Once, a long, long time ago, I was naïve enough to think I could actually plan when my kids would be born. I had always thought I’d prefer to have a baby during the springtime. What a lovely, mild time of year, so far away from the next winter.  I most definitely did not want them born around the winter holidays – it’s stressful enough at that time of year, not to mention freezing cold outside for the next three months! Ha.

My Pumpkin was born during the holidays a few years ago. We considered her our holiday miracle. And we got busy figuring out how to survive the cold dreary days with a new baby.

I hate to be cooped up in the house for days on end, so I just had to figure out how to get out of the house.

First, my ground rules with myself: no driving or walking with the baby in heavy snowfalls. No walks on days when there was a cold alert (below -15C  without wind-chill and/or -35 C with the wind-chill).  That was just my comfort zone.

My favourite activities with my Pumpkin during winter:

• Local mom and baby groups (check out your local EarlyON Child and Family Centre)
• Indoor exercise classes for moms with babies
• Walking around a mall
• Coffee “play dates” with a local mom and baby, either in a coffee shop or at one of our houses
• Walks outside. The tricky part is figuring out how to dress your baby and how to protect them from the cold.
  • • If you must go outside during a cold alert, cover all exposed skin and keep the walk brief. Exposed skin can become frostbitten in 30 seconds during a cold alert! Your baby’s hands and feet are at the greatest risk of getting frostbitten.
    • Dress your baby in one more layer than what you are wearing. Use at least three layers total including a winter jacket or snowsuit when going outside. Include hat, booties and warm mittens. Use blankets as a way to add or remove layers.
    • Check your baby often to be sure they are not too hot and not too cold. Check the back of your baby’s neck and check her fingers and toes.
    • Remember that you are moving and generating heat; a baby in a stroller is often not moving much at all.
    • A warm cover on your stroller can help shelter your baby from the wind.

You can be notified by email every time Halton Region issues a cold alert by signing up here. Do you have any other tips for enjoying the winter months with a baby? We love to hear from you, there are many ways you can connect with us:

• Leave us a comment below
• Tweet with us @haltonparents
• Follow us on Facebook
• Email us at haltonparents@halton.ca

For parenting information or to speak with a Public Health Nurse (every Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) simply dial 311 or 905-825-6000.