Winter baby / second baby essentials

[7amCoffeeClub]

Due baby no.2 in January, my first born was a summer baby 4 years ago, so it’s a completely different season this time.

What were your must have items for winter babies? And any useful items for newborns in general with an older sibling around.

I’ll be doing the nursery run on foot, so I was looking at pram suits, but thinking a pram sleeping bag type of thing be better and easier/less faff, so if they fall asleep I can easily undo them when home if they are still sleeping.

Any advice grateful received.

Stokke highchairs newborn seat - high up away from running siblings in kitchen. Other brands do similar option.

Mine was summer baby, but snowy first winter. We didn’t use a snowsuit at all that first winter. In sling (ergo embrace) added warm booties, thick cardigan, mittens and hat. In pram carrycot had sheepskin liner and blankets. You can get carrycot newborn footmuffs also. Then take blankets off easily indoors if asleep still.

To be honest we were gifted pram suits but didn't use them much. The wrap around sleeping bags were much much easier for the pram as easy to put on and you could also just unwrap them when they're sleeping and warm inside. And pram suits with feet can't be used in a sling, and we used that a lot. I just wore a big coat and wrapped it around him in the sling.

Layers, blankets, a merino wool sleeping bag for night, and some warm hats were essentials for us. Otherwise not much extra stuff needed I don't think.

@Caspianberg that’s a great idea, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so it would be good to have somewhere higher up to pop baby while making/eating snacks/lunch/dinner etc.

I’ll have a look at a sheepskin liner for our carrycot too. Thanks for your reply 😀

Thanks @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7. I think I’m swaying more toward a sleeping bag style. It’s hard enough getting DD1 ready in the morning, without having to try and get a baby into a suit, I like the idea of being able to just lay them down in the carrycot and wrap them up before we leave the house.

Will look into a merino wool sleeping bag too, any suggestions for brands or are they all much and such the same quality wise?

Have you looked at starsnugs? We loved ours for winter! No wrangling baby in and out of a pramsuit and super cosy!

I’m also due my second baby in January and looking for ideas to fulfil my need to buy things!

So far I’ve got some Halo swaddle bags. They’re really thin so I thought they’d be good as an extra layer in the house but wont be too warm even when the baby is being cuddled/fed. Might add a blanket over the top when they’re in the cot.

I was the same with my first being summer born and 4 years later my second born beginning of Jan. I bought a couple of suits but never really used them- she hated the pram and they can't wear them in a carrier.
I wore my maternity coat zipped over the top of her in the carrier, she was just wearing a vest, babygrow and hat. Then when I got back from school runs and she was asleep I didn't have anything anything to take off her.
You can also buy 3.5 tog sleeping bags with arms- I had a Jojo maman bebe one I got off vinted for the really freezing nights.

I got these ones in standard weight as it does 17 degrees until 27 degrees, and our house doesn't get colder than that. Love them and use them year round, with long sleeved baby grows for the winter merinokids.co.uk/products/merino-kids-go-go-sleeping-bag-standard-weight-bear-light-grey

The tuppence and crumble star wraps are really practical for transfers and super cosy.

This thread has just brought back memories of my babies so snuggly and cosy in their merino sleeping bags. Awww.

Besides a sleeping bag or suit for the pram, we got a lot of use out a few warmer sleepsuits (fleece or knitted, although some babies get sweaty in fleece) to wear during the day. DD2 was very wiggly even at days old, so keeping a blanket on her was basically impossible.

These were brilliant for March born - was snowing when we brought him home - will be buying again for second baby too. Great for day & night with layer underneath https://www.boots.com/3-pack-terry-sleepsuits-10294334?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Baby&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajUCDlf7RFmduZAD-Rw34bLIw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_omptKKtgQMVL4BQBh3w_ghCEAQYASABEgJrw_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Also due no 2 in Jan. First was October and she benefited from a pair of bootie type things for when in the carrier.

Actually I don’t hate the pram suits. They tend to have 2 sets of poppers down the front so you can easily undo them once you get indoors without disturbing a sleeping baby and it’s just arms and feet left in so they don’t overheat. We had 2 basic ones from John Lewis and they were perfect.

One of these tuppence and crumble star wraps, so easy to slip them in and out of. Also a sheepskin liner for the carry cot of the pram as pp said.