Going Out in Winter Makes Children Healthier (If You Follow These Rules)

In the middle of the winter season, when temperatures usually drop below zero, many parents are worried about taking their baby or toddler outside. Exposure to cold is usually associated with the risk of contracting the common cold, the flu and other cold-season infections.

But is it really better for kids to stay warm behind doors all day, and if you do decide to go outside, how can you make your winter walk safe?

According to pediatricians, going out in winter does not in itself make children sick, but on the contrary - it makes them healthier. If the necessary precautions are taken, exposure to low temperatures boosts the immune system and strengthens its defenses. Children who regularly spend time in the cold and fresh air are more resistant to common viruses. During the winter months, pathogens spread quickly in rooms with many people, so outdoor games are a great way to escape infection. Playing outside, especially in the snow, is not only great fun for children, but also very beneficial for the development of their motor skills, imagination and general knowledge of the world around them.

Little bodies in cold weather require extra caution

Of course when you take your baby or toddler out in the cold, you should be mindful of the fact their bodies are just different. Babies and toddlers are more prone to frostbite, because they lose body heat faster than adults, especially if they don't move much. During their first months of life babies don't have a developed thermoregulation system yet, which means that they can't effectively control their body temperature. If they are cold, for example, they are not able to shiver to keep warm. What babies do rely on is a special type of fat in their body called brown adipose tissue, which produces much more heat than typical white adipose tissue.

Recent research has indicated that breastfed infants have multiple time more brown fat than infants on formula.

The infrared image on the left shows the brown fat tissue reserves on a baby's back. This type of fat cells almost disappears with age.

Source: https://anthrolactology.com/2019/06/26/the-beat-goes-on-human-milk-maintains-brown-and-beige-adipose-tissue-in-infants/

General cold weather guidelines to keep you safe

With children being more susceptible to the cold, you should always take into account their age and general health before going out. If you have a premature baby, for example, it's advisable to limit winter strolls. Extra caution is needed if your child is recovering after sickness. You should also consider factors like wind speed and humidity levels, which can quickly lead to frostbite. As a general rule, at temperatures from 0 to -10 degrees Celsius properly dressed children can spend up to 20-30 minutes outside, before moving to a warmer place. However, if temperatures drop below -10 degrees Celsius and there a severe wind chills, frostbite could quickly affect the extremities and playing outside is not recommended.

Warning! Winter walks and outdoor games are beneficial to your health only when air quality is good. There are days in Sofia when the level of dust particles in the air is dangerously high, especially in winter. Going out in such conditions poses a health risk and children are better off playing at home.

How to choose the proper winter clothes for outdoors

The golden rule is that babies and toddlers should wear one more layer than adults. If you're wearing a T-shirt and a sweater, then your child may wear an extra long-sleeve blouse or shirt. In case of a baby in a pram, the additional layer can be a warm blanket.

Another important rule is that more layers are better than one. On the one hand, the air between the layers insulates better from the cold, and on the other hand, layers can be taken off or put on easily if necessary. You should also keep in mind that if the child gets too hot, sweating combined with wind chills increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. A hat and gloves are also a must. It's a good idea to bring extra clothes with you, such as socks, gloves, pants and blouses, in case the others get wet.

What to do in cases of frostbite and hypothermia

Can you count on your child to be able to monitor their condition and come back home if they get too cold? Not always. Young children often ignore the symptoms of frostbite because they just want to keep playing. Therefore, you should check on them regularly and in case of any frostbite symptoms, quickly take them indoors and give them a warm drink like tea, milk, hot chocolate or just hot water.

The body extremities - fingers, toes, nose, cheeks and ears - are most at risk of frostbite, since they are furthest away from the bloodstream. If you notice that the skin has turned white or lost sensitivity, you should go inside and, if possible, soak the affected body part in warm (not hot) water. Another option is to put a warm towel over the skin until it regains its colour. This procedure should take about half an hour and may be painful due to the return of blood circulation. Finally, dry the area and cover it up with warm clothes or a blanket.

What not to do? The affected skin should not be directly exposed to a heat source, such as a radiator or a hairdryer, neither should it be massaged. Do not not break any blisters. A common misconception is that it helps to rub snow on the frostbitten area - in fact this can only make the condition worse.

In more severe case of frostbite, the skin becomes hard, waxy or grayish. Follow the same procedures and call a doctor. You can find more tips on how to treat frostbite at home here.

When the kids are staying outside for a long time, you should also watch out for any initial signs of hypothermia - a condition in which the body temperature falls below normal. Such signs are uncontrollable shivering, blue lips, clumsiness, confusion, and slurred speech. In these cases don't put your child directly next to the radiator or stove but dry them thoroughly and then wrap them up in a warm blanket or clothes. Severe symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite are a medical emergency and you should immediately seek medical help.

Don't underestimate the health risks of overheating

In their efforts to keep children safe from the cold, parents often go into the other extreme. They dress children up too warmly, even indoors, which cause them to overheat. This condition is especially dangerous for babies who don't have good thermoregulation yet. Overheating has been linked to to an increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

But how do you know if a baby is hot or cold? Touching their feet or hands isn't reliable because the poorer blood circulation in these parts normally keeps them cooler. It's best to check the back of the neck (nape). If the skin there is warm, then the baby is fine. If it's too hot or sweaty, then the baby's overdressed. Fussiness and fussy and crying baby could also be a sign of overheating.

If you notice that your baby or toddler looks red, has rapid breathing or a rash around the neck and chest, you should remove the extra clothes, take them to a colder room, and give them more fluids to drink.

Pediatricians recommend keeping room temperature at 20-22 degrees Celsius at daytime and a few degrees lower at night. This helps babies and children feel and sleep best. High temperatures and low humidity levels dry out the mucous membrane of the nose and mouth and predispose to infection.

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Finally we publish a wonderful winter poem in Bulgarian by Georgi Avgarski.

And which are your favourite ways to play in the snow?

Sources:

http://www.jivotatdnes.bg/nachalo/news/zdrave/vnimanie-s-pretoplianeto-i-iznejvaneto-na-decata

https://anthrolactology.com/2019/06/26/the-beat-goes-on-human-milk-maintains-brown-and-beige-adipose-tissue-in-infants/

https://www.happiestbaby.com/blogs/baby/baby-overheating

https://www.med.upenn.edu/antibiotics/newsletters/2017_5.1_January.pdf

https://roditel.bg/parva-pomosht-za-deteto-pri-izmrazvane-i-hipotermia/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/article/yes-you-can-get-your-kids-outside-when-its-cold

https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/factsheet-temperature.pdf

"This publication was created with the financial support of the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area. The entire responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the Health and Social Development Foundation and under no circumstances can it be assumed that this publication reflects the official opinion of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Operator of the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria."