Winter is a magical time for new parents that is full of firsts. They can introduce their new-born to their first snow, their first cosyand dark mornings, and even participate in their baby’s first Christmas.
However, one unfortunate sign of these winter months is the drop in temperature. As always, this is never a problem for new parents so long as they prepare correctly. There is a fine line between keeping your baby snuggly warm and overdoing it. Follow our advice to find out how you can keep your baby warm this winter.
How to Tell If It Is Too Cold For Your Baby
There is no trick in determining what temperature is too cold for your new-born. Chances are, if you feel that it is too cold, your baby does too. New-borns are likely to lose heat quicker due to their small size so it is imperative to keep an eye on the temperature. Their body heat mainly escapes from their heads and feet, and there are several accessories that can help with that. However, remember that babies are resilient, designed to withstand new parents. Therefore, you will find it may take a while to gauge your baby’s preferred temperature. A baby will let you know if there is a problem, so if you feel a nip in the air, they probably need a temperature boost.
Keeping Your Baby Warm Outside
Fresh air is needed by new parents and new babies alike. A walk with your baby can greatly improve both your moods and can provide a much needed opportunity to get out of the house. Babies are most happy and soothed when fresh air can reach them, so don’t let the bad weather stop you.
One factor in the outside world that can greatly affect your baby’s temperature is the wind. Always try to keep the wind from blowing directly into your baby’s exposed face. Not only is it wildly uncomfortable for them, but it can rapidly drop their temperature. This can be easily avoided with pram covers or by pressing the child close to your body as you move around. However, these manoeuvres won’t help shield your child from the winter temperatures.
Luckily, there are a number of accessories available to keep your child warm, as previously mentioned. Baby hats, boots, coats and mittens come in all sizes, and can keep your baby snug in the winter months. Baby coats should be designed to keep excess material away from your baby’s face, and hats, mittens and boots will stop their body heat from escaping.
Keeping Your Baby Snug at Night
There are several options that you can choose to keep you baby warm and snug at night. One option you may want to avoid; however, is baby gowns. These less restrictive outfits are perfect for the summer months, letting the air get to your baby’s legs, thus cooling them down.However, we want the opposite effect during winter.
A second choice for winter nightwear is a regular baby-grow. These onesies cover your baby’s body from neck to toe, and even wrap up their feet. However, these baby-grows won’t hold up against particularly low temperatures, like those common in winter. The easy answer has always been providing an additional blanket, but this can become tangled or fall away. What if there was something that provided the benefits of both a baby grows and a blanket?
For something more substantial, you may want to try out the baby sleep sacks. These sleep sacks are perfectly safe for babies and cover their entire bodyto provide a snug warmth throughout the night. Sometimes referred to as baby wearable blankets, baby sleep sacks are perfect for ensuring that your baby stays warm without having loose materials slipping off them or covering their face. You can browse through a number of styles of baby sleep sacks by visiting babysoy. The company is a provider of a wide range of quality and sustainable baby clothes and baby accessories covering babies from head to toe, so you can find almost everything you need in one place.
Thermal Wear
The points discussed above are all helpful remedies for the regular old winter blues. However, sometimes the latter half of the year can provide a bigger freeze than expected. For these circumstances, you may want to go that extra mile for your baby. When things get a bit too chilly, you can invest in thermal wear. Thermal socks, gloves and hats are layered to add that little bit of additional protection against the cold. Lined baby coats are also a good option.
Other Baby Accessories
The most obvious objects, such as baby hats, baby gloves and baby coats are all mandatory for your new-born in the colder months and should prove easy to find. But, did you know that there are other accessories that you can purchase to keep your baby snug. Baby dressing gowns are available and are perfect for those chilly morning feeds. Also, a blanket can go a long way to shield against the cold, so keep these on hand wherever possible. You won’t need them at night when you have a baby sleep sack, but during the day they are a godsend. Lastly, make sure your child is kept warm in every circumstance. A car seat blanket can help when on the move, and there are even footmuffs that slide into the bottom of prams to keep your child’s feet warm. If you are concerned about your child’s temperature at any time, the chances are there is an accessory out there to remedy that. Always keep an eye out for great baby products to help them stay warm.
Other Helpful Tips
You may sometimes find that your baby is still uncomfortable in the cold even when they are dressed correctly. This is perfectly normal and there are a few tips you can use to remedy this. Your baby is likely to be colder at night, and you can try to fix this issue with a harder mattress. A firm mattress can stop cold air from reaching your baby from the underside of their cot. These solid mattresses are also less likely to slip during the night, whereas a soft mattress could roll and leave a gap for cold air to get through.
While we are on the topic of night time, did you know that you can preheat a baby’s cot before putting them to sleep? Use a hot water bottle, or similar heating pad to cosy up your baby’s sleeping space before laying them down to bed. Clearly, you don’t want to overdo it, but warming the bed this way for just ten minutes can go a long way to keeping your baby snug. Plus, remember to remove the heating object from the cot before lying the baby down.
Lastly, keeping your baby dry is imperative in maintaining their body temperature. In winter, you should always take longer to dry your baby after a bath, as any excess water on the baby’s skin is more likely to make them ill when it is cold. This sentiment can also be extended to when you change your baby’s nappy. Keep a closer eye on their nappies as you will want to change them straight away when wet to avoid them catching a chill.
Conclusion
In summary, keeping your baby snug and warm in winter is not hard. All it takes is getting the right equipment, keeping an eye on temperatures and remaining cautious in certain circumstances. All parents can overcome these obstacles with ease. Just remember these tips and you’ll do fine.
