Baby clothes - dressing for the weather?!

[LikeCandy]

Help!
I know this will come across as a daft topic, but I can't be the only clueless new mum, surely?! My PFB is 9w - so will be in 3-6m clothes if/when we get a summer.

I'm hoping to draw on your collective experience - is the 'as many layers as you are wearing +1 theory' a hard and fast rule?

So, what counts as a layer?
If baby is in her pram - does the wind cover count?
If she's in a sling, does it count as a layer? (Especially considering she'll be sharing body heat with me too like that!)

In what circumstances are bare arms/legs ok?
If in shorts/romper/dress - should socks be always worn or are bare feet ok?

Took her out today in a vest and sleep suit and sun hat - she looked so warm, was really sleepy and that's only in the same layers I was in. Whilst out I saw some babies in just vests, and others with blankets on?!

So this summer - how will you be dressing your baby?!

[Raaraathenoisybaby]

Dd2 (6 months) has been wearing a vest and leggings and a long sleeved t shirt. But I sling carry so her arms and legs are exposed anyway and obv no blankets. She has a light hoodie and a sun hat and I just take them off if its warmer. I haven't felt it was warm enough for less yet. She had socks and leather pram shoes but I took them off for a bit today.
I have no idea if you count the wind cover as a layer - I thought it meant just clothing.
In doubt lighter clothes can be layered easily and take a jumper for the baby out with you

[IroningBoredDaily]

In summer, on warm days (like it was today in the midlands) I would have dressed a baby in a single top and bottoms, such as loose trousers, short or leggings. A single vest would also have been fine for today imo. My own children wore swimwear in the garden today!

For bed, my 2 yr old is wearing t.shirt and shorts pjs and I would have dressed a baby in similar.

I have 3 dcs and never heard of the +1 layer more than I am wearing. I always tried to keep them cool on warm days. If it looks like they're too warm, they probably are?

[LikeCandy]

Thanks raaraa. We've got plenty of clothes that can layer - but I am just so clueless about when, or at what temperature, to add / takeaway layers!

[LikeCandy]

Thanks IBD - like you said, if I think she looks hot, she probably is. I'm just nervous of getting it wrong and her being uncomfortable one way or the other!

The layers +1 seems to be the general advice given by HVs & its echoed when I've googled.
(But it's a bit nonsensical as I hate being cold and DH hates being hot so we are usually wearing completely different layers, therefore each of us would dress baby differently!)

[ellesabe]

I'd say go with your gut. Take something off if she looks hot, put something on if she starts to feel cold.

[VioletGoesVintage]

A chilly baby will usually cry/be fretful. A hot baby might not.

I went by whether their chest and tummy felt warm. If it did, they were warm enough. If their skin was cold or cool to the touch, I added another layer. If the baby felt sweaty or clammy, I took one off.

I carried my babies in a stretchy wrap sling. If it was hot enough for me to have bare arms and legs (I feel the cold too), they were usually in just a romper. They always had a sun hat and usually socks too. If their legs were bare, I tucked a muslin over the top of the sling, IYSWIM, so it gave their legs some protection from the sun.