12 Essential Winter Baby Clothes To Protect Your Baby In Cold Weather

How to choose baby clothes for winter as the temperature begins to drop
Essential winter clothes for babies

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The temperature is dropping and winter is approaching. The cold weather makes you feel like staying cooped inside with your baby until the temperature begins to rise again. The truth is that winter can be just as fun when you have the right baby and toddler gear for cold weather.

Both parents and babies need time outside and cold weather should not be an obstacle to enjoy nature. It is extremely fun to watch your baby play in the snow for the first time or make a snowman together. Outdoor winter activities are fun when you have the right winter baby gear.

In this article, I will share some essential winter baby clothes that will keep your infant and toddler warm. From base layers to snow gear, we are sure that if you dress your baby appropriately for the cold weather, you will create some great memories together.

Some of the topics in this article include:

How to dress your baby for winter

Do babies need winter clothes? What clothes does a baby need for winter? What is the most essential clothing for infants? I think these are some of the main questions new parents have. If you have a newborn, it can be challenging to know how to dress your newborn for the winter.

One thing to consider is the age of your baby. A newborn may not be able to spend as much time outside. Newborns cannot regulate their body temperature like an adult, so keeping your newborn close to your body would be essential.

Toddlers who are walking or running can generate body heat so choosing gear that doesn’t overheat them would be ideal. But it is equally important to choose toddler winter gear that allows your child to move without restriction.

Another thing to consider is your location. Some places get colder than others. You may experience a temperature that drops to below zero degrees Fahrenheit, or maybe you won’t see the thermometer go below 50 degrees.

As of the date of this post, the temperature has been dropping to about 7 degrees Fahrenheit and getting about 2 inches of snow where we live. That’s very cold for a toddler. But we have invested in great base layers and snow gear for our baby.

When she’s bundled up in her snowsuit, we can spend a good amount of time outside playing in the snow. When she was a newborn, we wrapped her in a Solly Baby Wrap and threw a blanket over her to keep her warm. This is what worked for all of us.

How many layers should a baby wear in winter?

Winter and snow gear for babies

As mentioned earlier, depending on where you live, your baby might be okay in a onesie if it is not too cold. Or maybe your baby might need a few layers to stay warm in the winter.

Dressing your infant and toddler in layers will allow you to adjust to their needs. It is easier to regulate their temperature by adding or removing one layer versus throwing a thick jacket that will overheat them.

In our personal experience, our baby wears a long-sleeve onesie as a base layer. If it is too cold outside, we put on her snow pants and snow jacket. Sometimes we add a thin sweater and pants just to keep her warmer. If she gets too hot, we remove the snow jacket and snow pants. In a nutshell, it is a matter of observing your child and adjusting the layers accordingly.

 

 

What is the most essential clothing for infants?

What should a toddler or infant wear in winter? Whether you have a newborn, infant, or toddler, you can follow these tips to keep your baby warm wherever you go.

  • Keep their extremities warm. Wool socks and gloves are essential to keep their feet and hands warm. Their feet and hands tend to get colder faster compared to the rest of their body. So investing in good gloves and socks will help them stay out in cold weather longer.
  • Keep gloves or mittens secured. At first, our toddler did not like wearing her gloves and learned how to take them off. So we bought some mittens with velcro straps so we could tighten them. 
  • Keep their heads and faces warm. Look for hats that cover their cheeks too and tie or velcro under the chin so they don’t fall off.
  • Get the right base layers. Onesies that are “cute” may not keep your baby warm. Fleece or wool base layers are ideal to ensure the right amount of warmth. I personally think these are some of the winter essentials for a newborn. 
  • Baby jackets and pants. Is it dry where you live? Do you get a lot of rain or snow? You probably don’t need snowsuits if your baby won’t play in the snow. But you will need rain gear if it rains a lot. Before you buy winter gear for your baby or toddler, determine if it needs to be windproof or waterproof. 
  • Keep your baby’s feet dry. Wool socks will keep your baby’s feet warm but not dry if you don’t have the right boots. Snow boots or winter boots are a great choice because they are waterproof or at least water resistant.

Best winter clothes for babies

Here are some baby winter clothes you can get for your children to keep them warm and cozy. From base layers to snowsuits, these winter clothes might be the right option to keep the fun going even on cold days.

Best Base Layers For Infants And Toddlers

What we like about this pajama set is the material. Merino wool provides great insulation, has anti-static properties (a huge plus!), and transports moisture. Unlike other materials, merino wool is lightweight and doesn’t smell or itch.

The Merino Wool Pajama Set by Simply Merino is made with 100% Organic and GOTS Certified Merino Wool. It makes your baby’s sleep more pleasant by wicking moisture from your baby’s skin. This pajama set also regulates body temperature so babies don’t wake up from overheating or getting cold.

