What do I need for a winter baby?

[economymode]

Our first child was born in May, so not cold at all.

But, and this is probably a stupid question, what do I need to get for winter baby? Next one is due end of Jan, so mid-winter.

So far, I'm thinking

• nice and thick hat
  
• fleecy blanket/wrap thing for being out and about (like this
  
• lots of layers
  

and then I'm stuck. For example, what will I need for sleeping? Our firstborn didn't take to swaddling so was soon in a sleeping bag. But is swaddling better for winter babies, do you think? If so, what kind of blanket should I use? Just a normal cellular one? Do they need another blanket on top?

Sorry for sounding dense!

Any other tips welcome. I'm trying to use as much stuff as possible from first time round, but know that I do need to account for the seasons.

Thank you

[mummy2benji]

A warm snowsuit / thick suit to bring them home from the hospital in and for out and about! Mittens too if they don't come with the snowsuit. Ds was born in December and he slept in a bodysuit, sleepsuit and a grobag. Winter grobags are 2 or 2.5 tog but as you don't want babies to overheat I think 2 tog is probably the thickest you'd need if you chose to go with grobags. He never really got on with a cellular blanket, which is what we tried initially, and was much happier all snug in a grobag. Think you sound like you've got it covered otherwise :) x

[terilou87]

try a grow bag for sleeping plus blankets so you can add or take away depending on how cold it is, pram suit for going out. thats all i can think,
im aslo in same boat as you iv had april, may and july babies before so new to this winter time baby shopping. ill be watching this thread for some tips also

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

Swaddling is no longer recommended due to tbe risk of overheating.

So layers of blankets would be enough and then a thick suit for out and about!

[GoldPlatedNineDoors]

I swaddled dd with a large muslin. I then added a warm blanket over the top as she was a late december birth.

We had a thick pramsuit rather than snowsuit, amd a few blankets which we layered depending on temperature when out.

Long sleeved vests, and pretty much kept her in sleepsuits so no faffing with socks.

[economymode]

Thank you! Just have a temporary stress! Need to check what tog our sleeping bags are. This means a lot of digging around in the attic...

[Noqontrol]

Second the snow suit and long sleeved vests. And fleece sleep suits, they dry quickly too. The rest depends on how warm your house is. Mine is warm so I had a sheet and 2 cellular blankets for the first 2 nights in a moses basket. Then he co slept, bottom half swaddled in 1 sheet, 1 blanket and my body warmth.

[economymode]

Thanks again. Apologies if I don't reply much - got my hands full with the toddler during the day. But I will check in and read your responses.

[xmasevebundle]

My mums friend has knitted me jumpers, sweaters,mittens,booties and hats.

They are super snuggy!

Can pick them up on ebay quite cheap, even the charity shops.

I bought a brand with tags! mamas and papas baby blue velvet snowsuit for £2.50!!!! Its gorgeous.

Ebay has a lot of winter clothes coming in now for baby's.

I ordered my DS a christmas jumper

[cupcake78]

We also put a oil radiator with a thermostat in babies room over night to stop it from getting too cold. Dh didn't want the heating on all day and night. Making night feeds even more horrendous.

Next time the heating will be on!

[ellangirl]

I tried snow suits last time, and found it was a pain to get baby in car seats etc. this time I have bought this for car seat or pram. Also, when you get inside the baby gets too hot becuase you can't take it off without waking them. If you do want snow suit jojomaman sell polarfleece ones which are good but still easy to put baby in seats etc.
A hot water bottle is good for warming crib etc before trying to settle baby, and for putting in crib while you are feeding to keep it warm...

[LauraPalmerPlusOne]

This info is great - I've got an early Feb EDD & I'm a bit clueless of how to dress winter newborns!

Question - should I get long sleeved bodysuits (poppers at crotch; no leg covering) to go under the footed sleep suits?

tia!

[ellangirl]

You could. I never did though because it was hard to get baby sleeves sitting right (vest gets caught up inside sleepsuit sleeves). That might just be a pet peeve of mine though!

