Babies & Cold

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Like most parents with young children, I get my fair share of cabin fever this time of year. When I'm stuck inside the house with three energetic kids, there's nothing better than breathing in some fresh, albeit
cold, air.

However, when it comes to cold weather and babies, I don't like to take chances, no matter how cooped up I feel. When taking young children out in the cold, I exercise more than a bit of caution. There are two important considerations regarding babies and cold weather:

• Babies — and often toddlers — can't tell you when they're cold. Sometimes they may not even give any
  warning signals.
• While you may be working up a sweat, your baby is merely along for the ride, and therefore not staying as warm as you are. You're warm because you're lugging your baby, while your baby is apt to be colder, depending on his or her layers.

Though parents have to use their own best judgement, I tend to think that if the temperature is at or above freezing, I'll go out as long as the wind isn't bad. If the temperature dips down into the 20s, I may think twice. When the temperature goes below 20, however, I typically pass.

My overall philosophy is simple. If the weather isn't bitter and my kids have the proper clothing, I enjoy taking them out. With toddlers and babies, I generally keep these outings fairly short and local. If I want to go out on a lengthy outing in really cold weather, their dad or a baby-sitter stays home with my twin girls, age one. If I think my twin girls might be subject to hypothermia or even mild discomfort, we head to the mall instead of the great outdoors. Remember, hypothermia is no joke and can be deadly.