It’s some unearthly degree below freezing, and the last place you want to be is anywhere but inside your cozy, warm house. But whether you have a baby who needs to be buckled in a car seat for a drive to the market, a toddler stationed at the window rearing for a romp in the snow, or a young child you need to bring with you when you pick up an older sibling at school, you need to go outside … and you’re not sure if it’s safe.
You’ve got good reason: Little bodies have a harder time regulating temperature than big ones. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the younger the child, the smaller the ratio of her body mass to body surface — which means more heat escapes through her skin.
This freeze factor is especially problematic for newborns, who have less fat to insulate against the cold, can’t store enough energy to bump up their bodies’ heat production, and have a decreased ability to shiver (which is how the rest of us get our blood flowing as a temporary shield against the cold).
Can I Take My Baby Outside in the Cold?
Yes, you can take your baby out in the cold, but just be aware that babies are the most susceptible to cold because their tiny bodies are more likely to lose heat faster than it is produced and because babies can’t really tell you when they’re too cold. This can lead to hypothermia, a condition that happens when the body temperature drops so low that it begins to impact the body’s systems. Signs of hypothermia in infants are red, cold skin and an unusually low energy level.
If baby’s temperature falls below normal while or after being out in the cold (and normal for infants is between 98 and 100.4 degrees F), call 911 immediately. Also, beware of white or pale gray coloring on her fingers, toes, nose and ears — an early sign of frostbite.
