Do I need a footmuff?

[caggie3]

I've bought the Joie Versatrax pushchair and bassinet attachment for my baby due in February. The only bad feedback I read consistently online was the lack of a foot muff and although Joie do sell a compatible one they only do so in charcoal grey, and I've bought the sage green version.

Am I right in thinking I don't necessarily need a footmuff? Baby will be in the bassinet with a blanket, by the time he is in a pushchair it'll be warmer, and by the following winter he'll be 12 months and will be ok dressed warm and with a blanket if it's cold in the pushchair?

I never used one for my December baby for similar reasons. I’m sure it would have come in handy sometimes, but we never had issues with sensible clothes and a blanket.

No, use a snowsuit and blanket. I did wonder the same when we got our pushchair but it was never a problem.

Depends on your child probably - certainly no need to get one immediately. I found it much easier to have one than face the battle over appropriate outdoor clothes!

Older babies/toddlers do sometimes need something to keep their little legs warm. You can use a foot muff or a blanket. The issue with blankets is they are easier for toddlers to kick off or randomly chuck to the floor (so you lose them) or they end up half trailing on the (mucky) pavement.
Foot muff stays in place.
You don't need to but one yet. Just wait and see what your toddler is like.

I didn't use one with my first. With my second (16 months) I've just bought a universal one from Sainsburys which was much much cheaper than the official bugaboo one to match my pram. She does seem to nap really well in her pram now snuggled into it.

You don’t need is this year. Next year you might- mine would kick blankets off and I can’t be doing with the faff of a snowsuit that they’ll roast in as soon as you go indoors. It’s easiest just to use a footmuff. By the time you have a 1YO you won’t care about it matching the sage grey lol!

Mine were always kicking off the blankets so I definitely needed a footmuff. They aren't hugely expensive so I'd get one if I were you.

I had a February baby (end of) and didn't use a footmuff or snowsuit when he was newborn, as by the time we were out and about with the pram it was spring and warm. Depends on the weather though, of course. I'd say a tiny baby you can easily use layers and blankets.

I did use one the next winter though, when he was around 10 months - he needed something to keep him warm in the pushchair and used to kick blankets off. They're so cosy, I'd have liked to get in myself! You can get universal footmuffs, can you check if that would fit? It doesn't have to match the pushchair perfectly.

You may find you don’t need one the following winter if you get a pram suit and blankets. It depends how much time you spend outside; with my first I didn’t get one but with my second we were often at the park for a long time or on long walks with my older DD so did need one

Oh and I didn't use a snowsuit that first winter - they get so hot in them, you have to take it off every time you go indoors and they're in the pushchair most of the time you're out. Once they're toddling/walking though, they are useful - so the winters when he was almost 2 and almost 3 he had one for really cold days.

DS2 was a January baby and is currently 10 months. I've put one on the pram now. He would kick a blanket off in seconds and outdoor weather appropriate clothes are not indoor appropriate clothes - stripping off a snowsuit every time I go in somewhere is too much of a faff. We just have a universal one from Amazon, it was about £15. It doesn't match but it does the job.

Don't worry about what they might need as a toddler quite yet. There are lots of nice universal ones about if you need one next year.

Footmuff reduces opportunity for kicking stuff off and saves clothing battles.

I've got the versatrax on lagoon it's a good pushchair. I got a footmuff from "for your little one" it kinda fits but not amazingly though. My DS is 6 months and atm using blanket and a couple of layers. Got a pram suit ready incase it gets very cold.

I think footmuffs can be helpful because they also have something behind the child to keep them warm from the back/underneath but you can always get a fleece or sheepskin liner. I'd just see how you go, there will be a universal one that fits if you decide you need one.

I think it depends how much you use the pushchair. I didn't drive so got a fleecy generic one (really fantastic little brand which I don't think exists anymore) and a waterproof pushchair/sling cover which I sometimes used over the top to save the battle with the plastic rain cover when she was a bit bigger.

Look at getting one secondhand as well. Mine was in fantastic condition and so much cheaper than new.

I preferred a footmuff as it was easier to roll down in the shops than it was to take a baby out of a pram suit (Not in bassinet but in the 6+ buggy attachment)

Babies are capable of kicking off blankets and removing their own shoes and socks.

My children were also only in the carrycot for the grand total of 6 weeks before they outgrew it. So I wouldn't rely on that.

And snow suits are a nightmare for car seats etc.

So I'd always choose to have one!

I definitely found out footmuff useful, but certainly not a necessity, nice if it come with the pushchair but doubt I'd buy one separately.

You might not need one but mine were forever kicking off blankets and taking off shoes and socks so that really added to the appeal for me!

Not for this year as feb and in carrycot so blankets fine. But next winter from about October (8 ish months) it will start getting cold and they are far easier than snow suit and blankets.

Ds is now on his third winter using footmuff. Around 6months / 18 months/ 2.5 years. He walks a lot now, but when it’s freezing and he’s tired it’s really good

You can always tie a blanket on or buy a footmuff if you later change your mind

I have a February baby and have used my footmuff an awful lot. Snowsuits are a battle to get her in and can’t be worn in the car seat. Blankets get kicked off and chucked around. Footmuffs help to limit the chaos!