free.
Cold weather tips for all ages:
- Monitor your child for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
- Bring your child inside if there are complaints of a burning sensation in the skin, if the skin is bluish or reddish, if there is shivering, or if speech is slurred.
- Dress your child in layers.
- Plan outdoor activity for the warmest part of the day.
- Use sunscreen.
- Check in to be sure your child isn't too hot or too cold.
Special tips for teen drivers in winter:
- Enroll your child (or whole family) in a defensive driving or winter driving class.
- Have a clear set of guidelines for winter driving; perhaps restricting other passengers or determining ahead of time when it's okay to take the car.
- Be sure the child gets some practice while you're in the car.
- Low visibility, people walking in the road, other drivers, and ease of stopping the moving vehicle are concerns. Make sure your teen knows about these hazards.
Dr. Elizabeth Murray is a Physician specializing in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Upstate, NY. She graduated from Skidmore College with a BA in Economics and then, prior to medical school, she earned an MBA at the University of Rochester's Simon School of Business Administration.