How Do I Keep My Newborn Baby Warm (And Safe) In The Winter?

As the weather gets chillier, parents often wonder how to keep their newborn baby warm and safe. Since babies can’t regulate their temperature like adults can, it is important to find the right balance between keeping them cozy without having them overheat. In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about how to dress your baby in the winter from bedtime to when they’re sick with a fever to in the stroller to when your baby is in their car seat.

Helping your baby feel cozy and comfortable at night can help them sleep well. In the winter, parents wonder how they can help their newborn babies stay warm and safe while they sleep at night. Unlike adults, it isn’t safe for babies to use blankets or pillows. To keep your baby safe, it is recommended that their sleep space is empty without crib bumpers, stuffed animals, and loveys. To keep your bubs warm while they sleep, you’ll need to find a swaddle sleep bag with the right TOG. Depending on your baby’s room temperature, you can layer your baby in a onesie or sleeper. Learn more about how you can keep your baby warm at night in our ultimate guide.

When your baby has a fever in the winter, parents naturally want to keep their parents warm or bundled up. However, dressing them in too many layers can make them uncomfortable and cause them to increase their body temperature. To keep your baby comfortable while they have a fever at night in the winter, here are some tips: 

• Dress your newborn in light, breathable layers made from fabrics like bamboo, muslin, or organic cotton. Bamboo and organic cotton are great choices because they’re also hypoallergenic and gentle on your bubs’ delicate skin. 
• Avoid wearing thicker fabrics like fleece sleepers/pajamas that can trap heat. Instead, opt for sleepers made from fabrics like bamboo and organic cotton.

• Keep your baby’s room temperature between 65-70°F (18-21°C) while they have a fever in the winter. 
• Watch for signs of overheating by feeling your baby’s chest, back, or neck. If it’s sweaty, you can remove a layer of clothing. 
• Never use any blankets.
• Avoid wearing thick socks or baby hats indoors while they have a fever. These can trap heat and make the fever worse. 
• Call your doctor immediately if your baby is under 3 months old and has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
• Keep them hydrated. Signs of dehydration are if your baby has less than 6 wet diapers a day, sunken eyes, tearless crying, and a sunken fontanelle. 
  

It can be incredibly nerve-wracking when your newborn baby is running a fever. However, by following these tips, you can help keep your little one comfortable as they recover from their fever.

Taking your baby outside in the winter seems intimidating at first but with the right layers, your little one will stay cozy and warm while both of you can enjoy some fresh air. Newborns lose heat faster than adults and can’t shiver like us to increase their body temperature. The trick to dressing your baby for the outside in the winter is in layers - like a sandwich.  A good rule of thumb is to follow the one more layer than what you would wear rule. Here’s how you can layer your little one for the outdoors:

• The Base Layer: Choose a breathable, thermal-regulating and moisture-wicking onesie and legging or a sleeper made from fabrics like bamboo and organic cotton. This layer should fit more snug so it keeps the heat close to their skin.
• The Middle Layer: This is your insulating layer that fits slightly loose. Choose a sweater or zip-up sweatshirt made from Tanboocel or French Terry to keep your bubs warm. 
• The Outer Layer: Find a bunting suit or winter coat and winter pants that are weather resistant. 
• Accessories: Keeping your little one’s hands, head, and feet warm is crucial to their comfort and safety. Find accessories like hats, mittens, wool socks, weather-resistant booties, and a neck warmer to keep their extremities warm. 

Be sure to monitor your little one outside and monitor them for signs of overheating or being too cold.

If your baby is in the stroller, use a stroller footmuff or bunting bag to keep them warm. Footmuffs are insulated, zip-up covers that keep your little one warm while protecting them from the elements. A great choice is a water-resistant and windproof bunting bag. If you don’t have a footmuff, you can use a fleece blanket tucked securely around their legs. For extra protection, you can use a stroller cover that may have come with your stroller. These are designed to block out any wind, snow, and rain while still allowing for airflow. 

If you’re using a bunting bag or a footmuff, you can remove their bunting suit or their winter coat and pants.

Babywearing is a great way to keep your bubs close and cozy in the winter. Since your body generates heat, you can dress them in fewer layers. If you’re babywearing, some options to keep your baby warm are: 

• Babywearing coat: Like a maternity coat, this comes with a panel that is designed to extend the coat for your baby. 
• Babywearing fleece cover: These attach to most carriers and keep your bubs safe from the wind and snow. 
• A large or oversized coat: This could keep you both warm in milder, winter weather. 

Like using a bunting bag, you can layer your bubs in a base and middle layer and remove the third, outer layer depending on the weather. 

Putting your baby in the car seat in the winter can feel like a challenge. While it’s tempting to strap them into their car seat with their bulky jackets on to keep them warm, it is considered unsafe. This is because bulky jackets and snowsuits create space between your baby and the car seat’s harness. The straps aren’t tight enough to protect your baby if a crash occurs. Here’s how you can keep your baby warm and safe in their car seat in the winter:

• Dress your bub in a cozy base layer and a fleece sleeper or sweater to keep them warm in their car seat 
• Use a car seat cover that fits over top of the car seat and not behind them
• Keep your baby’s coat, mitts, and hats  handy for when you get to your destination 
  To see if your baby is safely harnessed in, try the pinch test where you pinch the harness at the shoulder to see if there is excess webbing. If you can’t pinch any excess harness, your child is strapped in safely.

With the colder temperatures, parents can head out safely with their newborn baby with the right layers. Because babies can’t regulate their temperatures like adults can, parents need to find the right balance between keeping their little ones warm without overheating them. By monitoring your baby by checking the back of their neck and chest, you can decide if you need to bundle them up or peel back layers to keep them cozy. Nest Designs creates cozy basics from eco-friendly and hypoallergenic fabrics like organic cotton and bamboo that make perfect base layers. Shop our collection today!