Practical dressing tips: What you should consider when dressing your babies in winter

When the first colder days of the year arrive, it's clear: winter is approaching. So that you can continue to stick to your walks and at home relax and enjoy your bonding time can, it is advisable to already stock up early on winter clothing. The only question is what exactly belongs.

Basically, it can be said that the right clothing is essential for all seasons, especially for winter. Because your newborns cannot yet regulate their body temperature independently and thus they lose a lot of body heat in the cold. In the worst case, hypothermia or even frostbite can occur. To prevent this, a good mix of different clothing layers is important. Because even with clothing that is too warm, your baby can catch a cold from sweating.

Similar to other seasons, the magic word in winter is also magic word: "layered look". You should resist the initial impulse to bundle the child up as warmly as possible. With the layering principle you can react to different environments and put an additional layer on your baby or take one off.

When it comes to collecting a basic wardrobe, the following applies in winter: bodysuits are especially important to protect the your baby's back and kidneys. In combination with long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, shirts or warmer cardigans they are particularly effective in making the temperatures comfortable for your baby. Short-sleeved shirts are also allowed, especially when you put on an extra layer of clothing.

Rompers, (wrap) bodysuits or cardigans should always be equipped with press studs, Velcro or zippers as they prove to be particularly practical. Especially for babies who find undressing and dressing uncomfortable, this is a relief because the fastenings make it quicker. However, make sure that the metal parts of, for example, zippers do not have direct contact with the baby's skin have. This can lead to localized frostbite.

To keep your baby's legs warm, tights under the baby pants are suitable. The double layer of warmth is especially helpful when it's snowing outside. Of course, a winter jacket should not be missing for outings. A snowsuit can be purchased for that, because it saves you additional protection for the baby's feet. Besides socks you then don't need to plan for shoes or an extra footmuff. Additionally, hats, gloves, scarves or neckerchiefs are absolute must-haves. Hats are even the most important accessory, as babies lose most body heat through their heads.

So that you can comfortably change and dress your babies, heat lamps are a good way to keep your children warm. Winter babies also find baths pleasant. In doing so, pay attention to a bath temperature of 36 to 37 degrees. Choose the temperature slightly cooler rather than too hot so your babies feel comfortable.

Dressed too cold or too warm – How can I check that?

To determine whether your selected garments and layers are right for the particular day and associated temperatures, there are a few tricks that you can easily apply anytime:

Neck check: Feel with your fingers at the nape of your baby's neck, whether it is sweaty, cool or dry. If that area is warm and dry, your child is dressed correctly. If the area is sweaty, you should remove a layer of clothing from your baby.

If the neck is too cool is, it is often a sign that you need another additional layer of clothing is needed to warm your winter babies again.

Hands & feet: Children lose their body heat first through their toes and fingers. If the little hands or feet feel icy, you should dress your children warmer

Tummy: The tummy also tells you whether your baby is doing well. If it feels too warm or too cold, you should adjust the clothing accordingly.

Heat rash: If your children are truly too warm and sweat excessively, the skin on the face often develops small heat rashes — not just in summer. Don't undress your children completely; just open the jacket or pull back the blanket so the body cools down gently.

Starter kit: What you can dress winter babies in

Buying the very first clothing for winter babies is very exciting for expectant parents. Already during pregnancy the first garments are snapped up. Most parents, however, wonder, how many individual baby clothing items they actually need. Especially in winter there are additional details to consider. Because unlike the Starter kit for spring, summer or autumn, in winter certain warming methods (heat lamps, warm baths, etc.) are also helpful to ensure your baby's well-being.

Basically: Less is more! So you don't need vast amounts of baby clothes, and certainly not winter clothing. Young children simply grow too quickly to keep a huge stock of clothes in the wardrobe.

Make sure you have a few pieces of each. This is simply so that you can fall back on spare clothing to fall back on. For the first months of life it's therefore completely sufficient if you buy, for example, eight bodysuits with and without sleeves in different sizes (usually sizes 52, 56 and 62).

One to two cotton hats are also recommended. Tights/socks and rompers are other important garments for winter. What else you should consider regarding your baby starter kit in terms of furniture, care and toys that you should pay attention to, HABA has gathered for you on the relevant topic page.

This material matters – heat-retaining baby clothing for winter

Material plays an essential role when choosing winter clothing for babies. Because baby clothing should always temperature-regulating properties exhibit and especially in winter keep cosy and warm. Cotton and fleece are particularly suitable here. Even better is a a cotton blend or a combination of wool and silk, as these materials are very gentle on delicate baby skin. Also merino wool proves to be very effective for the cool winter days. The material is characterized above all by the fact that it reliably transports moisture away from the body. This way your baby doesn't feel damp and the body temperature can be well maintained.

