Wintertime can be a magical season but caring for a baby during colder months requires some extra know-how to keep them cosy, safe, and protected. As temperatures drop, you may wonder how to keep your babies warm without overheating or risking common winter hazards. Here are my essential winter care tips for new parents, designed with safety and comfort in mind.
1. Avoid Snowsuits in Car Seats
When preparing for winter outings, it’s tempting to bundle up babies in a cosy snowsuit or puffy coat. And yes they do look super cute! However, these fluffy layers create a gap between your baby and the harness in the car seat, which can prevent the straps from fitting snugly. Loose straps can compromise your baby’s safety in the event of sudden stops or accidents.
What to do instead: Dress your baby in light, warm layers, and once they’re safely buckled in the car seat, place a blanket over them for extra warmth. This ensures the harness fits properly, keeping your baby both warm and safe.
2. Skip Snowsuits in Slings and Carriers
While snowsuits may look adorable, they’re also too bulky for baby carriers and slings. Bulky clothing in a carrier can cause overheating, your body heat warms up your baby naturally. It can also make it difficult for your baby to fit snugly and safely against you.
What to do instead: Dress your baby in a soft, breathable layer, like a long-sleeve onesie and leggings, with a warm hat and mittens. You can drape a blanket over the carrier or wear a larger coat that wraps around both of you for extra insulation. This keeps your baby warm, while preventing overheating and ensuring they’re snug and secure.
3. Protect Baby’s Cheeks from Winter Wind and Cold
Cold, windy weather can quickly make your baby’s delicate skin dry and chapped, especially on their exposed cheeks. If they are teething (which they are most the time!) their skin is often damp from drooling and extra vulnerable to getting sore. Baby-safe balms and ointments act as a protective layer against cold air and help keep their skin soft and comfortable.
How to protect your baby’s skin: Before heading outdoors, gently apply a thin layer of baby-safe balm on your baby’s cheeks and any other areas exposed to the cold. This adds a moisture barrier that shields their skin from winter wind and dryness. I love Neals Yard Remedies Baby Balm and I recommend applying it when they are fast asleep so it can soak in. As the balm is completely natural it doesn’t matter if they get it on their hands and therefore in their mouth!
4. How to Check if Your Baby is Warm Enough at Night
Keeping babies comfortable at night is a top concern for many new parents in winter. However, too many layers can lead to overheating, which can disrupt their sleep and potentially impact their health.
The Lullaby Trust has clear Winter Safe Sleep advice.
The room temperature should ideally be between 16-20C. This may feel cool to you but the advice consistently is baby’s should be kept cooler rather than warmer. A parent told me this week she was worried about falling asleep while sitting upright feeding in bed so we chatted about having warm layers for her ready in a chair for the night feeds. Remembering that falling asleep with your baby on your front in a chair or sofa increases the risk of SIDS by 50 times.
Add extra layers to your baby such as a longer-sleeved vest, socks, cardigan rather than additional bedding. A hat is not required inside.
Opt for lightweight blankets rather than thick fleecy ones.
Don’t use hot water bottles in any baby sleep space (cot, crib, Moses basket or adult bed) as they can make your baby too hot.
Duvets and pillows are not advised until over 1 and if you are bed sharing remember to use the babies own bedding, not yours which will be too hot.
Rather than piling on blankets or heavy sleepwear, use this simple check to make sure they’re at the right temperature...
Tip for checking your baby’s warmth: Touch their chest or the back of their neck to see if they feel comfortably warm (not too hot or cold). Avoid checking their hands or feet, as these are often cooler naturally due to our circulation. Dress them in light, breathable layers, and consider using a sleeping bag instead of blankets to keep them snug and safe. These often have a guide of layers associated with the tog of the sleeping bag. Make sure you choose a bag which is appropriate for their weight so there is no risk of the neck being too large.
Key Takeaways for Winter Baby Care
Avoid bulky snowsuits in car seats and slings; use blankets for extra warmth.
Protect the baby’s cheeks with a thin layer of balm to prevent dryness.
Check their warmth by feeling their chest or neck, not their hands or feet.
These tips will help ensure that you and your baby can enjoy the winter season with confidence, knowing that they’re safe, comfortable, and well cared for.
For full reassurance, I have an online First Aid course which you can watch in the comfort of your home and go back to time and time again as your little one passes through different milestones and your concerns change.
Or why not enjoy some cosy Relaxation and Baby Massage with another of my popular online courses that you can revisit whenever you want to find some calm and comfort your baby.
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