Parenting Pointers: Keeping Your Baby Safe and Comfortable All Winter Long

A cold winter can be a worrying time for parents with babies. You will want to keep your child warm and snug throughout the cold months, but you don’t want them to overheat. In addition, you will want to do everything you can to prevent them from becoming ill because the winter is the worst time for colds and flu. Skin can also become dry, which can cause your baby distress, so this is another thing to keep in mind.

Here’s a guide to making sure your baby stays safe and comfortable this winter.

Staying Warm at Night

The first thing to remember at night is that you don’t want to pile on the blankets. This can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for babies, so ideally you do not want to use anything more than a single sheet that only covers the bottom half of their body.

To do this during the cold winter months, you will need to ensure the room remains warm throughout the night, and you may want to use a thermometer to make sure it does not get too hot or too cold. You may also want to check on them during the night to ensure they are not uncomfortable.

You will also need to use suitable clothing. One piece footed pajamas are a great option. These will keep your baby warm without any risk, and you may even want to add a bodysuit underneath as well.

Keeping Warm While Out and About

Going out can be tricky with a baby. You will have lots of things to prepare, so start getting ready early. Layers are the best option for babies. Ideally, you will want to dress them in warm clothing that they can use indoors, and then add a snowsuit or another warm outer layer when you take them outside. You should also use a hat, mittens, and warm booties.

Use a sack that attaches to your stroller to keep your baby snug when out and about, and also use the nylon covering that clips onto the stroller to protect them from the wind. Then remember to remove layers when you go inside into warm rooms, otherwise your baby could get too warm.

Don’t be afraid to take your baby outside even when it is very cold. Fresh air is good for them, and as long as they are protected from the elements they will be fine.

One final thing to keep in mind is that the sun can sometimes be strong in the winter. If their skin will be exposed to the sun for long period of time, consider applying some sunscreen before you go out.

Tips to Prevent Dry Skin in Winter

Anyone’s skin can get dry during the winter, but babies are particularly susceptible. Cold winds outside combined with dry heat indoors can prove problematic, so make sure you keep their skin moisturized. There are many special creams for babies, and most of these are used after they are one-month old. Ask your pediatrician for their advice, and then apply the moisturizer regularly during the winter and especially when you go outside.

Dealing with Snivels and Sneezes

All babies will pick up colds. However, you can still take steps to prevent them from getting ill needlessly. The main thing to remember is to wash your hands regularly to keep them clean and to practice good hygiene at all times. Ask your pediatrician about medications like paracetamol and ibuprofen because these can be useful if your baby picks up a fever.

You may want to buy a device that sucks mucus out from your baby’s nose to keep them more comfortable if they get a cold. As far as the flu goes, again talk to your pediatrician. You should be able to give your baby an injection when they are six months old.

If your baby does become ill, keep them comfortable and warm, and use any medications as indicated by your pediatrician. Keep an eye out for more serious signs, and call a doctor if they become ill or get a high fever. Also call a doctor if their lips turn blue, they have difficulty breathing, or they seem overly fatigued.

Keep Your Baby Comfortable this Winter

The cold weather need not cause any problems for your baby, as long as you know how to keep them properly warm and comfortable when the temperature drops. Using the right clothing, moisturizer, and cold-weather gear will go a long way to keeping them warm all winter long, so follow these tips and don’t worry any more about the cold.

Penny Davies is a health professional and a mother. She enjoys sharing her experiences and insights online. You can find posts written by Penny on a number of family-orientated websites.

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Comments

  1. Footed pajamas are really smart. It makes less blankets necessary and it keeps baby warm.

  2. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says

    My boys used to wear feety jammies all the time when they were little. Now they are lucky because their mom is ALWAYS cold, so the heat is CRANKED inside the house.

  3. These are great tips. Winter can cause all sorts of problems for everybody.

  4. kathy downey says

    Thanks for the wonderful tips

  5. Keeping warm with footed pajamas is a great idea. Our home can get a bit chilly and this will come in handy with the kids.

  6. My kids hated to even have a sheet o them while they slept. The footed pajamas were the way to go.

  7. These are such great ideas. I will be using many of them. My kids all wear footed pajamas and my baby uses a heavier weight sleep sack as it gets colder.

  8. Great tips. It gets SO cold here in the winter, I’m always making sure my kiddos are as warm as can be.. Have to!

  9. What wonderful tips. A sick baby is never fun, so these tips are great to help us keep our babies healthy… Oh and we are huge fans of those slipper-pjs, as well

  10. This is such great advice. Keeping your baby warm is always important in the winter!

  11. These are great ideas. It’s easy to forget their skin is so sensitive and not used to the cold wind!

  12. These are some great tips. I always make sure my daughters are comfortable when the weather gets colder. I make sure to send them with all their winter gear to school too. I want to make sure they’re bundled up great and stay warm while they play outside.

  13. I was always worried the kids were not going to be warm enough when they were little. These are great tips. I will have to share this with my friend with little ones.

  14. This has worried me with all my kids. Warm enough pjs? Thick enough blanket? Too much? ugh. Great tips though!

  15. mommyblogexpert says

    Totally agree it is so important for us parents to dress kids for the weather. If it were up to the kids alone, I’m almost certain 9 times out of 10 they wouldn’t dress appropriately for the temperature.

  16. I appreciate you sharing these! Although my kids are older now I remember how hard this time was making sure they were ok and ready for sleep!

  17. These are great tipa. I just got my kids a bunch of thermals and footed pjs too.

  18. Scarlet of Family Focus Blog says

    Great tips. It is super important to make sure they stay warm.

  19. These are very helpful tips. It is important you always moisturize the baby’s skin. Having dry skin is really irritating. What more with the kids.

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