Baby It's Cold Outside! Winter Safety Tips for the Entire Family

For many of us, this could be the coldest winter in recent memory. So imagine my dismay when my 13 year old (who should know better) decides to head to the bus stop with no more than a sweatshirt- in single digit temperatures. As I watched him jog in place attempting to keep warm, I struggled with a common parental decision: Do I chase after him with his coat shouting “you’ll catch pneumonia,” or do I leave him on his imaginary treadmill hoping he will learn his lesson?

As parents we must find the balance between Natural Consequences and protecting our child’s safety. For my son, being cold hopefully resulted in his desire to wear a coat; however not all lessons can be learned naturally. For example, you will not let your child stick a fork in an outlet to teach a consequence. Each parent has a natural consequence threshold, but during this bitterly cold season, you may wisely choose to forgo the age old adage that they will learn their lesson. Here are some safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics that shouldn’t be left as a lesson to be learned.

Frostbite and Fingertips

• Set time limits on outdoor activities and have frequent breaks inside so they warm up.
• If frostbite occurs, bring your child inside and place the frostbitten parts of his/her body in warm (not hot) water.
• Use warm washcloths on frostbitten nose, ears and lips, but don’t rub the frozen areas. Keep your child dry and warm.
• If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.

Sledding the Backyard Slopes

• Supervise your children.
• Keep them away from busy streets and cars.
• Teach them to sled feet first or sitting up, instead of lying down head-first. This prevents head injuries.
• Make sure your child wears a helmet.
• Look for sled slopes covered in snow (not ice), not too steep and that end with a flat runoff.

Dressing for the Occasion

• Use several thin layers to keep your child dry and warm.
• Kids should wear thermal long johns, a turtleneck and/or one or two shirts, pants, a sweater, a coat, warm socks, boots, gloves and a hat. Avoid sweaters with drawstrings and long scarves.
• Use an onesie, socks and a sleep sack to keep your baby warm. Steer clear of using blankets and other loose bedding that may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Winter Hazards in the Home

• Turn off space heaters when you leave a room and when you sleep. Place them at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn.
• Keep children and pets away from heating equipment so they don’t tip them over or get burned by older models that can get very hot.
• Have working carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home and outside each sleeping area. Learn more about carbon monoxide poisoning.

Don’t be careless or overconfident this season. Get through winter with your health and home in one piece. So yes, during this record breaking winter, I will chase my son to the bus stop (likely in my slippers and robe) to make sure he wears his coat! Stay warm and enjoy a safe winter season.