Seven ways to keep your baby healthy in cold weather

During the winter, the American Academy of Pediatrics has come up with some of the best tips to keep kids healthy.

1. Dress warmly

Children need to be dressed warmly when outdoors, preferably in layers to keep them dry and warm. Don’t forget shoes, gloves or mittens, and hats.

Children should wear at least one more layer of clothing than adults in the same temperature conditions. Children in the car should wear a thin layer of clothing, not too thick. For young children, do not use too many blankets, pillows, and sheets on the bed when sleeping because they have caused many deaths in children. It is best to use a warm one-piece nightgown or a blanket that can be wrapped around the child. If you use a blanket, you should only use a thin blanket and tuck the edges under the mattress, so that the blanket only reaches the child's chest to avoid covering the child's face.

In winter, children must be kept warm properly to avoid getting sick.

2. Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when a child’s body temperature drops below normal due to being in the cold for too long or wearing wet clothes. When a child has hypothermia, they will shiver, become lethargic, and become clumsy. They will also slur their speech, and in some cases the temperature will drop to a more severe level.

As soon as you see your child has hypothermia, you should take him to the emergency room. Before going to the hospital, you should change wet clothes and wrap him in a blanket or warm clothes.

3. Frostbite

Frostbite occurs when the skin and outer tissues freeze. It can occur on the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Children may also complain of frozen, burned skin.

If your child has frostbite, take him or her indoors and place the affected part of the body in warm (not hot) water. The skin may be discolored, gray, or dry. You can also place a warm towel on your child's nose, ears, or lips that are frostbitten. Do not rub the frozen skin. After a few minutes, dry the area and dress the child in warm clothing, wrap the child in a blanket, and give him or her warm water to drink. If the numbness does not subside after a few minutes, you should see a doctor.

4. Winter diseases

If your child has nosebleeds in the winter, you may want to use a humidifier in the bedroom at night. Nasal drops can also help keep nasal tissues moist. If your child has severe nosebleeds, see a doctor.

Many doctors recommend that babies under one year old should only be bathed two to three times a week. Too much bathing can dry out the skin.

Cold weather does not cause colds, but viruses are common in the winter, especially when children are in school. Teach your child to wash his or her hands and to cough and sneeze into the back of his or her hand to avoid spreading the disease. Children over six months of age can be vaccinated.

5. Outdoor activities

You should limit the amount of time your child spends outdoors to avoid hypothermia and frostbite. Do not give your child medication or alcohol before going outside.

6. Sun protection

Sunburn can still occur in winter, especially when reflected off snow. Use sunscreen and sunglasses for your child.

7. Avoid fire accidents

Fire accidents also happen a lot in winter. You should buy smoke detectors for your home and teach your children the skills needed in case of fire. Keep heaters and stoves at least 1 meter away from anything that can burn and turn them off when leaving the room./.

According to VOV.VN