Dressing Your Baby for Cold Weather

With all hopes of that Indian Summer long gone, it's sadly time to put away your baby's shorts, sunhat and sunshade. But don't be too disheartened - Autumn and Winter are an exciting time, especially when you have a little one. You have Christmas back to being almost as fun as it was when you were a child, Bonfire night, Halloween and lots of lovely walks in the woods.

However, many new parents worry about keeping their baby warm enough as the weather get colder, and often a lot wetter too. How do you keep your baby snug without them getting too hot?


Indoors

A great rule that we often advise our shop customers is to 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.

Try to stick to natural fibres such as silk, cotton and wool as these are more breathable than synthetics and will, in the case of wool, regulate your baby’s temperature somewhat too.  Why not go further and knit your little one their own cardigans and jumpers? Knitting patterns have come a long way since the dowdiness of the 1970's and 80's!

For little babies, a close-fitting hat to keep their heads warm is a good idea as babies lose most of their body heat through their heads. They won’t need to sleep in these though.

Older babies and toddlers, especially once they are mobile, need layers that allow them to move without feeling too bulky - again, natural fibres allow little bodies to breathe whilst keeping them warm.

A close fitting hat can keep young babies warm during the day

Outdoors

When you are out and about, a good all-in-one is a fantastic choice. There's no need to add layers underneath and you can simply remove it when you’re back inside and not have to worry about your baby being overdressed. Some all-in-ones have mittens incorporated in the design, so little fingers and hands will stay warm too - if yours doesn't, make sure you take some mittens along too (it's worth having spares, as baby mittens seem to vanish in the winter, in the same way that baby socks do in the summer!).

You will want to keep their feet covered with either socks or booties, especially if you are carrying them in a sling. Baby Legwarmers are a brilliant idea for sling passengers too - they add extra warmth to your baby's legs without bulking them out and making them uncomfortable. They also make nappy changes so much easier!  Indoors and in the sling, Padraig slippers are a great choice and have been one of our best-sellers for over ten years.

Remove hats, gloves and coats as soon as you get inside to avoid overheating.

Waterproof Overalls are great for toddlers and older children

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. 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.

What do you most look forward to doing with your baby as the weather gets colder?