Baby Care tips during
the winter season
When
it's cold outside we want to cover up our little ones and protect them from the
harsh weather. Babies need one more layer of clothing than adults. Stick your
hand inside your baby's clothing to see if he seems hot.
Too much?
This
goes hand in hand with dressing in layers, but be sure to keep your baby
protected from the cold and wind as much as possible. You might consider using
a cover for your stroller so you can still get in those daily walks but your
baby won't be exposed to the wind and cold. And make sure her head and hands
are covered whenever you'll be out for prolonged periods of time.
Use a humidifier
Plug
a humidifier in your baby's room when he sleeps at night. Since central heating
in the home also sucks the moisture out of your baby's skin, you've got to
replenish it. Using a humidifier will help to put some of that moisture back
into the house and into your baby's skin.
Think warm, not hot
Nice,
warm baths may be just thing to warm your baby up after being outside in the
cold. We recommend a bath each night to help your baby wind down and get ready
for sleep. Make sure you continue with your nighttime bath routine throughout
the winter, but be sure to use lukewarm not hot water. We know that it's
important to moisturize skin all year long, and sweet, tender baby skin is no
exception. In the winter months when we have cold air, wind and central heat
all working against skin's natural moisture it is more important than ever.
When your baby finishes a bath, pat him dry to preserve some of the moisture on
his skin. Then, make sure you use a moisturizer on your baby after every bath.
At the first sign of any dry skin, bump up your baby's moisturizer from a cream
to a hydrating ointment. Ointments have at least 80 per cent oil in their
composition and are the most effective at preventing water loss from the skin.
A trick to making ointments feel less greasy is to apply them to skin that is
still damp.
For
new moms, you'll probably get a bit stir crazy with your little one, especially
during the cold weather months. But it's important to safely step outside when
you can. "Babies and new parents need fresh air," Even so, new
parents must follow safety precautions. Once the temperature gets below
freezing, you shouldn't take your baby out, except for quick trips back and
forth to the car. Even when it's above freezing, wind chill can make it
dangerous. "Newborns and infants do not yet have the ability to self
regulate their core temperature. She recommends limiting the exposure to the
cold elements to a few minutes at a time, and saving play in the snow for when
kids are older.
"Small
babies lack the ability to increase heat by shivering and don't have the body
fat needed to warm back up once they get cold."
Here
are expert ways to keep your baby warm and safe this winter. Dress
your baby in layers.