Outdoor Safety | Protecting Kids from the Elements

We just got back yesterday from another hike in the snow.  This time of year as the temperatures dip and the snow falls, it’s a good reminder to think about outdoor safety and protecting your kids from the elements.  This week we have a special guest post from Megan Lucas.  You can reach Meg via email here if you have any comments or questions.

Keeping your kids warm and protected from the elements

As a mother and Practitioner of Chinese Medicine, I’m a stickler for dressing appropriately for colder weather. When it’s cold outside, it’s obvious that we should keep our kids warm and dry to keep from getting sick. We put on coats, hats, maybe gloves and raingear.

There are also the not so obvious times to keep kids covered from the elements, like wind for example or when it is damp and cold out but not raining. Currently, I’m doing a hiking challenge in Portland, OR and I see lots of undressed, overly exposed babies and kids.

The problem is that, even if they don’t get sick per se, being exposed to cold and damp or wind can create an imbalance in their little bodies that leads to lingering illnesses and conditions that are hard to pinpoint and treat from a western medical perspective.

Chinese Medicine

In Chinese Medicine as well as in other cultures, it is thought that these things can make us sick. Chinese Medicine calls it Wind Invasion or Wind-Cold/wind-Damp. Wind-cold invades the body, causing illness or conditions in the body that can be problems later on as I just mentioned. Many people don’t generally think to keep ourselves or kids protected from Wind , but it can be the sneaky element that gets you sick when outdoors this Fall, Winter and Spring.

We especially become vulnerable when the weather is shifting constantly or when we are warm and sweaty from exercise and remove clothing and the wind picks up. In Chinese Medicine, the upper back and neck are said to be prone to Wind Invasion-so it’s smart to keep that area covered from wind and cold.

I’ve seen a lot of sniffly, snotty kids on trails lately and most always they are missing some aspect of protection. Covering the ears is important as well, to keep the cold out. Protecting kids with layers so the damp and cold don’t seep in will help kids to both feel more comfortable on trails and keep them from getting colds.

Clothing Tips

For cold, layering fuzzy socks, booties and a bunting is a great way to keep them warm. Too many tight Layers though and you slow circulation, making the problem worse. Hats are essential as are insulated gloves or mittens.  On hikes with elevation or in windy areas, bring wind breakers or keep babies in carriers well covered with a poncho.

A hat and body suit that keeps the back of the neck covered are good ideas. If carrying a baby, have a large rain jacket/poncho/windbreaker to keep baby out of wind when it picks up, like at the top of a mountain or near large bodies of water.

Kids get hot and rip their hats off. They don’t always need to have them on as they tend to run warmer than we do so it’s ok. What I am stressing here is to be prepared for different types of weather, and check in often with them. Feel hands, cheeks, and see if their noses are running-all signs that they are too exposed and need some more protection.

Layering is always best in case the weather is fair for most of a hike, but then gets colder as you summit or near a body of water or, it RAINS.

My Recent Example

This morning, my 4 month old was a little congested, so I planned to bag my hike. Not worth making an impending cold worse. I waited several hours to be sure she wasn’t getting sick (sometimes she gets stuffy when the heat is turned up higher). Later, in the afternoon I hiked Angel’s Rest in the Columbia Gorge– which gets a significant amount of wind.

The elevation gain is 1450 feet, so it gets cold and windy up there. On the way up, it was a balmy 61 degrees with little wind. I kept baby well dressed and lightly covered (especially head) on the way up but it was cold up top so I kept her out of the wind inside a large mens rain jacket over us.

Nourishing Foods

Just as important as the clothes we take out are the foods we feed them (and ourselves!) to keep warm. Feeding little ones warm, nourishing foods this time of year helps to keep them healthy. Soups, warm drinks, little sugar and few raw/cold things. Things like squash, beef, lamb, cinnamon and ginger are examples of warming foods (nature of the food- how it acts in the body, not just temperature).

Raw veggies, dairy, cold beverages, soy, and cold foods are just a few to keep in mind as cold foods. So, invent some warm snacks, bring a thermos, eat warm foods before and after a cold day outdoors!

We make but butter balls with almond butter, ground oats, cinnamon, some coconut oil and honey and raisins. A good protein punch with oats to keep you going, with a touch of warm for the cinnamon and honey.

Here’s a link to a site that lists cooling, warming and neutral foods. Stick to warming and neutral foods as much as possible during the cold months!

Outdoor Safety Conclusion

This should give you a few more things to think about when planning your next trip outdoors with the kids.  If you keep a few of these outdoor safety Tips in mind this year, it should give you a good start in keeping your kids safe outdoors.  Meg will likely be providing more guest posts so if you found value in this article, let her know here or leave a comment below.

Have fun out there!
Megan Lucas, L.Ac