Day 353 - How to Treat Frostbite

Today's first time parenting tip - Use your own body heat or water a few degrees warmer than body temperature to treat frostbite

We just escaped a bitter cold spell here in Chicago, but it's still February and I'm not holding my breath. Even though your infant probably isn't outside that much if its bitter cold, if temps are chilly and they're outside for what seems like a short time, their fingers and toes can get frostbit.

Frostbit skin looks white to yellowish-gray, and is often cold to the touch. If you think your infant has frostbite, you should get them to the hospital as soon as you can. Until you can get there, you can start the gradual warming process.

First off, get your baby out of the cold and into a warm room. Don't place them next to an oven or another heat source, it can actually burn the skin and cause more damage.

The best way to gradually warm them up is by using your own body heat. Hold their skin against your skin, or cup the frostbit fingers or toes in your hands. If you want to submerse the affected area in water, make sure it's a few degrees above body temperature and no more. Heat the water back up as it cools down past 98 degrees.

Day, Frostbite, Cold, Cool, Damage

Day 293 - Bundle Up

Today's first time parenting tip - Cover up all exposed skin in the bitter cold

If anyone else lives in the Midwest, you know that right now we're in the midst of a ridiculously cold spell. It's so cold that my hair, still damp from the shower froze solid when I went outside.

This kind of weather is dangerous, not only for adults but especially for babies. Skin can dry out and crack, colds and pneumonia can strike and little extremities can get frostbit.

While overdressing your baby is a danger, it never hurts to be too careful when there's a wind chill of negative 20. Your baby shouldn't be outside longer than it takes to get to a car. Playing outside and going for walks are out of the question.

To keep your baby safe in the bitter cold:

• Warm up the car before you head outside


• Dress your baby in multiple layers of clothing, so you can peel off and add as needed


• Make sure your baby is wearing a coat, hat, shoes and gloves if they have to go outside


• Cover their face with a blanket when outside to protect their face and lips

Parenting, cold, frostbite, protection, warm

Day 285 - Beat the Cold

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep the baby's room around 70-72 degrees F

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it's the middle of winter. That means biting cold, wind and perhaps the most discouraging of all - drafts.

No matter what you set the thermostat at, there always seem to be areas in the house or the apartment that are colder than others. If you've got a sleeping baby in the house, that could spell bad news. If the room the baby is sleeping in is cold, you'll have middle-of-the-night wake ups at best, hypothermia at worst.

Here's how you can keep your infant as comfortable as possible during winter.

• Pick a room for the baby that has as few windows as possible


• If the room has windows, cover them with heavy drapes or plastic


• Use Styrofoam stuff window sills and drafty doors


• Place the baby's crib as far from the window as possible


• Put a space heater in the baby's room


• Dress your infant in warm, full length pajamas


• Use a crib pad to block any errant drafts


• Keep the rest of your house around 70 degrees, even at night

Follow these tips and you'll be able to beat the best Jack Frost can throw at you.

Parenting, Winter, Cold, Temperature, Space, , Heater