With the change in seasons recently I’ve been going through the children’s clothes, making sure we have enough tights and jumpers and seeing if last year’s winter coats still fit.
Now they’re a bit older it’s easier to adjust to the different seasons and I don’t worry so much about how to dress them appropriately for the weather.
I remember when they were babies though, and the stress of trying to work out what to put them in and how to keep them warm but not too warm. When you’re pregnant you see all these gorgeous pieces of baby clothes and designer kids wear, but don’t always realise how hard it can be at times to know how to dress your child through the year.
You need to consider a few different things when choosing what to put your baby in during the winter, including where you’ll be going, how you’ll be getting there and how long you’ll be outside in the cold for.
So here are my top tips for dressing your baby in the winter.
Use layers
Babies can’t regulate their body temperature the same way that adults can.
Dressing them in layers is a great way to easily help them warm up or cool down when you’re out and about. So consider a vest, trousers, socks, top, jumper/cardigan and then a coat or snowsuit over the top.
One good tip if you’re not sure how many layers to put on them is to go for one more than you’re wearing yourself.
And just make sure to remember to take a layer off them if you head inside where it’s warmer so they don’t overheat.
Keep them safe in the car
If you’re heading out somewhere in the car then don’t put a bulky snowsuit or coat on your baby until you get to where you’re going.
Car seat harnesses need to be fitted close to your baby’s body to be effective, and padded clothing can stop you from being able to tighten the straps enough. The best thing to do is to strap your baby into their seat without the coat/snowsuit on and then pop a lightweight blanket over them (just up to their armpits) to keep them warm.
Just remember to take their coat with you to put on them if you’ll be outside for any length of time once you’re out of the car.
Keep their extremities covered
If it’s really cold out you want to make sure that your baby’s head, hands and feet are covered up.
Babies are notorious for pulling hats off but it’s worth persevering with them, or getting a jumper or coat with a warm hood that you can put up around their head.
Then pop a pair of mittens on their hands and warm socks on their feet. Most snowsuits for babies have little feet on them too to keep them warm.
If you’re taking your baby out in the buggy then you can get a cosytoes liner that will keep them well covered and that you can tuck little hands into if they’re not too wriggly.
If you keep these three things in mind then dressing your baby for winter shouldn’t be too tricky. Once you’ve mastered the art of doing it quickly enough that they don’t get frustrated and annoyed with being bundled up before you get out the front door that is!
Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post