The winter months can bring a number of health challenges for your child, and you will need to be sure that you are prepared to protect your child against these health issues. Otherwise, you may find that your child suffers from some potentially serious but avoidable health problems. For parents that are new to cold climate areas, there are some important preventative steps that should be followed to keep your child safe.

Provide Frequent Breaks From The Cold

Many parents will assume that simply dressing their child in plenty of layers will be sufficient to keep them safe from exposure to cold temperatures. However, clothing will only provide limited protection against these temperatures. One of the more effective things that you can do to keep your child safe from cold temperatures will be to provide them with frequent breaks from the cold when they are playing. For a child that can be difficult to lure back inside, you may want to provide a warm treat, such as hot chocolate, to help entice them back inside. Ideally, your child should take a break from the could at least once every hour.

Protect Your Child's Feet Against Moisture

Getting wet when it is cold outside can be a very serious problem. The cold temperatures can quickly cause a person to develop hypothermia, which can lead to serious health problems if it is not addressed quickly. Unfortunately, those that are new to climates that receive snow may underestimate the amount of moisture that their feet will experience. This can lead to shoes becoming soaked, which can expose feet to dangerous temperatures. You may be able to help protect your child's feet from getting wet from melting snow or puddles by placing plastic bags over their socks before the putting on their shoes. This will help to keep the feet dry if the shoes become wet.

Prevent Sunburn

Many parents may only appreciate the risk of a child becoming sunburned during the spring and summer months. Yet, it can also be possible for your child to become sunburned during the winter months. In fact, it may be easier for your child to suffer this type of injury as snow can reflect the ultraviolet light. As a result, you should make sure that your child wears sunscreen whenever they go outside and there is a lot of snow on the ground. In addition to sunscreen, you may also want to purchase a pair of sunglasses that block ultraviolet light as this can be very damaging to a child's sensitive eyes.

Contact a family doctor like Harvey Harold E II MD PLLC for more information and assistance.