This pajama set comes in different sizes, from newborn to size 6.

This is another great base layer made with 100% organic merino wool and mulberry silk. Due to its ability to regulate body temperature, this thermal romper not only can be worn in the winter but also year round.

You can find the Thermal Footed Romper by Ecoable in a variety of sizes, from newborn up to 24 months.

If you’re looking for something more affordable and from a reputable brand, then you cannot go wrong with Simple Joys by Carter. We own several onesies from this company and love them.

What we like about this brand is the quality and design. The 2-way zipper helps regulate your baby’s temperature. Getting too hot? Just unzip it from top or bottom to let some cool air in.

Best winter jackets for babies

Columbia is known for making great quality outdoor products, and this winter jacket for infants and toddlers is no exception.

This reversible jacket has a water repellent coat on one side, and a soft warm fleece on the other, keeping your infant or toddler warm during those colder days. You can choose from a variety of colors to suit your mood.

This is another great brand that makes top-quality outdoor gear. Besides the awesome products they make, The North Face stands behind their products by offering great product guarantee compared to other brands. 

This fully reversible jacket will keep your baby warm and provide protection against the elements. It is made with 70% post-consumer synthetic Heatseeker insulation to keep your baby’s body warm, and Recycled fabric with Durable Water-Repellent to keep light rain away.

Best winter hats for infants and toddlers

We absolutely love this hat and mitten set. When we were looking for a winter hat for our toddler, we wanted something that would keep her face warm too. This hat is very soft and warm, and is all double layered with soft and fuzzy sherpa lining

The hat has a velcro strap to secure it to your child’s head. The gloves, which are just a nice bonus to have, have an elastic in the wrist area to stay on your child’s hands and keep them warm. This is the set we have and highly recommend it.

Best winter gloves for babies

This is what our baby wears every day when we go outside. We absolutely love these mittens because they are waterproof and allow our baby to play in the snow. The Thinsulate™ technology definitely keeps her hands warm.

We purposely got a bigger size for our infant so she can wear them for two winters. Even though they fit her a bit big, the velcro strap helps them stay on, allowing her to get a full use out of them. The long cuff also helps keep cold air and snow out of our baby’s mittens.

If you’re not worried about rain or snow and just need something to keep your baby’s hands warm, then the Brook + Bay winter baby mittens are a great choice.

These mittens are designed to give a comfy and secure fit. The infant sizes are thumbless and have an elastic cuff, while the toddlers sizes have a thumb and a hook and loop closure to keep the mittens secured.

Best Infant and toddler winter shoes

This is one of the best winter boots for infants or babies who are starting to walk. They are lightweight and flexible, allowing early walkers to move around comfortably.

The boots’ anti-slip and waterproof sole are perfect to prevent slipping. If your baby is not ready to tackle the snow or if you don’t feel like getting heavy-duty snow boots, then these are great winter boots for infants.

Sorel makes great quality footwear. If your toddler is ready to have fun in the snow or you need a great snow boot to tackle the unknowns, the Sorel toddler winter boot might be the best option.

Depending on your children’s age, they might be learning how to put on their boots. What we like about these snow boots is the velcro strap which makes it easier for toddlers to secure their boots on their own.

Depending on where you live, sidewalks or other surfaces could get slippery. These boots offer excellent traction due to its multi-directional lug outsole.

Best winter socks for babies

These are some of the best socks for babies we’ve come across. What we immediately liked about these socks are the grips on the bottom.

Since our baby started walking early at 9 months, we were looking for socks that allowed her to walk comfortably around the house without slipping. Most socks for infants don’t have grips, so when we found socks with grips, we knew we had to get them immediately. 

These socks are thick enough to keep your baby’s feet warm during cold weather. The combed cotton, polyester, and spandex material makes these socks feel soft and comfortable.

Final Thoughts On Essential Baby Clothes For Winter

Cold weather and snow should not be a reason to stay in the house. The outdoors offer such great health benefits and with the right winter clothing for babies, you and your child can enjoy some special time outside.

This article was all about choosing the best winter gear for your baby. Depending on where you live, how cold it gets, and whether it rains or snow, some of the winter clothing for babies I listed in this post can make your time outside comfortable and pleasant. 

So now that you know how to dress your baby for the winter months, go outside and enjoy life with your family!

About Leslie - Latinx Montessori

Hello, I am Leslie. I am on a mission to help you support the growth and development of your child. With the right tools and proper guidance, you can navigate parenthood with confidence and assertion! My goal is to equip you with knowledge to help you construct a strong foundation for your child’s life.

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