Top tips for keeping your baby cosy in Winter

These days, the cold and wet weather seems to arrive in January and February, and as many new parents worry about keeping their baby warm enough, it's worth getting prepared!

Daytime:

Try to stick to natural fibres such as silk, cotton, muslin and wool as these are more breathable than synthetics and will, in the case of wool, regulate your baby’s temperature somewhat too. For the same reason, natural lambskins make great liners for cots, carrycots and buggies as they keep your little one cosy through the cold weather and help keep them cool in summer.

For little babies, a close-fitting soft hat to keep their heads warm is a good idea as babies lose most of their body heat through their heads. You won't need to put them to bed in these, though - they should be warm enough.

Slings
You will want to keep babies feet covered with either socks, slippers or booties especially if you are carrying them in a sling. Baby leg warmers are a great idea for sling users too, so they have an extra layer over their feet and knees but are not too padded up to bend their legs.

When carrying in a sling, be careful of wrapping your baby too much - keep your baby's extremities warm and then tuck them in under your own jacket - they will benefit from your own body heat and will be nice and warm without overheating. A few thin layers are better than one thick padded layer, and don't forget, the sling counts as at least one layer too.

This year, we've introduced a Winter Baby Sling Package which includes an Ergobaby carrier, Fleece winter cover for the carrier, Huggalug leggings and Padraig Baby Slippers. It's proving to be very popular!

The Born Winter Baby Sling Package

Buggies:

When you are out and about, a good coverall or pram suit is a fantastic choice, as you can simply remove it when you’re back inside and not have to worry about your baby being overdressed. Make sure it fit's your little one properly, as babies (especially very young ones) can end up slipping down inside it and getting too hot and bundled up.

Frugi Organic Pram Suit with fleece lining

If you're in a car, the current advice is to take the coat or pram suit off your child before strapping them in the car seat. Find out more from consumer reports.org.

Remove hats, mittens and coats as soon as you get inside to avoid overheating and use your own clothing as a guideline for dressing your baby – if you are wearing several layers, then your baby will need roughly the same number themselves. 

Older babies and toddlers, especially once they are mobile, need layers that allow them to move without feeling too bulky.

Night time:

At night, you may worry about your baby’s room getting colder and how to keep them snuggly without overheating. If you want to check if your baby is warm enough, feel their tummies; often their hands and feet will feel colder and this is completely normal.

A room thermometer may give you added peace of mind at night. It should feel about right for a lightly clothed adult.  Make sure they aren't positioned in a draught or near heat sources like radiators. If you are using a sleeping bag, don’t use a blanket as well. Sleeping bags are a great way to keep your baby warm at night and avoid them kicking off the covers.

Aden & Anais 2.5 TOG Cosy Plus Sleeping Bag