[tinyshinyanddon]

I've been through new England winters with sept and nov babies so I know winter! Firstly yes I did swaddle. I use a brushed cotton blanket when they are little. I feel a cellular blanket would be too stetchy and bulky. It makes me sad to hear this backlash against swaddling because my babies loved it and would not sleep without it. On colder nights I would put a well tucked-in blanket over them too. Get a snowsuit/bunting/pramsuit with mittens and a hood. I used one of those foot muff car seat things with my first baby cos a friend gave it to me but be aware they are not endorsed by the car seat manufacturer so not recommended. I found blankets were more flexible anyway.

[Sirzy]

Swaddling is great!

I would say get 2 snowsuits. Otherwise you will find that the baby will be sick and you will need to go out while it's in the wash!

[LimeLeafLizard]

Great thread - just marking my place as I am expecting my first winter baby... this will also be our first girl after 3 boys so I am doubly confused about clothes!

[BuntyCollocks]

DS was a January baby, and dd is due late December, so I'm clued up I think!

We had a snowsuit for out and about, although if they're in a car, they really just need clothes, a cardi, coat, and a blanket to snuggle into. If you have a cozy toes or a nest in your buggy, don't have them in a snowsuit as well or you'll boil them.

Hats. Short sleeved vests under babygrows and a cardi on top. If its really cold, socks under or over babygrows. You can also use scratch mitts as mittens.

I swaddled using the summer swaddle wraps, and will again. If it's really cold, a cellular blanket over the top of the swaddle loosely.

The key is layering. I'm not a fan of long sleeved vests, but I do love a cardigan.

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

Snowsuits are great and can be picked up and nearly new sales/charity shops really cheap (newborn whine the pooh one for £1.50!!)

I have long sleeve vests to go with any trousers, and short sleeve for under sleep suits.

A few cardigans and jackets again can be picked up very cheap.

Layers are great, you can get things called swaddle blankets which are very thin to swaddle in. (it's not that swaddling isn't recommended full stop, well it is but it's only to do with over heating, so make sure you don't swaddle in a huge thick blanket, but a few thin layers is fine) You can also get things called swaddle pods, which are very thin material, 1 layer, zip up, do the same job as swaddling but about as thick as a sleep suit. So you can then add a blanket over the top if needed and baby won't overheat.

I've also got a sheepskin liner for the car seat, in the hope this will be lovely and snuggly for LO.

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

Oh and another tip although not clothing related. If possibly keep your baby wipes on a radiator so it's not a cold shock on LOs bum, esp in the night!

[Craftyone]

Mittens can be a pain so if they keep coming off use socks. They work a treat and stay on.

[economymode]

Wow, thank you! All useful stuff to read, much appreciated.

[LimeLeafLizard]

ellangirl I have just ordered one of the car seat liners that you recommended... thanks!

[Donner]

These are great
www.morrck.co.uk/baby-hoodies-1/baby-hoodie-all-season-183.html
Snow suits can be too bulky for car seats and if you're in and out of shops they can get too warm. I used this with a decent but not overly bulky jacket, I liked fleece lined cardigans.
Most grobags are 2.5 tog, 2tog are rare. At night my son had a short sleeved vest, full cotton sleep suit and 2.5tog gro bag but his room was always cosy.

We keep our heating on constant and control it with a thermostat set at 18 ish degrees. This keeps the house at an even temp and apparently is the most economical way to heat your house as you never have to heat it from cold and so it's never on for long. I don't like a hot bedroom so we have regulators on each radiator and our room is turned right down.

[Donner]

Oh and if you like the morrck wrap don't buy a 0-6 month one because the 6-18 one is perfectly suitable for a newborn and lasts longer

[BuntyCollocks]

I'll be investing in a morrck, thanks for the link! Might have to get the size 3 for DS as well!

[Northernlurkerisbehindyouboo]

I had a January baby in a house with no central heating. We co-slept. It was the only way!