Safety Tips for Baby’s First Winter: 10 Things you Need to Know
Safety Tips for Baby’s First Winter: 10 Things you Need to Know
Winter is an exciting period of the year where we can sleep while listening to the relaxing rain sounds or watch pure white snow cover our trees! A baby's first winter is as much exciting as a baby's first time in a glowing beach 🏝.
Your little one is sensitive to temperature changes compared to older children or adults. Winter is the time where you need to settle some safety measures to avoid having to picture your little one in a bad mood!
1. Body Temperature Regulation: Dress your Baby in Layers
Babies are not able to regulate their temperature the way adults or older children do. It’s important to keep their body temperature between 99 degrees and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything lower can stress their bodies to use more energy to stay warm.
As a rule of thumb, when dressing your baby, add one more layer to your baby than you are wearing. You may want to dress your baby appropriately when in a car seat.
2. What about the Flu?
Flu is a common illness during wintertime. It may spread easily to your little one as many people around may sneeze or simply hold the baby. Make sure to:
- Wash your hands if you sneeze and before you hold or feed your baby
- Nicely ask anyone who wants to hold the baby to wash their hands
- Get a flu shot
- Regularly wash your baby's hands, toys, and tether
- Take your baby to doctor in case of a fever
3. Watch over their skin
Bathing too frequently can dry out your baby's skin. Also, make sure to apply a moisturizer lotion to your baby's skin, especially after a bath.
4. Snow can Strand your Car
Yes, it may happen to you or anybody driving on snowy roads. Worse, your car can break. Make sure you have in your car trunk:
- An emergency kit for you and your little one.
- Diapers & pacifiers
- Blankets & clothes
- Ready to feed formula because you may not have warm/hot water
- Powerbank for your smartphone
- Flashlights
- Snacks & Water
- A small snow shovel & cat litter to try to get some traction
5. Do you have Enough Resources for Your Fireplace?
What if roads get blocked and you don't have enough wood for your fireplace? What if you realize there is a gas cut? Stock up some wood to use in case of an upcoming storm or power/gas cut.
Another tip is to have your heating system along with your fireplace inspected before winter comes.
Make sure to secure fireplace areas in case your little one is a crawler or an early stepping baby.
6. Do you have Enough Food and Supplies to Survive a Storm?
Storms can last for a few hours to many days. Make sure you have enough food & water. Also, make sure you have kitchen/outdoor supplies that allow you to cook and boil water using wood. Some storms can be devastating and cause gas, power, and water cuts.
7. Snow removal in and around your house is a must!
Snow Slippery happens frequently during this period of the year. Make sure your walkways, driveways, and balconies are clear of ice before you take your toddler out. When holding a baby, you are more likely to fall because your hands don't participate in your body equilibrium.
8. Overdressing may endanger your baby's life!
According to children experts, SIDS(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) risks increase when the baby's body is overheating. It is advised to keep your baby's room between 63-67 °F and dress the baby warm enough to help him sleep. Plus, it is not advised to cover your little one using blankets as they may cause suffocation. You can use a heating pad to warm the crib along with sleeping sacks.
9. Breastfeed your Baby if You Can!
Breastfeeding is among ways to help your little one have a stronger immunity system. Your baby needs a ready-to-fight immune system to protect him from flu and other winter sicknesses.
10. Get a Dose of Vitamin D!
During winter months, our bodies lack vitamin D. Avoid synthetic supplements and get yourself some COD Liver Oil.
A breastfed baby from a mother that gets enough vitamin D will also receive the benefits from breast milk.
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