Does baby need a coat in addition to footmuff?

[almostautumn]

I've just bought one of those gorgeous Fellhof sheep's wool footmuffs secondhand. If I'm taking baby to the park, will they be warm enough in a vest, thick cardigan and hat plus the Fellhof - or should I add a winter coat as well? The Fellhof feels very warm and snug and comes right up to baby's neck. I don't want them to overheat but am worried that they'll be too cold too!

I'm in London and it's 4C here today.

Can anyone advise?

OP if they're 8 months they'll move arms and legs a lot so you might not be able to get them to stay under the foot muff

I think it would be very difficult for them to wriggle out as they’re strapped into the pram with a five point harness - and the footmuff goes on top of that!

Only problem is if you need to get baby out they are going to need a coat as the contrast between being so snug in there with the body heat will be huge.

This is true!

I have a Kaiser sheepskin one too but it doesn’t go up to the neck, I mean I guess it could but my baby likes to have his arms out so that pushes it down to chest level.

I always have him in a jacket, hat & mittens.

Aah! Sorry :o It was the comment about whether they'll let you know if they're too cold that threw me off :)

Don't worry too much. At 8 months their temperature regulation isn't quite so fragile. Just keep touching hands, cheeks and neck to check!

At 8 months I do tend to put jackets on their top half, because they sit up more and have their arms/shoulders out of the footmuff, it's really more for their feet.

It’s just so hard to get it right sometimes isn’t it? I look forward to when they can just tell you if they’re too hot or too cold, and there’s no guesswork involved!

Ha ha, OP, you’re so like me, I fretted constantly about overheating. The one layer more than you is a good rule of thumb.

I hate big padded coats and pramsuits on babies. They can’t go in the car seat and can’t be easily removed if you go indoors. I would be doing lots of layers.
Bodysuit + long sleeve outfit (or sleepsuit) + cardigan or jumper + blanket + footmuff + hat + mittens.

Maybe even tights under the outfit especially if there’s a gap between trousers and socks.

My son has a lovely chenille fleece jumper thing from joules and it’s an ideal layer - wish I could get more sizes!

I also love a frugi snuggle suit

From my brief time incapacited and wheelchair-bound following surgery a few years ago, I think people underestimate how much difference it makes when you're sedentary and being pushed along. Definitely need all the layers you can get.