Does being cold give a baby a cold??

[ant1234]

My 9 month old is trying to walk and clambering everywhere. I find socks and even many trousers restrict her/make her slip so often have her in bare legs with body suit and jumper only on. Her feet are then freezing but she doesn't seem to mind. My husband says though this is giving her colds . She always has a snotty nose it's true but I thought this is what babies this age in winter were just like...

The house is relatively cold in case relevant (cutting back on heating costs!)

Advice welcome!!

Get some baby totes toasties, or the slippers with sticky bits on the bottom.

It’s the cold virus that gives a cold. Agree with the non slip socks bring an idea. Bare foot is great though for learning to walk. My kids were on cold floors (tiles and wood) and they were fine. I keep them dressed in layers and knitted cardigans. If chilly a hat will help them stay warm too.

A cold is a virus, but being cold can lower the immunity. You are right though, kids tend to be snotty in the winter!

You do need to cover her legs and feet it the house is cold.

Lots of people will be along to tell you that a cold is a virus but I don’t care how exactly it works, the teuth is that being cold will
indeed gove yoh baby cold symptoms auch as runny nose, cough etc. that’s why it’s called a cold.

Not all babies are snotty no. If your baby is most of the time then you need to change something.

Try slipper socks, or moccasin socks, and she definitely should not have bare legs outside in winter!!

If the house is cold keep a hat on her / consider heating one room.

But it is a virus? That is exactly how it works!

Exactly! Aaaaand I always seem to get my colds in the summer!!

Being cold doesn't give you a virus, but your cold body is less resistant to the virus and it's more difficult to fight off.

If she's trying to be on the move, that sounds like a good way to stay warm! Maybe give her warm water or milk to drink as well? Regularly snuggle her in a blanket if she'll tolerate it (like for story time)

Kids do get colds all the time (i think average 8 a year), but being warm never hurts.

Thank you all. Sounds like I should try some socks. I spent my entire summers without shoes growing up so am something of a scallywag on this front but it is certainly interesting to hear some of you thing it isn't just a necessary evil to have them snotty!

No. It's a myth that cold feet give cold to child. In fact, it is the exposure to cold weather that can cause a child to catch a cold.

When your feet are cold, the body sends more blood flow and warm air to the extremities in order to try and keep them warm. So your feet may feel colder because your body is trying hard to keep them warm. But exposing a child to cold weather will increase their risk of catching a cold because they are not as insulated as adults and are more susceptible to the elements.

We have two who are just starting to walk and have been mostly barefoot up to now. We keep the room where they are warmer than the rest of the house, and also had a big square piece of carpet edge bound instead of a rug - safety measure for hard tiles.

We double up on thick socks or wear baby suits with feet until they are well into walking. Doesn't seem much point in shoes for tiny feet.

Lots of people will come along and tell you that colds come from cold viruses because errrr.... they do. It's not some opinion. It's fact.

I get the barefoot thing, as that’s best for learning to walk.

But why on Earth would you not put trousers/leggings/jeans on her to keep her legs warm?