Now that we’re in the middle of winter, there is simply no way around it. Keeping your baby warm is a constant worry for new mothers and overdressing is a common issue. Making sure your baby is dressed just right takes a little time in getting to know when they’re too hot or too cold. Here are 6 top tips for dressing your newborn baby for the cold weather.
Hats
You’re more than likely remember being lectured as a child about how we lose most of our heat through our exposed head, and for a newborn baby – who has very little hair – this is vital. Even though you might be moving around and keeping warm, your baby is likely to be lying fairly still and not generating body heat in the same way.
Layers
Layers are the key to dressing your newborn baby for winter. A good place to start is to look at what you’re wearing yourself and then simply add a layer. Keep it simple and maybe carry an extra layer or two just in case your baby needs it.
Do the ‘toe test’
Gauging whether your baby is too hot or too cold can sometimes be tricky. Don’t worry if they have cool toes or cool hands, that’s normal, but place the back of your hand against your baby’s chest or belly for a better idea of their temperature. If their feet are warm then your baby is wearing too many layers, but if their belly is cold, then they need some more.
Be sure to pick your baby up and warm them instead of simply adding another layer. They won’t be able to shiver sufficiently to be able to produce their own body heat so they’re going to need a helping hand.
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Going inside from outside
Keeping your baby warm is perhaps easier than knowing when they’re too hot. When it comes to dressing your newborn baby for winter, try using clothes that are easy to take off. Once you go inside to where it’s warm, you’ll need to take one or two layers off to ensure that your baby doesn’t overheat.
Keeping warm in the car
Similarly when you go from outside to inside, getting into a car needs some forethought too. Cars can heat up really quickly and you don’t want to be in danger of your baby overheating. Although they’re wearing the right number of layers to be outside, it might be too much for the car journey so it would be worth either keeping an eye on their temperature or simply removing the top layer before you put them in the car.
Disturbing your baby
If your baby is all cosy, you might find yourself reluctant to wake them up to take a layer off. Learning when to disturb them whilst sleeping is vital to dressing your newborn baby for winter. If you go inside and don’t disturb them to remove a layer, your baby will be at risk from overheating. Buy clothes that are easy to remove and that way your baby will hopefully be able to sleep right through you taking an extra layer off.
Resources:
http://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/baby-and-toddler/toddler/looking-after-your-toddler/how-to-dress-your-baby-for-cold-weather
http://www.madeformums.com/baby/dressing-your-baby-in-winter/29776.html
http://www.mom365.com/baby/baby-care/10-tips-for-dressing-baby-for-winter/