The onion-layer look in winter – checklist for the individual layers. In – out, warm – cold: In winter we often switch between outside and inside. From the apartment to the car or train, then to shopping or an appointment and then back home. Wearing several thin breathable layers of clothing on top of each other is best in winter, because this way you can easily ensure that your baby neither freezes nor overheats. In addition, small air pockets form between the individual garments, which provide extra insulation.

As rule of thumb applies to layering: Always put one more layer on your child than on yourself. This way you can put an additional layer on or take it off your winter baby depending on the situation and comfort. Several thinner layers are always better than a few thick ones, which can make the baby sweat.

You can assemble your clothing layers as follows:

• For underneath: A romper or bodysuit. Lycra or silk are best, as they do not retain moisture, unlike cotton.

• Second layer: A sweater made of wool or fleece and pants or tights with woolen socks.

• For on top: A weatherproof, water-repellent jacket and winter pants, a snowsuit, or a footmuff that still allows your baby to move freely. Additionally, insulated baby shoes and a hat are sensible. If the hat covers the ears and the nape, that's sufficient. For the hands opt for mittens instead of gloves so the little fingers don't get cold.

Sweet winter dreams: dressing babies properly at night

To process the day's experiences calmly, clothing is also crucial for a baby's sleep. At around 16 to 20 degrees Celsius your baby should feel comfortable, so you don't need overly thick layers. Long-sleeved shirts or a warmer sleepsuit are perfectly sufficient.

Before bedtime you can warm the baby's crib with a hot water bottle or a cherry pit pillow. However, remove it again before sleeping. To keep your baby warm enough all night, baby sleep sacks are particularly popular. Because unlike a wool blanket, a cozy sleep sack does not pose a suffocation risk.

The right winter clothing for everyday life at home

During the day for play it's perfectly fine if normal room temperatures prevail in your apartment or the rooms of your house (living rooms usually 20 degrees Celsius and in bedrooms between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius). Then your child should in a bodysuit or a long-sleeved sweater be warm enough. Children love to move, so you shouldn't dress them too warmly indoors. A sweater, slightly warmer trousers and a pair of socks, and if necessary comfortable gloves, will warm the little hands and feet. To make play moments warm experiences, aa (play) blanket or a padded play mat.

Stroller, baby wrap or in the car: how to dress your babies for winter when out and about

How you dress your winter baby for trips and walks depends on how you prefer to transport it. Whether in the stroller, in the baby carrier, in the baby wrap or in the infant car seat – for each transport option there are various measures to protect your baby from the cold breeze. What matters? HABA has here the essential tips compiled:

Preparing the stroller for winter: If you want to use the stroller, it's perfectly sufficient if you dress your baby a thick winter jacket as well as trousers and tights on. Lined footmuffs are a great addition to keep the delicate baby feet sufficiently warm. If your baby lies in the stroller, a snowsuit is enough, which saves you a footmuff. In addition, the snowsuit keeps very warm and with additional coverings in the stroller your child will not get cold again so quickly. To be able to go out in wind and weather, a weather cover for the stroller is an absolute must-have.

Our tip: If the stroller cannot be kept in the apartment for space reasons, but only finds room in the cool hallway, you can easily prewarm it. To do so, place a hot water bottle or a cherry pit pillow in the stroller before heading out for a walk. A sheepskin or lambskin or a cut-to-size sleeping mat helps with insulation underneath.

How you and your winter baby should dress for the baby carrier or baby wrap

The baby carrier is probably the warmest transport method for babies. The baby is kept warm by your body heat, which also has a soothing effect . Whether you carry your child at the front on your chest or on your back, it will be supplied with significantly more warmth than in the stroller.

To ensure the cozy warm temperature, there are special jackets that are particularly suitable for a baby carrier. So mainly so-called carrier jackets and jacket extensions for your winter jacket are an option. Alternatively, you can also use a babywearing cover both under and over the jacket.

For your baby, it is best to put on a wool or fleece overall on. Thick socks and a hat should definitely not be missing.

Dressing baby properly for the car:

For safety reasons you should avoid winter jackets and snowsuits in the infant car seat avoid. Because during car trips any additional item of clothing can be dangerous. After getting in it's best to take off this layer of clothing. So you can buckle your baby more securely and then cover them with a cozy blanket or jacket. In this way the harness is closer to the body and safety for the car journey is ensured.

Under the top layer of clothing it's enough if your baby wears a thick top, long cloth trousers (possibly with tights underneath) and thick socks . To protect the neck and head, you can also use a scarf and a hat.

Image credits

Laughing child lying in the snow © Westend61 - stock.adobe.com

Mother holds baby up in the air © Olha Tsiplyar - stock.adobe.com

Putting gloves on the baby © Андрей Журавлев - stock.adobe.com