Keeping Children Safe in Winter Weather

Direct answer: Children are more vulnerable to cold than adults: infants lose body heat more easily than grown-ups, and a winter storm puts children at greater risk than healthy adults. The rules are simple — dress them in layers, keep them dry, limit their time outside, watch for shivering, and never buckle a child into a car seat wearing a puffy winter coat.

Why children are more vulnerable

Ready.gov lists children among the people a winter storm puts at greater risk, alongside older adults, sick individuals, and pets. The CDC is specific about babies: infants less than one year old should never sleep in a cold room because they lose body heat more easily than adults. Children also spend more time playing outside, and they may not notice — or say — that they are getting cold until the cold has already taken hold. That is why the adults around them have to watch the clock, the clothing, and the warning signs.

Dress them in layers — and keep them dry

The CDC gives one clothing list for adults and children: a hat; a scarf or knit mask to cover the face and mouth; sleeves that are snug at the wrist; mittens, which are warmer than gloves; a water-resistant coat and boots; and several layers of loose-fitting clothing. The layers trap air between them, and that trapped air is what keeps a child warm. Wet clothing chills the body quickly, so change wet mittens and socks for dry ones, and take extra layers off when a child gets too warm — excess sweating causes the body to lose more heat. Do not ignore shivering: the CDC calls it an important first sign that the body is losing heat, and constant shivering is a sign that it is time to go inside.

Babies need extra care

For babies under one year old, the CDC's advice is stricter. Never let a baby sleep in a cold room. Remove pillows and other soft bedding, which can increase the risk of smothering and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Dress babies in warmer clothing such as footed pajamas, one-piece wearable blankets, or sleep sacks, and try to maintain a warm temperature inside your home. If you cannot keep your home warm, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere. In an emergency, you can keep your baby warm using your own body heat — but if you must sleep, take precautions to prevent rolling on or smothering your baby.

The car seat rule: coats off first

A puffy winter coat feels like the safest thing to put on a child before a car ride. In a car seat, it is the opposite. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that heavy coats can interfere with the proper harness fit on a child in a car seat. The fix is simple: dress your child in thin, warm layers, buckle the harness snug and secure, and then place blankets or coats around your child for extra warmth. Install the seat correctly, with the right seat for your child's age and size, and use NHTSA's free Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator to have the installation checked — in person or virtually.

Keep them safe at home

Most of the danger in a winter storm is outside, but the home has hazards of its own. If you use a space heater, the CDC says to use one with an automatic shut-off switch and non-glowing elements, keep it at least three feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or other flammable materials, never cover it, never place it on furniture or near water, and never leave children unattended near it. If the power goes out, use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns rather than candles — and if you do use candles, never leave lit candles unattended. Check the weather alerts page and the site's cold safety guidance before a storm, and read the layering guide and the frostbite and hypothermia guide so you know the signs before the cold arrives.

Know the warning signs

Hypothermia — abnormally low body temperature — shows up as shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness. In babies, the signs are different: bright red, cold skin, and very low energy. If a person's temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, it is an emergency — get medical attention immediately. Frostbite most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes, and its signs are a white or grayish-yellow skin area, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy, and numbness. If you notice frostbite, seek medical care. Ready.gov adds the first-aid basics: get to a warm room, soak the affected area in warm water, and use body heat to warm it — do not massage it or use a heating pad. For hypothermia, warm the center of the body first — chest, neck, head, and groin — and keep the person dry and wrapped in warm blankets, including the head and neck.

Frequently asked questions

How should I dress my child for cold weather?

In several layers of loose-fitting clothing: a hat, a scarf or knit mask over the face and mouth, sleeves snug at the wrist, mittens rather than gloves, and a water-resistant coat and boots. Keep them dry — wet clothing chills the body quickly — and bring them inside when they start shivering.

Can my child wear a winter coat in the car seat?

No. Heavy coats can interfere with the harness fit, so dress your child in thin, warm layers, buckle the harness snug and secure, and then place a blanket or coat around your child for extra warmth.

How do I know if my baby is too cold?

In babies, the warning signs of hypothermia are bright red, cold skin and very low energy. A temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit is an emergency — get medical attention immediately. Babies under one year old should never sleep in a cold room.

What should I do if my child gets frostbite?

Seek medical care. While you wait, get to a warm room and soak the affected area in warm water, or use body heat to warm it. Do not massage the area or use a heating pad.

Sources

• CDC - Safety Guidelines: During and After a Winter Storm
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Winter Weather Driving Tips
• Ready.gov - Winter Weather

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