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NEWBORNS IN WINTER:

TIPS FOR KEEPING BABY WARM DURING WINTER

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 19 January 2022

Child Wrapped-up Warm in Stroller

As the temperature starts to drop, your first thought used to be something along the lines of “I love winter, scarves, and hot drinks!” You probably didn’t have to give too much thought to how would stay warm during the cold winter months.

But now that you have a baby things are different! Many parents struggle with finding the best ways to keep their little ones warm throughout the chilly winter months. Even if your child is a newborn during this time of the year, getting out and about--especially into the fresh air--can be extremely beneficial.

However, it’s important that parents take the necessary precautions to keep their little ones safe and warm at all times. Some general rules to follow this winter when keeping baby warm include:

  • Know your limits. If the temperature drops below freezing (0°C), you should limit your baby’s outside exposure to quick trips to the car.
  • Be aware of the wind chill. This can impact the overall temperature making it feel a lot cooler than the temperature might say. Since newborns and small infants do have the ability to regulate their own core temperature, you need to make sure you know how severe the wind is.
  • Keep your little one dry. You’ll want to avoid taking babies outside in the winter if they’re wet or recently been in water. Damp clothes can bring your baby’s body temperature down and increase their risk of hypothermia.
  • Maintain the right heat inside. Just because it’s cold out does not mean you necessarily need to crank up the heat to keep your little one warm. In fact, regardless of the outside temperature, experts recommend maintaining an indoor temperature of 20°C and 22°C.

Here are more tips for keeping baby warm during winter that new parents might find useful.

DRESSING YOUR BABY FOR WARMTH

When it comes to dressing your little one in the winter, the safest and most effective way to keep them warm is to dress in layers. In order for them to stay comfortable (and avoid overheating), you’ll want to make sure the clothes you choose are made of breathable fabrics like cotton or muslin. Layers are particularly useful because you can easily take them off if your child becomes too hot or uncomfortable.

For a typical winter day, here is an example of a layered outfit for a newborn or young infant:

As your little one gets older, you might consider this type of layering for cooler winter nights:

Dressing your baby for warmth doesn’t have to be stressful. A good rule of thumb is to add one additional layer to your little one than what you would use on yourself to stay warm. For example, if you’re debating whether or not YOU need a jacket for your afternoon stroll in the winter, then your baby definitely needs their jacket.

WEAR YOUR BABY FOR WARMTH INSTEAD OF DRESSING THEM

If you don’t want to take the time to dress your little one up for the cold, wearing them is a great way to keep them warm without all the extra layers. Baby carriers (slings, wraps, etc.) work wonders for keeping babies warm around the house or even for a stroll around the block! Your body heat keeps their tiny bodies comfy and cosy.

If you decide to go the baby wearing route, you can probably skip the extra jacket or sweater since your body heat will be doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping baby warm. However, if you go outside in colder temperatures, you always want to make sure your baby’s feet and head are covered, even if you’re wearing them.

HOW TO KEEP BABY WARM IN COT

When it comes to keeping baby warm in the cot, you’ll need to balance making sure the baby’s room temperature is just right combined with the amount of clothes and layers you dress your little one in. If you’re wondering how to dress a baby for sleep in the winter, it isn’t very different from what we covered above on dressing your baby for warmth. Remember to still choose breathable fabrics like the snuggle knit™ newborn footie cotton and to only add one extra layer than you would need.

Keeping them warm in their cot involves more than just dressing baby for sleep in warm clothes. You’ll also want to look at how warm the room itself is. No matter the temperature outside, the ideal sleeping temperature for baby is between 20°C and 22°C. Keeping the room temperature for newborns just right is critical not only for their comfort, but to also prevent your little one from getting too hot or too cold.

Finally, while it might be tempting to throw in some baby blankets for winter into the cot, it is not recommended. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that newborns sleep on a firm mattress with tight fitting sheets and no loose blankets or toys. Use those winter blankets for stroller rides or your toddler’s nap time in bed and pay attention to the TOG rating of the blankets.

HOW TO KEEP BABY WARM IN BUGGY

Getting out into the sunshine can be a game changer for your little one AND for you. In the winter, if the temperature or wind chill hasn’t dipped below freezing and if it’s free of sleet, rain or snow, taking a stroll with your baby is a great way to break up the day while soaking up some Vitamin D.

Here are best practices to follow if you’re curious how to keep baby warm in the buggy:

Experts warn against throwing a blanket directly over the stroller opening as this could potentially limit a little one’s air flow. Instead, use the fitted shade of a buggy to help protect your baby from any cold hard wind. Then, tuck them in with a blanket up to their chest (never over their face).

Again, dressing your little one in layers makes it easier to cool them down without exposing them to the elements. While on your walk, look for the following signs your baby might be getting too warm:

  • Face flushed
  • Fussy
  • Back of neck sweaty and clammy
  • Starts to develop a bumpy rash

If this happens, it’s time to take off a layer or two and most likely head home.

KEEPING BABY WARM IN CAR SEAT

Car seats are a tricky area because you want to balance safety with making sure your little one stays warm and cosy. When it comes to the car seat, one of the primary safety rules to remember is no big puffy coats.

That’s right--even in the freezing winter. This seems counterintuitive for parents, but it is actually prioritizing your baby’s safety. If you put your little one in the car seat with the big winter coat, you are forced to loosen straps to make it fit. This extra material between your baby and the car seat’s straps could compress during an accident leaving a gap which ups their chances of injury.

So how do you go about keeping your baby warm in the car seat if you can’t buckle them in with a big warm coat? It’s simple: buckle them in safely and security first and THEN add a layer.

This layer could be that same big, puffy coat just laid across them, or it could be a cosy, soft muslin blanket like aden + anais’s silky soft dream blanket. Whatever you decide to use, make sure to keep the fabric away from their face and to remove it once the car heats up.

WARNING SIGNS YOUR BABY IS TOO COLD

Despite our best efforts as parents, sometimes we don’t get it all right. That’s okay! It’s just important to recognise warning signs and be ready to take the right course of action. In the wintertime, you want to keep a lookout for clues your baby is cold.

Here are the top warning signs your baby is too cold:

  • Shivering
  • Stomach is cold to the touch
  • Extremities (face, feet, and hands) are red and cold to the touch
  • Extremities are pale or hard

Always remember that a baby’s primary form of communication is crying. During the winter or while outside in cooler weather, if your baby starts to cry more, that might be their way of telling you they’re too cold!

HOW TO WARM BABY UP IF TOO COLD

As soon as you see a warning sign or start to think your baby might be too cold, it’s time to take action.

First, if you are outside, make your way inside as soon as possible. Next, you want to safely warm up your little one. While it might be your first instinct to rub their cold skin (such as hands or arms), don’t! This can actually harm them.

Instead, warm your baby up from the cold doing one of the following:

  • Take off a few layers and hold them next to you or on your chest. This way they are able to absorb your body heat.
  • Gently rub their extremities with a warm (never hot) washcloth. Be sure to pat them dry before putting on clean, warm clothes.

WARNING SIGNS YOUR BABY HAS HYPOTHERMIA

Hypothermia is a serious medical condition that occurs when your body’s temperature drops below 35°C. Infants are at a higher risk for developing hypothermia, so it is critical to recognize the warning signs of it right away.

You need to seek immediate medical attention for your baby if they are showing any of the following signs of hypothermia:

  • Lethargy
  • Unresponsive
  • Blue lips or face
  • Breathing has become noticeably slower

Keeping your baby warm during the winter might take some extra planning and effort, but getting to enjoy the changing season with your little one is well worth it!