How Cold is Too Cold?

[crunchy_mama]

I am wondering at what tem, if any to mamas and papas keep the kiddos inside. We are trying to figure this out as it is his first winter where he is really active, he's 16 m.o. He LOVES it outside as most kids do, so I don't want to take that away from him. Plus I have to get work done outside, and we are always together. As of now the coldest we have been out is 40 degrees, which didn't seem bad to me. I think that even down to 10, maybe lower would be ok as long as it wasn't raining, or the wind blowing too hard. I really layer so we are both warm, and put hats on and such. I am assuming this will depend on where you are located and the weather which you are accustomed. It seems that most people around here lock up the kids around 60 degrees or so, but I think this may have to do with them not wanting to go outside. However, if you are active like the kiddos, it really isn't cold, as opposed to just standing around....

HOping I am not the only one... If you do go out, share your tips for staying warm. Also, does anyone know of where I can get real gloves for ds that he can maneuver his hands with, mittens are a real impediment.

[mammabear]

My kids go out to play and 40 really isn't too cold. As long as the wind isn't blowing not raining and it's about 30 deg or more I say go for it.

I find that fleece works great. I found some great little gloves at Old Navy for DD. She can move her fingers very easily in them and they don't get wet fast at all.
I'm sure you could find them online, even at another store.

We spend lots of time outdoors. My youngest is 3 now, but last year we went out often to play in the snow. My kids get cabin fever quickly and need their outdoor time.

Another thing I do is make sure they have full bellies before going out- some warm oatmeal or something to help keep them warmer when they go out in the cold. I read somewhere that it helps keep you warm if you eat something beforehand. An dof course hot cocoa when we come in.

[lilylove]

I used to limit outside time at about 10 or 15 degrees. Dd loves to play out in the snow. But Ds does not seem to like it and starts fussing after 15 min or so. I'm not sure how we'll handle that this winter.

Oh, and I am a big hot cocoa girl I like to make it ahead of time and then it can be warming back up while I get the kiddos unbundled.

[jasperab]

Yesterday we went out and it was -15C (I'm not sure what that is in F). It was sunny and we went sledding for about an hour. Both my girls love going outside and so we always have. I just put many layers of fleece under snowsuits and wool on the toes. I find if you are out on a regular basis you get use to the cold as opposed to staying in all the time and then when you go out you feel the cold faster. Thats just my opinon, no scientific data. Anyways, when it get down to -25 then we tend to stay indoors.

[Diane B]

Minnesota mom here! Our day care takes the kids out to play down to 20F. If she's well-bundled, I would take her out down to about 10F probably - we'll see this weekend, because it's going to be really cold. Also, it depends on the windchill how cold it really feels.

[Yooper]

I will take dd for a walk or cc skiing in the stroller or backpack down to windchill of 15F for up to an hour and a half or so. I check her hands and feet every 15 minutes. I let her play outside at any temp. When she looks or says she is cold we go in whether it has been 10 seconds or two hours.

[atozmama]

The schools around here use 10 F, wind chill or straight temp as a cut off for recess. As far as toddlers and mittens, i haven't found a good solution. right now I put gloves on my 2 yo and then fold over the hand mits on her snow suit. She has no hand use, but she has enjoyed outside any how. A warm bath when coming in feels nice too.

This is only our second winter here in MN. When we were in Bay Area of CA, I frequently would be the only one at the park on a winter day about 50 or so. It is funny how different regions feel about temps. A friend there was from southren CA and thought that was downright freezing. I grew up here in MN so that isn't cold to me, as long as it isn't raining.

[OakBerry]

I live in New England and my general rule is 20 degrees or above. But if it's sunny and not windy, 15 degrees is ok too!
I just bundle him up and we don't stay out more than 10 or 15 minutes when it's extremely cold.

[Anka]

as long as I'm willing to go out, I think my little alien can go out too and play. My limit however is somewhere around 10F. I never much liked winter

[Llyra]

We play outside almost every day, regardless of the weather (much to my neighbor's chagrin!). I only stay in on the really cold, wet days. Lots of layers, and a waterproof outer layer, with wool hats, socks, and mittens, and I don't worry about the cold. I think that on the really, really cold days, I'd keep an eye on little noses for frostbite, but that's it.

I HATE being stuck in the house all day. I'd go nuts if I had to.

[Starr]

I really wouldn't go by a set temp. but more the wind chill. This takes into effect wind and temp. See how your kids react, 40 isn't really that cold IMO. But when its like -3 they wont even want to be outside.

[Owen'nZoe]

Last year, when DS was under a year old, we tended not to go out if it was under 10F, or if the windchill just made it miserable, regardless of temp. This year we'll probably push it to 0F on still days - I generally love going out in the winter, but that is just about the point where I personally start feeling too cold to enjoy spending time out. DS already seems to do much better with the cold and stays warmer longer than I do, and he isn't even one of those kids who is always on the go.

[UnschoolnMa]

When they were infants we just decided via our own comfort factor, but as they got older we tried to gauge how they were feeling in any given weather.

[crunchy_mama]

Thanks mamas, for all the answers. I had a feeling mommas here take their kiddos out as well. I will check out the gloves at Old Navy, that is the only thing I worry about, his little hands getting too cold. My lil' guy has always seemed to be hot natured as well, never would sleep with anything on, even as a baby. This will help me spurn the inlaws who are always poo-pooing me for taking him outside!

[boongirl]

We just came in from outside now. It is 33 and snowing wet snow. Dd was playing happily in the snow without gloves and wearing a tshirt with a warm winter coat and jeans that are lined with fleece and lined winter boots. She was comfy but when her cheeks were really pink and her hands, too, we went inside. I just say go with the flow and however they are happy is fine. Some will dislike the cold and others will relish it. Layers are good. IT also depends on where you live. If we lived in Wisconsin, I cannot imagine staying inside all winter. I would just order wool underwear from novanaturals and winter boots, coats, etc from llbean and bundle up and have fun.


Nova natural has a lot of underclothes for winter time. They also have some mittens and glove lines for little ones.

http://www.novanatural.com/index.phtml

[Alkenny]

I'm another that takes windchill into effect also. My cutoff is around 10F too.

[KC in KS]

I read a Scandanavian saying once

"There is no bad weather, only bad clothing"

The point is that as far north as they are, if you wait for a nice day, you'll never go outside. And they're actually very outdoorsy people, but they know how to dress for it!

(really wish I could remember exactly which country it was).

An online acquaintance in Alaska once said she keeps her kids indoors when the temperature is below zero, because everything they want to play with is frozen any way.

Just keep checking their extremities for frostbite and their torso for getting sweaty, and they'll be fine for a good portion of the winter.

[annethcz]

Another MN mom here, and my kids go out almost every day, regardless of the temperature. I never force them to go out, but most days it's hard to keep them inside. All of them went out this afternoon, I checked the thermometer and it was 11 degrees F. The baby (almost 2) was only out for about 10 minutes. The 4yo came in after about 25 minutes, and the other two stayed out for about 75 minutes. I generally dress them in snow pants and a heavy jacket (or a snowsuit), hats and mittens. I prefer NOT to have fleece mittens, because they tend to get wet from the snow pretty quickly.

Also, most days I put apple cider on the stove as soon as the kids go out, so the cider will be warm and ready for them when they're ready to come in.

[Starr]

I ditto not liking fleece mittens. To me they seem to act as a wick and soak up the moisture. Also look for good boots where you can remove the liner and dry it if you have to.

[rabrog]

Here in Alaska the daycares/schools send kids out to -20.

Jenn