Does baby need a coat?

panda1031 · October 2012

I've been pondering this for a while and it didn't seem like anyone really makes coats in little sizes, 12 month was the smallest we could ever find. We got baby a 3-6 month Columbia zipup fleece, and we have a 0-3 Carter's snow suit type thing - it's that fuzzy fleece material with a hood. I just got an Old Navy baby email and they actually have a tiny wool pea coat and it comes in 0-3, it looks just like a grownup one, haha! It's like 35 dollars so I'm wondering "do I really need this, or is it just cute..."

We have a bundle me, but I've heard it's not great to use those with the car seat because of safety issues, so I'm torn.

vnstacie · October 2012

I really wouldn't think so..

I mean baby will be bundled up and layered if you have to go outside, and how long will your baby really be outside for? Besides baby can't wear a coat in the carseat, so how annoying to take it off then put it back on?

milesc · October 2012

No- baby does not need a coat. Layer baby up, put a hat on them, and cover them with a blanket. You are (hopefully) not planning on having baby outside for long periods of time, so this will suffice for a quick trip to the house/car/store.

Car seat covers are fabulous as well (LOVED MINE), just get the shower-cap style- safety issue solved. Smile

((You are not supposed to place anything 'puffy' under the straps in the carseat anyways (snowsuit, puffy coat, ect) and your LO will grow SO fast in the first few months, you'd be buying quite a few coats for just one season...))

klingb52 · October 2012

milesc:

No- baby does not need a coat. Layer baby up, put a hat on them, and cover them with a blanket. You are (hopefully) not planning on having baby outside for long periods of time, so this will suffice for a quick trip to the house/car/store.

Car seat covers are fabulous as well (LOVED MINE), just get the shower-cap style- safety issue solved.

This exactly. And, depending on where you live, if it is really cold and you need to go out, you can put a blanket under the type of car seat cover milesc mentioned. JJ Cole Bundle Me now makes one of these style covers and they do not interfere with the straps of the car seat, so they are not a safety issue.

https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Cole-Seat-Cover-Graphite/dp/B00511J6BM/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1349450487&sr=8-12&keywords=bundleme

panda1031 · October 2012

True, I didn't think of the carseat issue with the coat, that's a good point. The only time baby might be outside for an extended period is at Christmas when my family always goes to a local light and garden show - you walk around, have cider, look at the displays, blah blah. But we can always put the snow suit thing on him for that outing and plenty of blankets in the stroller.

Sprite2012 · October 2012

I really think it depends on what the climate is like where you live. I analyzed and stressed about this a few weeks ago, so I understand your dilemma. I decided to give myself options so I'm prepared when the time comes. One of my girlfriends told me to dress your baby for the outdoors the same way you dress yourself. If you have a long sleeved fleece and a down jacket, then your baby may need more than a blanket covering him/her as you transport the car seat from place to place - especially if it's windy, sleeting, snowing, etc. If your winters are mild and not too cold, the Bundle Me or thicker blanket would probably be just fine.

I live very close to the mountains in Colorado, so a Bundle Me or thick blanket isn't going to cut it everyday. But it will work sometimes - it just depends. I plan on baby wearing a lot, so I chose to buy a thicker winter "jacket" for my LO. I bought it at Carter's - it's nice and thick with a full length zipper, hood, and hand covers. Depending on the winter we have here, he might be in that more often than not. But, for the more mild times in the winter, I'll probably stick to the Bundle Me and/or a thicker blanket. I like options ;-)

panda1031 · October 2012

Sprite2012:
I really think it depends on what the climate is like where you live. I analyzed and stressed about this a few weeks ago, so I understand your dilemma. I decided to give myself options so I'm prepared when the time comes. One of my girlfriends told me to dress your baby for the outdoors the same way you dress yourself. If you have a long sleeved fleece and a down jacket, then your baby may need more than a blanket covering him/her as you transport the car seat from place to place - especially if it's windy, sleeting, snowing, etc. If your winters are mild and not too cold, the Bundle Me or thicker blanket would probably be just fine.
I live very close to the mountains in Colorado, so a Bundle Me or thick blanket isn't going to cut it everyday. But it will work sometimes - it just depends. I plan on baby wearing a lot, so I chose to buy a thicker winter "jacket" for my LO. I bought it at Carter's - it's nice and thick with a full length zipper, hood, and hand covers. Depending on the winter we have here, he might be in that more often than not. But, for the more mild times in the winter, I'll probably stick to the Bundle Me and/or a thicker blanket. I like options ;-)

Our winter can get really cold, in the 20s/30s which is why I was thinking the blanket over the car seat might not be enough. I probably won't wear baby at all because I have bad back problems (sucks) so I guess I can play it by ear, if it's really cold I could always throw a jacket on him before I take him out of the car and into the stroller. Most of the time he'll just be going from the house to car, car to a store or someone's house, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

karkissy09 · October 2012

We bought a fleece sleeper at Old Navy that will be plenty warm for baby and can be put on over his/her regular outfit. We plan to use that and as he or she gets bigger we'll get some luttle hoodies or a light jacket.

jennygirlmt · October 2012

Climate and cost aside I wouldn't put LO in a pea coat. How uncomfortable does that seem? I thought it was weird how many jeans, etc we got for 3month olds.

I would layer, throw a blanket over and if you have a bundle me then great. I'm not bothering with a bundle me and have no concerns.

groundedwife · October 2012

I just went to look at the Old Navy coats and OMG, they are so adorable! I love when babies wear "adult" clothes and they are just too cute. I know they're not practical at all but if they were I would totally buy them.

GHBEA · October 2012

Coats are a big pain on NB, and small babies. We just got fleece body suits for Olivia and got a few extra for this LO since she will be born at the start of winter. We also got the cover for the car seat. I always pack an extra warm blanket in the car for emergencies so baby doesn't get cold if we have no heat.

DHelenL9 · October 2012

milesc:
No- baby does not need a coat. Layer baby up, put a hat on them, and cover them with a blanket. You are (hopefully) not planning on having baby outside for long periods of time, so this will suffice for a quick trip to the house/car/store.
Car seat covers are fabulous as well (LOVED MINE), just get the shower-cap style- safety issue solved.
((You are not supposed to place anything 'puffy' under the straps in the carseat anyways (snowsuit, puffy coat, ect) and your LO will grow SO fast in the first few months, you'd be buying quite a few coats for just one season...))

agreed. Also, if you're going to be outside for an extended period (and want more than the car seat cover and blanket), a full body suit probably makes more sense than a coat anyway.

Kayzie24 · October 2012

We use a JJ Cole bundle me, it is so much easier than dealing with a winter coat or bunting. There is also a lighter version for spring and fall that we used when our son was fairly little. Hope this helped!

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