What does a newborn wear in winter? Help!

[LeeMiller]

Our baby is due in November. We've been given some hand-me-downs and are trying to work out what we're missing, but I've realised I'm a bit confused about what the baby should actually be wearing in winter.

Inside:
I'm thinking a body, sleepsuit and cardigan. Or body under jumper/ leggings with feet combo. Does the baby need socks under or over the sleepsuit (I always wear at least 2 pairs of socks in winter!)? Does it matter if the bodies are long sleeved or is short sleeved ok?

Outside: help! What do babies wear outside in winter in a sling / pram / car seat?
We've been given a snowsuit but I think they're only for the pram. We've also been given a couple of pramsuits like this which seem lighter than a snowsuit and have no feet - are these also for the pram only? What about their feet? Booties or thick socks? And what the hell do they wear if you go out in a sling?

As you can see I'm clueless! Any pointers appreciated!

Depends on how cold your house is, generally one more layer than you so if you're wearing a t-shirt and cardie then baby would wear vest babygrow and cardie. Socks, you could always get one pack and then you have them if it gets cold enough/ to wear with leggings. I'd go for short sleaves bodies as long are harder to keep from disappearing up the arms when you put on babygrow, long sleeve under outfits ie dungarees/ dresses for the winter.

Sling, I had ds in the same outfit as inside (be careful of babygrows in the sling as they can bunch up and cramp feet, so leggings/socks/booties are better) and then wore my dh coat over both of us. Easy to unzip when you go inside a shop too. You only need booties once their feet are dangling out under the coat.

Pram suit, I never really used when ds was little as I preferred blankets as they are easy to take off when you go inside a shop or coffee shop. Pram suits are good once baby is in the pushchair as blankets slip down.

Pram suits (or coats) are not suitable for the car seat as they can compress in an accident and then baby can move more than he/she should. Don't forget that the car can warm up as you go along so you don't want the baby too wrapped up as otherwise they can overheat, a blanket over the straps is fine.

I hope that helps.

DD was born in October. She mostly wore either sleepsuits with short sleeved vests or long sleeved vest, leggings and cardi. And socks and booties (the booties were really cute and a gift, probably not actually necessary)

Outside she usually wore the same clothes plus a blanket or 2 and a hat. We had a second hand pram suit and she wore it a couple of times, but I’m glad I didn’t buy one. Probably depends on the weather though and if you’ll be doing long walks in the cold.

Thank you! That is super helpful. Our house is old and draughty so I think cardigans will definitely be needed.

Does a sling count as a layer if baby is in it in the house?

Babies get quite warm in a sling (as do you) so yes that would count as a layer.

Sleep suits and a body underneath (and a cardi if your house is chilly). Pramsuit to pop over when outside.

My DD would wear vest and either baby gro or leggings and long sleeve top with socks. I mostly used a snow suit outside in the pram often with a cardigan and also had a coat for when it was warmer used with a cosy toes for the pram.
They aren’t supposed to wear coats in the car so we had thick cardigans then a blanket across her.
It depends what you’re wearing; if it’s so cold that you’re bundled up then you need to put plenty on the baby.

I really feel the cold so tend to be bundled up when other people aren't, maybe I'll use DH as a guide.

Are things with hood comfortable for tiny babies? We've been given some tiny hoodies but it seems like that would be awkward to sleep in, would proper cardigans be better?

Body suit with babygrow on top was fine indoors for my DS1. Occasionally socks as well as his feet sometimes got cold! Cardigan on top if needed or going out. Coat and or good blankets in Oran with hat depending on how cold it was

Does a sling count as a layer if baby is in it in the house?

Yes. If you're using a stretchy wrap, the usual way of tying that will count as three layers.

Good general rule of thumb for slings is to have as little between you and baby as possible, so you can thermoregulate each other. Cover extremeties for out and about - use warm tights, legwarmers or big fluffy (adult) socks on legs, and a good hat, mittens as baby gets older and wants arms/hands out. Then needed, a coat over you both, or a babywearing blanket over baby. I used to have DS (June born, so bigger by winter) in a long sleeve vest and tights in the sling, just a long sleeved t-shirt between us on me (so only 2 layers between us), then wear an open shirt and two cardigans and a coat over my back.

Carseat, you also don't want too much on. Cars get warm quickly, and anything bulky can really mess with the strap fit. I'd go with a vest and sleepsuit, and, if absolutely necessary, a very thin cardigan.

Also bear in mind that your baby might run hotter than you. Usual rule of thumb for babies is one layer more than you're wearing, but I always had to base that on DP rather than me, as I really feel the cold and DP and DS don't.

Check temp (with your hand) on the back of the neck or chest rather than hands or feet, hands and feet can feel cold when baby is more than warm enough.

DS was born in January. Inside he wore a vest and sleepsuit. Outside we added a hat and as many blankets as needed. Blankets much easier than pramsuits/coats as you can remove them when you go inside/into shops/get home and baby just fallen asleep.

I carried him in a sling a lot and just had him in indoor clothes plus hat and fleecy booties.

I’ve never understood what pramsuits are useful for - can’t use them in car seat, and every time you go indoors you have to take them off!!

This is so so helpful, thank you! Layering is the key, it seems! Blankets sound easier... probably why the hand-me-down- pramsuits and snowsuits look brand new! Maybe we can use them on a longer country walk...

Just never use a pramsuit in the car or sling. I found that DS and me both got v hot when using a sling so I rarely had to wear a coat even in winter!

