Child care in cold season – Protecting children's health from small habits

The cold season is approaching, bringing with it adverse changes in weather, humidity and living environment. For young children – a group with an incomplete immune system – this is the time when they are susceptible to respiratory diseases, seasonal flu, pneumonia, sore throat, sinusitis, winter diarrhea and diseases caused by viruses spread in the air. Taking proper care of children in the cold season not only helps protect their health but also limits the risk of hospitalization and complications.

Sở Y tế tỉnh Cà Mau•01/12/2025

The Ministry of Health has repeatedly emphasized that children need to be kept warm properly in the cold season, especially in areas of the body that are prone to heat loss such as the head, neck, palms, feet and chest. According to the Ministry of Health's "Guidelines for Children's Health Care in Winter and Spring", parents need to dress their children warmly but not too hot, and dress them in many thin layers instead of one thick layer, because their bodies need air circulation to regulate their temperature. Dressing too much causes sweating, which makes children susceptible to colds when sweat is absorbed back into the body - one of the causes of increased risk of pneumonia and colds.

In addition to keeping warm, international health agencies such as WHO and UNICEF also recommend that parents prioritize fully vaccinating their children, especially vaccines against influenza and respiratory diseases. WHO affirms that seasonal influenza vaccines can help reduce the risk of illness and limit serious complications in young children – a group with a higher rate of hospitalization due to influenza than other age groups. Many studies show that influenza vaccination can reduce the risk of influenza in children under 5 years old by 40–60%. This is a safe, effective measure and is recommended to be implemented before the cold season begins.

During the humid and cold weather, the indoor environment also significantly affects children's health. The Ministry of Health recommends that families keep their homes well-ventilated and sunny, and avoid closing doors completely because it can easily cause stagnant air, creating conditions for bacteria and viruses to grow. When using air conditioners or heaters, it is necessary to maintain appropriate humidity (40-60%) to avoid drying out the respiratory mucosa - a factor that makes children susceptible to rhinitis and pharyngitis. At the same time, parents should clean air conditioners and heaters regularly to ensure safety for children when using them.

One of the important but often overlooked factors is cold season nutrition. According to the recommendations of the National Institute of Nutrition - Ministry of Health, young children need to be fully supplemented with nutrients including protein, vitamins A, C, D and minerals such as iron and zinc to strengthen the immune system. Mothers should give their children enough water because cold weather makes children less thirsty, leading to dehydration that parents do not realize. Adding fruits, green vegetables, warm milk and nutritious soups and porridges helps children fight pathogens more effectively. Breastfed children need to be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months because breast milk contains natural antibodies that protect the body against disease.

The cold season is also the time when respiratory infectious diseases increase sharply. Actions such as touching eyes, nose, mouth, sharing towels or contact with sick people all increase the risk of spreading. Therefore, personal hygiene for children plays a key role. Parents need to guide children to wash their hands regularly with soap, especially after going to school, after coughing or sneezing. This is a measure that WHO assesses can reduce the possibility of transmitting respiratory diseases by 30-40%.

Notably, many diseases in the cold season can progress rapidly, especially in children under 2 years old. Parents need to closely monitor unusual signs such as difficulty breathing, refusing to breastfeed, rapid breathing, continuous high fever, convulsions or lethargy. When these symptoms appear, the child should be taken to a medical facility immediately. The Ministry of Health recommends not to arbitrarily use antibiotics for children without a prescription, because using the wrong medicine can cause drug resistance and make the disease worse.

Schools – where many children gather – are also environments that need to be prioritized for disease prevention. The Ministry of Health has instructed kindergartens, preschools and primary schools to increase classroom hygiene, disinfect toys, doors, tables and chairs; keep classrooms well-ventilated; encourage children to wash their hands regularly; and monitor children with symptoms of illness to temporarily isolate them to avoid spreading the disease to the whole class. Close coordination between schools and parents will significantly reduce the risk of seasonal disease outbreaks.

The cold season always poses many risks to children's health, but it is completely controllable if parents properly and fully follow the recommendations of the health sector. From keeping warm, cleaning the living environment, focusing on nutrition to full vaccination - every small measure contributes to creating a solid shield to protect children's health during the harsh weather months. The initiative of the family and community not only helps children grow up healthy but also reduces pressure on the health system during the peak disease season.

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