Whether winter brings severe storms, light dustings or just cold temps, here are some valuable tips on how to keep your child safe and warm.

What To Wear

• Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
• Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant's sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred.
• If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby's chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding.

Winter Health

• If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops may help keep tissues moist. If bleeding is severe or recurrent, consult your pediatrician.
• Many pediatricians feel that bathing two or three times a week is enough for an infant's first year. More frequent baths may dry out the skin, especially during the winter.
• Cold weather does not cause colds or flu. But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough away from others may help reduce the risk of colds and flu.
• Children between the ages of 6 and 23 months should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu.

Fire and Heater Safety

• Never leave small children alone in the home, even for a minute.
• Place a barrier around open flames.
• Do not allow children to play near fireplaces, radiators, or space heaters.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing near a stove, fireplace, or open space heater.
• Have your heating system and fireplace checked and cleaned yearly. Fall is a great time to do this.
• Leave plenty of room around space heaters. They should be at least 3 feet from anything that might burn, like curtains and furniture. Turn space heaters off and unplug them when you go to bed or leave the home.

(Adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics: "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age Five" and "Keep Your Family Safe: Fire Safety and Burn Prevention at Home")