The top 5 tips for Winter Baby wearing.
Brrrr, as the outside temperatures begin to drop, we receive many questions from parents asking how to dress their little one ready for the winter months.
We have the top 5 winter baby wearing tips to ensure you and your little one are both prepared for the coming winter months.
- Less is More
Dressing your baby in too many layers of clothing could cause them to overheat. Start with fewer layers and add more if you feel your baby is too chilly. Â
Your baby carrier counts as a layer of clothing and so do you as your body warms them up. During their early stages of development, your baby can not regulate their own temperature. Small babies loose body heat from their head and feet. To prevent this, place a hat on their head, socks and lambskin shoes when your little one is outside. Their body is ideally protected by a fleece or woollen walking suit, in combination with a fleece cover. Protect delicate hands of your little one from the cold. Integrated gloves on the outer garment are useful. Alternatively use mittens.
The choice of clothing depends on the outside temperature and the amount of time you spend outside. Taking longer walks in very cold temperatures you will need a special carrying jacket, in an appropriate thickness.
Top tip: Remove outdoor clothing from your child when you enter coffee shops, grocery stores or shopping centers. These additional layers can cause your baby to become too warm.
2. Avoid padded snowsuits
However cute a baby in a snowsuit looks, it is important that your little one doesn’t wear one when they are in carrier or wrap. Not only could it cause your little one to overheat, snowsuits prevent your baby from sitting in an ergonomic, safe position when in a carrier. The padding in a snowsuit is compressed, which means that the desired warming effect falls by the wayside. Instead, choose a fleece or wool onesie, as long as baby is adequately dressed underneath them. Always make sure no fabric is covering baby’s face.
Top Tip: Keep your little one comfortable and protected in your everyday adventures, no matter the weather with our All Weather baby carrier cover.
3. Wear your baby carrier UNDER your coat or jacket NOT over it.
When trying a baby carrier over your winter jacket you may find it a bit tight and uncomfortable to wear. This also affects the fit of a baby carrier which makes it less secure and safe for your baby. As your little one does not move in their carrier, they may get cold quickly in cold climates. Always wear your baby carrier UNDER your coat or jacket. Keeping them close means you can more easily check your little one’s temperature and make adjustments as needed.
You can buy specially designed babywearing coats which wrap around you and baby. Be sure that if you’re using one of these that you follow tip one carefully, it is likely that normal indoor clothes will be enough to keep them toasty if you’re both wrapped up in a coat together. Do not wear scarves or place loose clothing near or over your baby’s face. This could hinder your baby from breathing.
In extremely cold weather conditions, use a special outdoor babywearing jacket, which encloses your baby together with a carrier and protects you both from the weather. In this case, make sure that you are not dressed too warmly in thick layers. Light base layers are a good choice with underlayers on top work well. Whatever you wear, make sure that your baby's face is always visible and not covered by a scarf, outer jacket or sweater.
4. Pack spares
Mittens, socks and booties are amongst the top three baby items easily lost during a walk. It’s not a bad idea to always take spares with you.
Top Tip: Our Omni baby carriers come with a handy removeable pouch that's the perfect size for your phone, house keys and a spare pair of mittens and socks.
5. Don't forget our Ergobaby All Weather Baby Carrier Cover.
As mentioned in tip 2, our All Weather cover is designed with a quilted, water-resistant outer layer and a cosy, soft fleece lining. The All Weather cover can be used with our baby carriers and other baby carriers in the market. Thanks to the practical poppers, the cover can easily attach to your carrier. The hood can be buttoned over and an adjustable foot section, therefore your baby is protected from the rain, wind and cold.
Top Tip: For parents' and caregiver cold hands: the fleece lined side pockets also keep your hands dry and warm.