DAILY walks in fresh air are essential – but how to keep your little one warm and safe, as the temperatures plummet in winter?
As Brits are warned to brace for a minus 16C cold snap today, one parenting expert has revealed how to make sure your baby is warm this chilly season – and a dangerous pram mistake to avoid at all costs.
Kirsty Carroll, a parenting expert at Kiddies Kingdom, has listed five essential tips for keeping our little ones safe and toasty in their pushchairs during cold winter walks.
Sharing her advice, Kirsty highlighted one dangerous mistake that parents are often seen making in the winter months – covering the pram with a blanket.
While parents may think this will help keep their kid warm, it can actually be quite hazardous, potentially restricting airflow and making your baby uncomfortable.
Warning parents of the common error, Kirsty noted that this mistake could even put them at risk of overheating.
Keeping your baby warm
Kirsty said: “Layer up on clothes, as this traps the heat to keep your little one warm. A good rule of thumb is to give your baby one extra layer of clothing than what you’re wearing.
“A snug base layer, insulated mid-layer, and weatherproof outer layer are ideal to shield them from the cold. Babies lose the most heat through the top of their heads, so don’t forget a hat!” she told Daily Star.
She stressed that you should avoid covering the pram’s opening with a blanket, adding: “If tucking your baby in with a blanket, only ever go up to their chest, leaving their face exposed.
”A great alternative to a blanket is a foot muff, these are designed to fit into your pram or pushchair and sometimes have a harness for extra safety.”
Protection against the elements
A rain cover is also another essential to snap up for walks during the cold spell, as it will keep the little one dry and shielded from any harsh wind.
Keeping your baby dry and warm is a must in the winter season, as wet or damp clothes won’t dry out as quickly – and it can even put your baby at risk of hypothermia.
Reflective Accessories
If you pop outside for a stroll during the later hours when it’s already dark, then the evenings can pose a great deal of safety problems for parents with pushchairs and prams.
To ensure the safety of yourself and your child, Kirsty said: “Stick to main roads and avoid routes without streetlights.
“You can also add reflective tape or reflective patches to your pushchair to increase its visibility in low light.”
Sharing the tips with the publication, Kirsty reminded parents to not forget to also make yourself visible on poorly lit routes – and this is where a reflective vest or sash comes in handy for everyone’s safety.
More parenting hacks
IF you want to make your life easier as a first-time mum, here's nine hacks you won't want to miss.
1. Routine Charts
Create visual charts for daily routines. Use pictures and stickers to make them engaging for younger children.
2. Meal Planning
Plan meals a week in advance to save time and reduce stress. Involve your children in meal prep to teach them cooking skills.
3. Toy Rotation
Keep a portion of toys stored away and rotate them periodically. This keeps playtime fresh and exciting without the need for constant new purchases.
4. DIY Cleaning Solutions
Make child-safe cleaning solutions using vinegar and baking soda. It’s effective and keeps harsh chemicals away from little hands.
5. Time-Out Jar
Create a time-out jar filled with calming activities written on slips of paper. When emotions run high, children can pick an activity to help them settle down.
6. Educational Apps
Utilise educational apps and websites to make screen time productive. Look for ones that offer interactive learning in subjects your child is interested in.
7. Command Centre
Set up a family command centre with a calendar, key hooks, and a bulletin board. It helps keep everyone organised and aware of daily schedules.
8. Emergency Kit
Keep a small emergency kit in the car with essentials like snacks, water, first aid supplies, and a change of clothes. It’s a lifesaver for unexpected situations.
9. Label Everything
Use labels for clothes, school supplies, and lunch boxes. It makes it easier to keep track of belongings, especially in shared spaces like schools.
Reliable brakes
You must be able to brake your pushchair when needed. Kirsty advised to opt for a pram with practical brakes, recommending that you should best look for a model where both wheels lock.
Keep wheels clean and clear
The soggy weather conditions can quickly turn pram wheels into a muddy mess, making it a real struggle to steer your baby’s chariot.
To remove any wet mud, Kirsty said parents can use a hose or pressure washer, or a stiff brush with warm water and washing-up liquid to get rid of dry mud.
However, it’s not just the mud you have got to watch out for – the rock salt scattered on the roads and footpaths can also ruin your pushchair’s wheels with corrosion damage.
To tackle this, the parenting pro’s top tip is giving the wheels a regular scrub and spritzing them with a silicon-based spray to keep them spinning without a hitch.
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