General warning for those in nasty snowfall regions

[Divernan]

21. And don't forget MITTENS!

Every winter I see young parents with their kids - even infants - all bundled up in snow suits and hats, but NO protection for their very tiny hands and fingers. Baby's tiny fingers, toes, ears, chin and nose are particularly & quickly susceptible to frostbite.

What causes it: When you get cold, the blood vessels in your extremities constrict, sending blood to your body's core to keep you warm. In extreme cold, some tissue can be completely cut off from its blood supply, at which point, it freezes and can become permanently damaged.

Protecting your baby from frostbite before you leave the house may be your best defense against the elements. Try the following:

Fill up: Be sure to feed your baby a meal or snack before heading out in the cold — it takes a lot of calories to maintain body heat in frigid weather.
Cover up: A rain cover will keep wind and snow out of a stroller, and a fleece-lined stroller sack is great for keeping baby bundled for a short jaunt; still, no baby should be out in the very cold for long.
Layer up: Several layers of clothing are key (undershirt, shirt, sweatshirt, coat — cotton and fleece work particularly well), since they keep baby warmer and you can remove them one-by-one (say, once inside the car or supermarket). Hat, mittens, warm socks, boots, and a warm coat or snowsuit should be standard cold-weather gear.