Dressing your baby – practical everyday tips
Especially at the beginning, dressing and undressing babies is not so easy. Their arms and legs are still so small and uncontrolled, and not infrequently babies react to being changed with loud protests and wriggling. Over time both child and parents get used to the daily dressing - we have a few tips to make your daily routine a bit easier:
Baby-friendly clothing: Your child feels most comfortable in soft, loose-fitting clothing that doesn't constrict and allows the skin to breathe. Natural materials prevent body heat from building up.
Dress in several layers: The "onion look" has two advantages: On the one hand, the thin layers of air between the individual garments act like insulation and prevent getting too cold or overheating. On the other hand, you can simply remove a piece of clothing from your child if it gets too warm.
Bodysuits and rompers: One-piece garments are especially comfortable for your baby because they don't shift or constrict. Especially in the early days, bodysuits and rompers with a side button placket are perfect because they don't have to be pulled over the head.
Functionality: Little bows and buttons look cute but are quite impractical in everyday life. Snap fasteners and elastic cuffs are an unbeatable team when it comes to quick, easy dressing.
Little tricks for daily dressing
Calm and composed: Rushing or agitation while changing makes your baby nervous. Try to stay calm, even when you're in a hurry. Talk to your baby and maintain physical contact.
Dressing rituals: Whether you wind up a music box, sing a little song, or always start changing with the same sentence — rituals help your child find their bearings and become calmer.
Distraction: A mobile or a colorful poster above the changing table is an eye-catcher that draws your baby's attention and makes dressing easier.
Quickly and without interruption: Most babies are not enthusiastic about dressing. Try to get the dressing done quickly and avoid being interrupted as much as possible.
Out and about: Properly dressed for any weather
A walk outdoors is part of the daily routine for most parents, but especially in transitional seasons many are unsure whether their children are dressed correctly. The idea that babies should generally be dressed very warmly is considered outdated today. Although babies cannot retain their body heat as well as adults, at the same time they are less able to regulate temperatures and overheat more quickly. If you have doubts about the right baby clothing, feel your baby's neck from time to time: if the skin feels warm but not hot or sweaty, your baby is most likely dressed appropriately for the weather.
What should my baby wear in winter?
Several layers of lightweight clothing: long-sleeved bodysuit and tights, romper or pants and sweater, optionally a little jacket
Snowsuit or a lined jacket and winter pants/footmuff
Warm wool socks or soft, lined baby shoes
The hat should reach the nape and also cover the ears
Mittens, either attached to the snowsuit or separate — preferably not fingered gloves yet
What should my baby wear in summer?
Light cotton bodysuit, long- or short-sleeved
If necessary, a cotton undershirt and lightweight cotton pants or a thin romper
Baby socks or barefoot
Sun hat that also covers the ears — preferably one that can be tied
If it's very hot, it's sometimes fine to go without any clothing.
Avoid sweating and overheating — tips for summer
Restful sleep: No one sleeps well when it's hot — in babies, high temperatures can even lead to overheating while they sleep. Try to keep the bedroom as cool as possible, e.g. by darkening the room or with damp cloths that you can hang up. If it's still very hot, it's better to skip the pajamas and/or the sleep sack.
Car journeys: Plan longer car journeys, if possible, in the morning or early evening, because the heat in the car and especially in the baby seat can be hard on many babies. A terry or fabric cover for the baby seat prevents heavy sweating, as does a sunshade for the window.
No sun in the first year: Fresh air yes — but during the first year of life your baby should be exposed to direct sunlight as little as possible. A sunshade for the stroller and a lightweight, portable sun umbrella are invaluable in summer.
Prefer to spend midday hours indoors: Plan walks, errands and appointments during the hot months for the morning or early evening. Use the midday heat to recharge in the cooler home.
Avoid fans and air conditioning: Babies are sensitive to drafts and catch colds easily. This applies both to the air conditioning in the car and to fans in the room or sleeping areas — better to avoid them.
You can find more information in the article How can I protect my baby from too much sun and heat in summer?
How do you properly change a baby's diaper?
There are detailed and easy-to-understand instructions on how to change a baby's diaper – for example here in the HABA magazine in the article How do I properly change my baby.
Until you have the necessary routine for daily diapering or whenever you are unsure, such step-by-step guides with pictures are a great help. In everyday life you will probably quickly find that changing diapers is often pure improvisation: you are out and there is no changing table in sight. Your child challenges you during the diaper change with lightning-fast turns or wild kicking. And it is not uncommon that a new diaper is needed at exactly the moment when you actually have to leave for an appointment. Whenever things need to be done quickly or you have to improvise, a few basic to-dos help:
Change as close to the floor as possible without a changing table - on the carpet, on the car's back seat, etc.
A diaper bag eventually becomes too bulky for many parents. One or two diapers, a foldable changing mat and a travel pack of wet wipes, however, fit into any handbag or the glove compartment
Even when it's urgent: handle your child gently and calmly while changing them, and try to maintain any rituals
Crying, squirming and 'warm showers' during diaper changes are common - your baby isn't trying to annoy you
Sore skin and diaper dermatitis – what can I do?
If you change the diaper too late once or the baby has eaten something acidic, the skin on the baby's bottom may become red and sensitive or show small pimples in the diaper area. Almost every baby occasionally has diaper rash. If the skin's pH value changes, for example through prolonged contact with urine, the skin reacts with irritation – with thin baby skin this unfortunately happens particularly quickly.
Diaper dermatitis can have various causes
The diapers are not changed frequently enough, so the moisture attacks the skin's protective barrier
The skin was not cleaned adequately during changing, so residues of stool and urine irritate the skin
The diaper fits too tightly, preventing air circulation at the skin
Your child has diarrhea
Some children are more prone to becoming sore when they are teething
Diaper rash is unpleasant for your baby but usually harmless. If the pustules are red and raised, ooze, or spread to your baby's mouth, it may be a yeast infection. Yeast fungi are usually more persistent than dermatitis – in this case the pediatrician will prescribe an antifungal ointment.
How can I quickly get diaper rash under control?
Change diapers frequently and, whenever possible, immediately when they are full
Let plenty of air reach the skin – ideally your baby spends some time each day without a diaper
Clean the irritated skin gently but very thoroughly, preferably with a cloth and warm water
The skin in the diaper area should be completely dry before you put on a fresh diaper
Gently cream the sore areas with healing ointment or petroleum jelly, and if necessary with a baby-friendly zinc ointment
Checklist for daily diapering and dressing
Plan the necessary time – and potential mishaps –
Change more often rather than less
Wash hands before and after changing
Keep diapers, cloths/wet wipes, and clothing within reach
Healthy baby skin doesn't need cream
When taking off, pull undershirts and sweaters off over the back of the head; when putting on, pull them on over the face
Allow some 'diaper-free' time during changing
Prefer dressing in several thin layers
Prefer natural materials
When in doubt, check the temperature at the nape of your baby's neck
