Tuesday Tips: Winter Safety for Kids

Help kids play it safe during the winter months

Recently on one of the nanny groups, there was discussion on what temperature is too cold to take children outside to play. A fellow nanny found this helpful article on Today:MSNBC and shared it with the other nannies. Since 2010 has started off as a frigid snowy one for the majority of the United States we thought everyone could use some helpful reminders and tips on playing it safe in the winter months.

Keeping kids warm

• Dress your baby or young child in one extra layer than you typically wear outside. Several thin layers will keep her warm and dry.
• Good layers for a baby: Cotton one-piece undershirt; thick socks; thermal shirt or turtleneck; fleece top or sweater; bunting or snowsuit (preferably one that covers hands and feet); mittens; hat that covers ears.
• Good layers for kids: Thermal underwear; turtleneck; fleece or sweater; sweatpants or waterproof pants; two pairs of socks (perhaps sock liners and wool socks) water-resistant jacket; waterproof mittens (glove liners can be good too); hat that covers ears (or earmuffs over hat); waterproof boots with gripping surface
• DO use a neck gaiter.
• DON’T use a scarf, which can get caught on objects and be a strangulation hazard.
• Infants should be taken out in cold weather only when necessary.
• If your kids are playing outside, have them come in at least every half-hour to warm up.
• Don’t let kids play outside when it’s too cold or windy — always check windchill, and stay inside when it is 10 degrees F or lower.

To read the beginning and end of the article please visit:

Help kids play it safe during the winter months