01/24/2026
Sharing this post from Hiawassee Dam Fire Dept
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
Blankets are not recommended as they can be a smothering hazard in the crib. So keeping a baby warm if the power goes out can be a challenge.
Keep one room warm for everyone to sleep in with an alternate heat source like a fireplace, wood stove or space heater. Cover windows and stuff towels over cracks in doors.
Keep the crib in the center of the room, away from doors and windows.
๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ข ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ง๐๐๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ก๐. ๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ข๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐ฎ.
Add booties, mittens, a sleep sac and a hat to baby rather than blankets. A breathable hat is the best kind, so heat can escape if baby is getting too warm. Small babies can be swaddled in a blanket but once they are big enough to kick, the blanket can come loose and become a smothering hazard.
(Check baby for overheating periodically 1-2 times per hour. Sweat or dampness on the neck, chest or back, flushed cheeks and rapid breathing may be signs baby is too hot.)
Have lots of snuggle time for baby to get good and warm next to you. You can carry baby in a front carrier for warmth from your body. Swaddling also keeps baby warmer as long as it's not wrapped too tight.
Keep the baby dry, change them often. Wet skin is cold skin.
Check baby often for pale skin, cold skin temperature and mottling or discoloring. See the photon the right. Pink mottling is an early sign, darker or blue mottling is a very late sign of being too cold. Babies muscles may seem stiff and breathing slows down if baby is too cold. The baby's back and tummy should feel warm to touch. A temperature below 98 puts baby at risk of hypothermia. You need to increase your warming efforts or seek warmer shelter.
If baby is cold, he/she may not show interest in eating. Check temperature of hands and feet and warm the baby with snuggles to see if you can then get them to feed better.
Warm the crib sheets and mattress with a hot water bottle periodically. Don't use super hot water. Remove the hot water bottle and check the temperature of the bedding before setting baby down. ๐๐๐ง๐ข ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ก, ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฉ. If you don't have a hot water bottle, heat some dry rice grains and put them in a sock and use that. Chemical warmers like HotHands can also be used. Do not ever put these items on the baby.
If it's really cold, you can wrap these warming items in a towel and leave it near baby's feet for warmth. Only do this if absolutely necessary. For safety, baby should sleep with nothing in the crib.
Check the baby often for pale skin, cold skin temperature on back and tummy, and mottling or discoloring. See the photo. Pink mottling of skin is an early sign, darker or blue mottling is a very late sign of being too cold.
Sneezing or being fussy can be signs baby is cold.
Check baby for sweating. Damp clothing will make them cold later on. Remove layers when baby is in a warmer environment.
If you cannot keep your home above 50 degrees, you probably cannot keep baby warm. Think about evacuating to somewhere that has heat.
๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ข๐๐๐จ, ๐ก๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ, ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐๐. ๐๐ค๐ช ๐จ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ช๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ง.
The elderly, chronically ill and some disabled people are also more susceptible to hypothermia. The warming efforts can be used for them as well, but of course you can also use blankets.
https://www.romper.com/parenting/7-hacks-to-keep-your-baby-warm-when-the-heat-goes-out-23593?fbclid=IwY2xjawPg9hFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqNTBTSUVLc1ROanFCb0dwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo7d1RgnyORyWVNDUcffpb0s-TxNdLdcPFY8dTWebu2-dC-gPEoX_Pm_gNUh_aem_n99n_ymqNh9LAovhbAh_qQ
https://www.childrens.com/health-wellness/keeping-your-baby-warm-in-winter
Get tips on how to safely keep your infant or baby safe and warm when extreme winter weather hits.
