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How should I dress my baby or toddler in winter? This is a common concern for parents when trying to ensure their baby is warm and comfortable during winter. Whether you are spending time outdoors, or are in the comfort of being inside, it is essential to consider how you are dressing your little one.
Did you know babies cannot regulate their own body temperature efficiently until they are at least 12 months old? Babies can not adjust to temperature changes as well as adults and can lose heat rapidly nearly 4 times faster. Babies require special attention to ensure their body temperature is regulated.
Further to this, premature and low-birthweight babies typically have lower body fat. Their bodies may not be ready to control their own temperature therefore require extra planning to ensure their body’s temperature is regulated to optimum levels. When the temperatures are low, even full-term and healthy newborn babies may not be able to maintain their body temperature if the environment is too cold.
Dressing your little one for winter requires extra planning. To help, we sought the advice of our friends at Bugaboo so you know how you can keep your newborn or toddler warm, especially during the cooler months.
Known for their variety of products that offer parenting solutions such as prams, car seats, and other accessories, Bugaboo has the best winter warmers and multiple accessories that can help keep your baby or toddler warm during the cold season. Here, we give tips for the proper clothing in the colder months of the year in all situations so that your child is neither exposed to too much cold or warmth. Read on!
Dress Babies Appropriately In Winter
The general rule for babies is always to put on one more layer than you are wearing yourself. But there can also be cases where that is too much. The best you can do is to monitor your baby’s temperature after dressing them.
Layering clothing is an effective way to dress your baby or toddler for warmth. Wearing layers enables heat to become trapped between the clothing insulating their body effectively. Strategic layering offers both safety and convenience when dressing in cold weather.
Depending on how cold it gets, your child will need three layers, a base layer, a middle and an outer layer. The base layer next to their skin should fit their body well and is designed to take moisture away from their skin. When choosing fabrics, cotton fabrics are soft and highly absorbent, and gentle on a baby’s skin. Organic, and organic cotton fabric in particular is a great choice. Thin cotton clothing works well starting with a thin singlet or body suit and then adding layers as needed with a full body coverall to keep your little one cosy on a cold winter’s day. Synthetic materials like polyester (or merino wool if you prefer a natural product) are good for base layers as they tend not to absorb moisture as much.
The middle layer acts as an insulator trapping the heat and should fit close to the body. Wool and fleece are great options. The outer layer is the protector, typically coats or jackets, protecting from the elements including a cool breeze, wind and rain.
It is worth noting, that putting on too many layers can cause children to overheat and trigger their body’s cool-down mechanism causing sweating. This can lead to an increase in moisture which leads to their clothes becoming damp or wet. Extra layers can lead to your child becoming colder if you go overboard.
Hands and feet only provide limited information about body temperature. That’s why it’s important to check the baby’s neck temperature. If he’s slightly cold, then you should get more clothes. If your baby is sweaty, then you should reduce the clothes he is wearing.
By the way: hands and feet shouldn’t get cold. Cold feet, in particular, reduce blood circulation in the whole body, and your newborn can develop a runny nose.
Checklist: Comfort in the stroller
For the perfect winter walk, you need a stroller with a footmuff. The Bugaboo Footmuff is the perfect solution to keep your newborn or toddler warm in a stroller. This product is made of soft, breathable, high-quality water-repellent fabric. There are multiple colour options to match your stroller.
The Bugaboo Newborn Inlay is another must-have to keep your baby warm in his stroller. Designed for use from birth up to 6 months, it provides an extra layer of warmth and protects your young one. The Bugaboo Newborn Inlay has soft cotton fabrics to protect your baby’s sensitive skin and a strap to ensure your young one is perfectly held in place comfortably.
Weather changes are pretty common, and your baby can be exposed to dampness. With the Bugaboo High Performance Rain Cover, your young one will be protected from such conditions. It is easy to install, and you can store it compactly to carry along.
In The Car
We also recommend dressing your baby lightly while in the car. There are several reasons for this. For one thing, cars are usually well heated, so you don’t need overly warm clothing. On the contrary, babies usually sweat on their backs in the infant carrier. Of course, the baby should not cool down or get exposed to moisture on the way to the car.
In addition, thick jackets and overalls in the car are not recommended in terms of safety. Because of the thick layer, the straps don’t sit properly on the body, and the baby slips out. It is therefore advisable to choose the layers so that the thickest layer can be removed before buckling. You can cover your baby with a wool or fleece blanket in until it’s warm enough in the car.
Indoors During the Day
Every apartment or house is different. Some have wooden floors while others have cold tiled floors. Sometimes there is underfloor heating, and sometimes not. Ground floor apartments are colder than well-built apartments. So how you dress your baby at home depends entirely on how you live, how old your baby is and how much they move. Of course, it is best to dress your baby lightly to make them more comfortable.
For both babies and toddlers, an indoor temperature environment is between 20 to 22 degrees Celsius.
Even in Winter: Beware of Overheating
Toddlers and babies are not only more sensitive to cold than adults, but they also suffer from overheating more quickly. This is because they have fewer sweat glands than adults and are less able to regulate their body temperature. The main reason for this is that they have a reasonably large surface area in contrast to their entire body volume. About their small body, they have relatively large heads.
Dressing your child too warm encourages overheating. These are unmistakable signs if a baby is irritable, has hot skin, and sweats. Apathy and exhaustion can also indicate overheating. You can remedy this by undressing your child, fanning them for air, and giving them a drink. To be on the safe side, it is advisable to ask your pediatrician for advice if you suspect overheating.
Winter warmers are an ideal solution if you need a walk with your young one. Bugaboo winter warmers are perfectly designed to keep your baby warm and offer comfort. Visit the Bugaboo website to explore the variety of winter collections that can help keep your child warm.
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With products like the footmuff, newborn inlay, and rain cover, Bugaboo offers the best winter warmers to keep your baby warm and comfortable during the winter season.