I was taught, "Too cold = cry, too hot = die". In other words, if the baby is a bit chilly, they'll be uncomfortable (but not and risk), and able to tell you about it. Whereas young babies don't necessarily fuss if they're overheating (they tend to become sleepy instead), but being too hot can be dangerous for them. So if in doubt, under-dress them and take an extra layer with you.

I found pramsuits / snowsuits useful in one very specific scenario: when it was really cold and DD was old enough to be wriggling and kicking blankets off all the time! But yes, layers and blankets are generally easier.

Hats for outside. Maybe take a spare incase the one your baby is wearing blows off into the harbour like mine did and the hormones made me cry over the little white hat floating away from us

Just remembered one thing I really liked for winter babywearing was an open balaclava type hat, so DS's neck and ears kept warm (and very minimal risk of blowing away!). We also had a baby snood, but that might be more appropriate for older ones.

If you're using a stretchy wrap, the usual way of tying that will count as three layers.

Does a Close Caboo count as a stretchy wrap? I was planning on getting one of these, probably one of the cooler ones with mesh as winters are short where we are.

"Too cold = cry, too hot = die"

That's a bit scary but memorable. Actually I remember reading that the optimum room temperature for babies is pretty low, might need to invest in some thicker clothes for myself!

Hats for outside. Maybe take a spare incase the one your baby is wearing blows off into the harbour like mine did and the hormones made me cry over the little white hat floating away from us

That sounds like a sad scene in an arty film! Aren't mittens and socks/booties at permanent risk of falling off too? Should I tie them to a string like my mum did with mine at school?

Just remembered one thing I really liked for winter babywearing was an open balaclava type hat

Would a hat with ear flaps that you tie under the chin do a similar job?

Sorry, so many questions! I'm probably overthinking things! But once you start looking at baby clothes you fall down a rabbit hole. Not to mention the sizing! We have some Petit Bateau and Frugi bodies that are the same age but the Frugi ones are about three times as big! I know each baby is different but it does make it rather confusing when you're told to buy things in certain sizes.

Does a Close Caboo count as a stretchy wrap?
Sort of. It's based on the same principle, and is also three layers.

Would a hat with ear flaps that you tie under the chin do a similar job?
Would keep head and ears warm, but not necessarily neck :)

We have some Petit Bateau and Frugi bodies that are the same age but the Frugi ones are about three times as big!
Frugi sizing is notoriously all over the place. They've made sizing more consistent this season, but older stuff is still subject to being (usually) a lot bigger. Also worth noting that baby Frugi is cut for cloth nappies, so can have more material around the nappy area!

Thanks masktaster! Feeling a bit more confident now.

Thanks to everyone else too! I'm writing a list now!

Our dd was born on 30 October and we bought pramsuits/snow suits and they were a complete waste of money!

Even on the coldest days out she'd wear a short-sleeved vest, sleep suit (for the first month or two) or leggings and long sleeve tshirt from 1/2 months with a wool cardy on top. Then she had a wool blanket and be tucked in her carrycot. Wool hat and mits (knitted by nana!). When inside we'd take off the hat and mits, and remove the blanket and carrycot cover even when she was asleep so she didn't overheat.

Really, you just need layers so you can remove easily when you go indoors as overheating is worse than being cold. No need for special suits, just a good quality pram blanket.

For sling, we'd sort of have her half tucked inside our own coats. Still in vest, sleep suit, cardy, hat and mits. In the car seat, same but with a blanket tucked over top of straps x

DS was born in December and I used a Starsnug - really cosy and much easier than a pramsuit, blankets etc..... I got a lovely one from Tuppence and Crumble. Used in the pram and car seat as well as walking

It sounds like I need lots of blankets (that starsnug one is super cute, carolwithane, and a big coat for me. Plus some baby cardigans. I wish I could knit!

I don't think it's been said but baby shouldn't sleep in anything with a hood or a hat.

My baby was born in March in the snow and we had her mainly in a vest and onesie (with feet) inside and out a blanket over her. Outside we added a hat and a pram suit if she was in the pram or a thick cardigan and and then a blanket OVER the car seat.

I found sizes were nuts. Frugi stuff is notoriously huge. We have a vest that's 0-3 that she's still not in at 5 months! Don't bother with newborn stuff though, get up to 1 month instead. I like H&M for true sizing.

I think that snowsuits are a complete waste of time and money. Just stick a blanket over them in the pram! Means when you get home you can take the blanket off so they don't overheat without disturbing them. I did really like cosytoes for the pram though. Be careful of any of those blankets designed to go under the car seat straps - they seem a good idea but aren't safe. Also you must not use bulky coats when the baby is in a car seat.

Defo vests (just another word for body really), sleepsuits, cardigans. Also soft jogging trousers and long sleeved tops can go well, or soft dungarees plus a long sleeved bodysuit. You can put a sleepsuit under dungarees if it's really cold - makes it look like you're organised enough to put matching socks on the baby and the "socks" don't fall off

I found in the sling I just took a woolly hat with me which I'd whip on and off as we went in and out of buildings, a nice thick jacket/hoodie for the baby (fasten at front - don't get any over the head ones) and then I wore one of my partner's coats done up over both of us. This time I have a different partner and he's not as much bigger than me, so I am eyeing up babywearing coats for the winter. These seem to fit much better than simply wearing a man's coat so I think I might not even need the jacket for the baby.