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How to Dress Baby in Winter: 7 Tips and Tricks

How to dress baby on winter

Being a new mom can get a bit crazy with your little one, more so during the cold weather period. This does not mean you should lock yourself and your baby in your house. You should safely step outside and enjoy the cold weather together. Fresh air is much needed throughout the whole year, wintertime included. You definitely should spend time outside, unless it is extremely cold to the point it is dangerous to go outside.

Of course, as a parent, you need to follow some safety precautions. If the temperature is getting below freezing, you must not take your baby outside unless it is a quick trip to the car. Also, when it’s very windy, you shouldn’t take your baby outside, because it can be dangerous. This is because babies cannot self-regulate the core temperature. Therefore exposure to cold weather should be limited to a few minutes or so.

Babies are less able to cope with the cold compared with adults, and they lose heat much faster. They still have not developed the ability to increase their core temperature by shivering, plus they do not have the body fat that could warm them up when the temperatures are getting low.

Below we will share a few tips on how to keep your baby safe and warm during cold weather.

1. Dress the baby in layers

When you feel comfortable with a jacket over your clothes, that means your baby should also be in a jacket, a blanket, or a snowsuit. Having your baby dressed in layers will allow you to adjust to his/her needs. The layering should begin with something cozy like a bodysuit or leggings. After you have chosen the first layer, the second one should be some pants and a shirt with long sleeves. The third and final layer should be some jacket, mittens, hat, and booties for feet and the hands. The clothes should be made from breathable fabrics and should be easy to take on and off the baby.

2. Take the coat off your baby while you are in the car

It might sound illogical to take the coat off of your baby while in the car, but if you think about it, it does make sense. First of all, baby’s coats are usually puffy, and they might not fit in the car seat, or you won’t be able to put the straps on, which is very unsafe. If an accident happens, the material of the coat will get compressed, which will leave a gap between the child and the harness making your baby unsecured, and the chances for injury are much higher.

What you should do is to place your baby in the car seat, fasten the straps and then put a blanket over your baby to keep him/her warm. If the air conditioning is working, then you should remove the blanket after the car warms up. You don’t want your kid to get overheated. Alternatively, warm up the care before you put the baby in it and save yourself some time.

3. Bundle up for a trip outside

When the temperatures are below freezing or maybe the temperature is not freezing, but there is wind mixed with cold rain, it is best to stay inside with the baby unless it is necessary to make a trip to the car. If the weather is not freezing and there is no wind, throw on warm layers on your baby, as we explained above, and you are good to go. Keep an eye on your baby, he/she will give you some signs if there something he/she doesn’t like or doesn’t feel comfortable with. Red skin that is warm to the touch and a fussy baby probably means that you have overdressed him/her. If the baby has cold skin and the eyes are getting teary, then you did not dress him/her enough.

4. Use carriers for more warmth

When you carry your baby in a carrier, your body heat will be shared with your baby, thus providing more warmth for him/her. This is a great idea when the weather is cold, but you don’t want to put him/her in an extra layer of clothes, and instead, you use your body heat to keep the baby cozy. Still, do not forget to cover the feet, the head, and the hands that are how the babies and all people, in general, lose heat. Also, the baby needs to have constant airflow, so don’t press his/her face against your chest. Don’t forget to watch your step. You don’t want to step on an ice and both of you to end up on the ground.

5. Maintain the right indoor temperature

Parents tend to overheat the rooms, and that can be a problem. Not many indoor heating devices have ways to regulate the humidity, which leads to a lack of moisture in the air, which causes dry skin. This especially affects the baby’s delicate skin. To avoid this situation, during the day, you will need to keep the indoor temperature as cool as much as you can tolerate, somewhere between 20°C and 22°C. When the baby is sleeping, the temperature should go even lower to 18°C or 20°C. This is not only beneficial for their skin, but it also reduces the risk of SIDS. You can put your baby in a sleep sack or a sleeper, which will keep them warm as much as it is needed.

6. Avoid dry skin

The cold temperatures, recirculated air, lack of humidity can all contribute to itchy, dry, and scaly skin. You should also avoid taking frequent baths in winter because the water also dries out the skin. When you do take baths, use warm but not too hot water, and don’t let your baby soak for too long. The water should be at 37°C. You can check with your elbow by sticking it in the water, and if it is comfortably warm, then you are good to go, but avoid keeping your baby in the bathtub longer than 10 minutes. When you dry your baby off, always use a quality moisturizer that does not have harmful chemicals. You can also apply moisturizer during the day when you feel like your baby needs it. Thick moisturizers work the best, so avoid using those that look like creams. If any of the creams and moisturizers cause your baby to have irritated skin, you should check it with a doctor.

7. Look for the warning signs

Pay attention if the baby starts to shiver, also watch if the color on the feet, hands, and face are turning hard and pale. If any of these events happen, bring the baby inside some warm place. Trying to rub his extremities of the face can only damage the cold skin, and you will end up with more problems. Simply hurry up and take the baby into a warm and cozy room, take a prewarmed washcloth and gently start reheating the cold parts of your baby. After that, you can change the baby clothes. In a situation where nothing helps to warm up your baby, immediately call your doctor and ask for assistance. Signs that your baby might need medical attention due to prolonged exposure to the cold are non-responsiveness, blue face and lips, and lethargy.

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