Sunday, 22 November 2009
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Getting the Kids Ready for Winter Weather
With the approach of winter I have begun to wonder how cold it should be before I stop taking the children I nanny for outside. I believe in getting out of the house and going outside for fresh air but I also believe in keeping kids healthy so this has been a concern of mine recently. I decided to seek out my mother for some advice on this one since she knows a thing or two about young children and cold weather.
When I was young my family lived in a small town in northern New Hampshire. I was brought into this world on a cold, cold day in the month of January; it was 31 degrees below 0! My mom was excited and nervous as I was her first and only child. She had a million questions to ask the Dr. but one of the first was “Is it too cold for me to take her outside?”The doctor said that it was but of course she could take me from hospital to car and car to house but after that he did not recommend taking me out of doors until it was above freezing. My mother jokingly responded that in that case I would not get to go outside again until May!
Since I get cold once the temperature dips below 80 degrees I was worried I would not be the best judge in determining how cold the children may be. One of the little guys I watch is old enough to tell me if he feels warm or cold but the other two still do not talk so they are who I am most worried about.
My mom informed me that children normally tend to have higher body temperatures than adults do so not to worry too much. This is something I had never heard before but it does make sense considering children’s metabolisms are faster than ours. Still, I know that this little bit of information does not mean kids don’t need to be bundled up a bit before heading outside.
Once the temperature does get close to freezing I plan to only bring the kids out when it is absolutely necessary. But when you need to take kids out I have heard that you should put one extra layer on a baby or child than you would put on yourself to ensure that they keep warm. This seems like a good rule of thumb.
Besides, undershirts, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, pants, socks, and coats one item that is key for baby’s comfort in cold weather is a blanket. When I do have to bring the children I watch out of doors I will make sure to wrap the 4-month-old in one or as my mother suggested a bunting.
I will also be making sure that we do not leave the house without hats on all of their heads. About 10% of body heat can be lost when a head is hat-less. Though that percentage is not as high as it was once believed to be (45% was thought in the 1950s) 10% is still a decent amount and enough of a reason for me to put a hat on my own head so of course enough to make me put them on the kids’ heads as well. Besides, the head is one of the most sensitive body parts when it comes to changes in temperature so if it makes a child feel more comfortable that still counts for something, right?
What tips do you have for getting the kids ready for the cold?
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About the Author
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- From: michcoy@xanga
- Name: Michelle
- About Me: I am a full-time nanny who loves to write whenever I can. I also love being outdoors whenever possible. Camping, hiking and kayaking are a few of my favorite activities.
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Comments (8)
We have a fleecy JJ Cole Bundle Me and my daughter loves it. I didn't see the point in them until someone mentioned that these can't be kicked off and dropped in the mud/snow/whatever. Genius! :)
I'm so glad you wrote about this! I have been wondering all the same things! Last winter, we did the one extra layer of clothing, and I agree that it's a great rule of thumb. I plan on doing it again this year. I love to take my daughter for walks, and I can't imagine not being able to spend a little time outdoors, but I don't know when it's too cold to go out. She is only 16 months right now. Most of the people I talked too, said to not take her out if it's below freezing, but here in Michigan, it could be that cold for a good while! So, I'm looking for suggestions as well about this!
Hats are good... and I love turtlenecks. I bought some for my son this year. Scarves are a choking hazard for him (he's under 1) and I didn't want his neck/chest exposed. It makes for a great layering item under a sweater.
I would like to point out that cold does not make children sick. Being cooped up inside a house without fresh air and with all the build up of toxins that are found in unventilated homes in the winter is a much bigger health hazard. I have taken my kids out at least once a day pretty much every day since they were born. Your mother is right that children's bodies are generally warmer than ours. They are however, quicker to get both cold and hot since their body mass is so much lower than ours. Hats are good especially the ones with the ear flaps. A nice cotton onesie close to the skin or a cotton t-shirt for the older ones is nice too. It adds warmth but also absorbs sweat caused by too much clothing. I very seldom see underdressed kids out in the cold usually parents go crazy with it and the little ones are drenched in sweat under their coats. If you find that their skin is sweaty after you come inside it's a good indication that you are overdressing them.
I don't think you need to dress the kids in more clothes than adults unless they're newborns. That was a good rule of thumb when my kids were 3 months and younger, but it doesn't seem to hold true much longer after that. I agree with @tsh44@xanga - I see more kids overdressed than underdressed for the weather.
Hats are good, and so are warm long sleeved shirts and pants. I found some good ones at The Children's Place last year.
very cute baby :)
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I think the main thing to think about it wether the kids are moving around much or not. If they are, the same amount of layers that you wear should be enough (that includes hats, of course). If they are running around playing, they will get sweaty if you bundle them up too much - and sweat will cool them down more quickly, so that's something to pay attention to. Babies and toddlers in buggies, of course, will need an extra layer and/or a blanket or wrap, since they are sitting still.
What I'm wondering is, if you are a nanny, how is it that you do not know these things? Did you not get training before you started taking care of small children? I think your employer should have provided you with some training - or, at the very least, a book on child care.
@Brilliant_Innocence@xanga - for newborns, it can be hard to breathe if it's below freezing, since their lungs are not that developed yet. But a one-year-old can take a bit more cold, as long as you bundle them up (especially if they are lying still), and not take them out for too long. When it's under freezing, you could limit walks to 15-20 minutes. For my son, we used a sleeping-bag type thing (with a hood!) that had holes to put the straps of his stroller through - genius! He used to love to nap in that thing (when it was around freezing).
Pants that have cotton lining are great, because of the extra layer, and also long-johns of course. Jeans are not so good - I find that my son gets very cold legs in those.
Also, it can be useful to protect baby's cheeks with a greasy cream - make sure it doesn't contain water!