Winter Clothes Edit: How to Dress a Baby for Winter

Leaving the house with your baby can be an essential part of your day and your well-being. Getting your baby help helps them develop their circadian rhythm (day-and-night cycle) and works like magic to calm a fussy baby. With the weather getting colder outside and winter coming, the thought of going out with your baby can be daunting. Want to know how you can keep your baby warm in the winter? Here’s our how-to guide on dressing your baby for the winter.

Why it’s important to plan a baby’s outfit for winter 

Newborns and infants aren’t able to regulate their temperatures like adults can. Infants actually lose heat faster than adults do and can’t shiver like we can to increase their body temperature. They also don’t have enough body fat to help them stay warm in the winter. You can’t make them too cold but not too warm either. The trick is to just help them stay at the right temperature. That’s why it’s important to plan their outfit for the winter. We’ll go through how you can dress your baby for both the daytime and nighttime below. 

How to dress a baby for winter daytime

To keep your baby comfortable and warm outside, dress them in layers. Think of it like a sandwich - you have your base layer, your middle layer, and your outer layer. Don’t forget their extremities like their head, face, ears, hands, and feet which are all prone to the cold weather and frostbite. 

The Base Layer: Short Sleeve Onesie or Sleeper

For the first layer, opt for a short sleeve onesie with a pair of pants as a base. Another base layer option is a footed sleeper.  Choose a breathable, moisture-wicking fabric like bamboo or organic cotton. 

The Middle Layer: Long Sleeve Onesie & Sweater

Next, for the middle layer, you can use a long sleeve onesie that fits slightly loose as the middle layer. Add a sweater or zip-up sweatshirt made from a warmer material like fleece or French Terry to keep your bubs warm. 

The Outer Layer

Finally, the outer layer is a thicker, waterproof jacket or coat that will protect your bubs from the rain, wind, or snow. Be sure to find one with zippers that you can easily remove if your baby gets too hot. 

Accessories Hats/Mittens

Accessories are essential! Don’t forget to cover your baby’s extremities while you’re out from the winter weather. These include hats, mittens, socks, and if needed, boots. 

How to dress a baby for winter nighttime

Depending on your baby’s room temperature, you’ll need to change up their sleepwear for a heavier TOG during the winter. Read our Fall and Winter TOG guide here.

Footed Sleepers

Footed sleepers are perfect PJs and keep your baby’s feet warm and toasty. To help keep them comfortable, opt for breathable and temperature regulating materials like bamboo and organic cotton. These materials are also great for baby’s with sensitive skin issues like eczema because they’re naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial. 

Swaddle Sleep Bags

Swaddle sleep bags are wearable blankets like a sleeping bag for your baby. This avoids using loose blankets and keeps your baby’s sleep space safe. We make our winter 2.5 TOG sleep bags with a Sorona® fill. Sorona® is an eco-friendly, fully biodegradable filling used to insulate our swaddle sleep bags and give it light, plushy softness. Plus, our swaddle sleep bags convert to sleep bags or sleep sacks once your baby’s Moro reflex goes away. 

Footed Sleep Bag

Our footed sleep bag or sleep suits are great for wigglers. We make them for babies 6 months and up. These are sleep bags but with feet. If your baby is a wiggler that likes to stand or climb, a footed sleep bag is a great option. We also fill our winter footed sleep bags with a Sorona® fill to keep your baby comfortable and warm at night.

Tips for dressing a baby for winter

Here are extra tips on dressing your baby for the winter: 

- Pack extra layers: Have extra clothes handy and a dry bag in case it gets colder or if anything gets soiled. 

- Carseat safety: Keep your baby safe and remove their coat when they get in the car. If the coat is too puffy, it actually leaves too much space between the car seat strap and your baby. 

- Stroller safety: Instead of throwing a plastic cover or a thick blanket on top of your stroller to keep the wind out, use a breathable bamboo muslin swaddle blanket. Or, many strollers have fitted covers that allow air to circulate. You can also try a stroller foot muff to keep your baby toasty and warm. This could be the outer layer instead of using a winter jacket or coat. 

- Check to see if your bubs is too warm: The hands and feet are not great indicators if your baby is too warm or cold. Instead, check the nape of their neck. If it’s sweaty, then they’re too warm and you’ll want to remove a layer. If they’re skin has turned cold and red or pale and hard, it means you should bring them inside right away. 

Ready to get out? 

The trick to dressing a baby for the winter is making sure they’re the right temperature. With the right clothes, you’ll be able to help your bubs stay cozy and warm this winter - day or night. Getting out during the day could help them with their night time sleep. Keeping them comfortable during the night can also help them sleep. 

Let us know what your favourite daytime activity is with your bubs during the winter below!