Flannel onesies, cozy socks, and plaid pajamas are all cute ways to acknowledge wintertime with a limited baby clothes wardrobe. But what happens when winter hits harder? Babies need coats, mittens, hats, and all the winter gear the rest of us need even more than we do!
Just because you have warm blankets to wrap baby in does not mean you can skimp on buying winter accessories!
The most useful mittens for babies are the ones tied in the middle by string. Mittens connected are mittens that cannot lose each other! Fleece or soft cotton mittens are the best mittens to purchase as they are not too itchy or heavy for the baby’s hands. Often hands sneak out of the swaddling blanket or coat so make sure to buy at least a couple pairs of baby mittens!
Baby hats are also not articles of clothing to be skimped on. The majority of body heat escapes through the head and since the baby does not have thick hair just yet it is important to keep him/her safe and covered. Fleece hats with ear flaps are the best bet to keep the most of baby warm!
Another one of the most important winter pieces is a snowsuit and/or winter coat.
Bundling your baby in a winter coat or baby snowsuit is one of the best ways to keep the little one warm when the weather is frightful. Coats and snowsuits come in so many styles and weights, it can be hard to choose the right one.
While baby snowsuits are one of the warmest options available in winter wear, snowsuits can be inconvenient for diaper changes or quick trips and are typically too thick to be safe in the baby’s car seat.
Winter coats are much easier to take on and off of your baby, but won’t provide full-body coverage as a baby snowsuit does for extended outdoor activities. Urban families that use a stroller as a commuter vehicle might get a lot of use out of a full-coverage snowsuit. Another way to mediate that dilemma is to dress baby in a winter jacket and add a foot muff to your stroller.
It is also important to remember that, in regards to winter coats, weight counts.
Thick winter coats and snowsuits, while very warm, can restrict the baby’s movement and make your baby uncomfortable. Toddlers may have a hard time moving and walking with a thick coat on. If you’ll be outside for long periods of time in very cold climates, your baby may need a very thick, warm coat or snowsuit. For most climates, and for quick trips in and out of the cold, a thinner baby coat will do. Consider a coat or snowsuit with a removable liner that adjusts for temperature variations.
When buying your baby’s coat, snowsuit, sweaters, and thicker onesies, it is also important to keep in mind the kind of closures that are most convenient to be done/undone. As you shop for a winter coat or snowsuit for baby, test the closures on the coats you’re considering to be sure you can get the coat on and off of your baby easily. Remember that you may also be wearing winter gloves that make small zipper pulls hard to grasp.
While it may be hard to curb your enthusiasm in the thick winter sweater and fleece onesie section, it is imperative to remember that dangers of infant overheating.
Infants usually need one additional layer of clothing over what adults need to stay warm. Rather than buying a huge snowsuit or baby parka to put on top of a thick sweater, consider adding thin clothing layers underneath, topped off with a light winter coat or fleece snowsuit, to provide enough warmth without making baby sweat.
Toddlers don’t need to be overdressed, either. If you are comfortable with a sweater and light coat, it’s likely that your toddler will be comfortable in similar cold-weather gear.
