How to Dress Your Newborn for the Cold Weather

In the depths of winter, it’s important that your newborn is dressed properly. It can be a difficult balance to strike sometimes; you want them to be warm and cosy without overheating. So how do you dress your newborn to ensure they’re comfortable during the cold weather?

Add a layer

Whether you’re staying indoors or going outside, layering up is a good way to keep your newborn comfortable. Start with a bodysuit or a onesie as the base layer and think about adding a fleece on top.

Generally, the rule is to dress your baby in one more layer than you’re wearing. Layers are especially important because it means you can simply remove one if they start getting hot.

Pick out easy-to-remove clothing

This is why it’s important to choose clothing that’s easy to remove especially if you’re heading out for the day. Whether you’re going for a walk or going somewhere in the car, you’re likely to need to be able to remove the outer layers quickly and easily with as little fuss as possible, particularly if they’re sleeping and you don’t want to wake them.

Test their toes

If you’re unsure whether your baby is too hot or too cold, do the toes test. If they’ve got warm toes and a warm belly then it means they’re too hot and you need to remove a layer. However, if they’ve got a cold belly and cold toes, then you need to add one! As a good indicator, their toes should be cool without being cold, and definitely not warm.

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Don’t forget the extremities

Your baby’s hands and head need to be protected from the cold. Be sure to keep your baby’s head covered with a cosy little hat and also use some mittens if their hands are exposed. An all-in-one that covers the hands and feet is a great alternative and will help to maintain their core temperature.

When they’re sleeping

Avoid covering your baby with a loose blanket whilst they sleep as this can increase the risk of SIDS. It can also be tempting to overdress them for bed, but they’re better being a little cool than too hot so stick with just a babysuit and maybe use a sleeping sack if the temperature of the room is a little low.

Alternatively, if you co-sleep with your baby then they’re going to benefit from the heat of your body, so a bodysuit is likely to be all that they need.

Keep them dry

This is largely common sense, but it’s important that you keep them dry. Look at what clothing they’re wearing and weather it is waterproof or water resistant. If baby gets wet, then it’s going to be difficult for them to dry off and will also affect how cold they feel.

In the car

If you’re going out in the car then it’s important to think about what your baby is wearing. Cars can heat up pretty quickly, so it’s easy for babies to become overheated if you leave them in a snow suit. However, you can’t keep them wrapped in a blanket when you buckle them in as this is a safety hazard, so be sure to remove any thick outdoor clothing before you buckle them in, and then place the blanket over them once the seatbelt is done up.

Resources:
http://www.mom365.com/baby/baby-care/10-tips-for-dressing-baby-for-winter
https://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/baby-and-toddler/toddler/looking-after-your-toddler/how-to-dress-your-baby-for-cold-weather