What do I need for a winter baby?

[SparrowNest]

My first daughter was born in August in a hotter country than the U.K. I want to reuse as much as possible, but can anyone help me a think what I’ll need for the cooler weather?

So far I’ve got:

• a warm hat
• a warm cocoon/sleeping bag type thing for in the pram
• long sleeve bodysuits

Do I need warmer swaddle blankets? I used muslins with my first.

I’ve got a coat with a zip in panel that allows me to wear a sling underneath, what will she need to wear when inside that to be warm enough? How about in the pram sleeping bag thing?

What about sleepsuits, is normal cotton fine or do I want to get fleece or at least velour or something? Just a vest underneath or leggings too? A jumper on top?

Unless your bedroom drops to I usually low temperatures at night, a baby grow and sleeping bag/swaddle will be fine. The gro-bags come in different tog ratings and the packaging shows you what they should wear under it at different temperatures.

In a sling plus coat they won’t beed any other extra layers except a hat. You, the sling and the coat are all very insulating! You’ll want to watch out for overheating and eg unzip coat and remove hat etc.

No hats indoors apparently, particularly not for sleeping, I just learnt that from the midwives with our winter baby this time round!

Star wrap is way more convenient than one of those padded pram suits, couldn’t stand them. Then you can tuck an extra blanket inside the carrycot etc. Much easier to add and remove layers like that than when they’re wearing essentially an immobilising whole body puffa jacket.

Look for single layer cardigans rather than quilted ones, much easier to get onto a newborn!

Ds was a December baby. He wore short sleeved bodysuits with normal cotton sleepsuits over the top while at home, sometimes a thin hand knitted cardigan over the top. When out he wore the same but with a thicker cardigan and hat. He just had thin blankets in the pram or cot.

When I had him in his wrap he wore bodysuit, sleepsuit and hat.

I hated snowsuits for him, he wore one once and I gave up. They are very practical for when they are older and sitting up in the stroller.

I'm due a DD in December so she will be dressed in similar l

@WashableVelvet @stormelf thanks!

OP there was another thread on this very topic, just yesterday I think. Had lots of useful suggestions.