bringing home the baby in winter

MrsAllende1 · July 2015

Being a first time mom I obviously have a lot of question, most of the time I can just look up the answer or go to my mom but knowing how to dress a baby in the winter time or cold fall has been a tough question for me please help anyone if there is a certain way to dress my baby boy

LG812 · July 2015

When it is very cold I would dress him in layers starting with a onesie and a footed sleeper over that. Then a blanket tucked over the car seat buckles and a blanket draped over the car seat to block the wind/cold air from his face.

Elyse1384 · July 2015

I've always gone with what I would wear + a layer. Preferably a layer easy to remove (blanket or something). Baby's don't regulate temperature as well as we do, so you need to be prepared for needing to adjust as temperature allows (e.g. moving from outside to inside). I always had one DS in a full onesie when he was born (March in New England) plus a winter blanket when going outside to get to the car or short walks. He also wore a lot of winter hats (beanies) and make sure those little hands are covered.

dogsombrero · July 2015

For inside I'd recommend long sleeve onesies and pants with socks. For outside (really only to and from car etc) jackets are a no no while in the car seat so I added a sweater, insulated hat and a thick blanket (over the car seat straps). I also made sure the car was warm first before transferring the kiddo. When my son was older I did get him a snow suit for playing outside but November babies will not be ready for that this winter.

nmwheel1 · July 2015

My daughter is a November baby also and we live in Canada where it gets cold. We bought a car seat cover that goes around the outside so it doesn't go between baby and the buckles making it safe. It's nice and fleece and keeps baby warm, we usually have baby in a onesie and a good newborn winter hat. Our daughter was always warm so layers is good. She'd start crying while out for a walk and when checking back of her neck she'd be so warm so I'd remove a layer. I'm always cold so I thought I had to dress her really warm but that wasn't the case. I never took her out in the insane cold and winter storms either. At home it depends what it was like inside. Some days she was in t-shirt and pants and was perfect, other days a long sleeve sleeper with feet and still a blanket.

urby87 · July 2015

I'll definitely second layers and a carseat cover. You don't want them to overheat while they're indoors, so it's good to have the ability to take off the extra layers when you come in from the cold.

DrMommaDVM · July 2015

Just throw a blanket over the car seat and have the car warmed up ahead of time.

Pontot31 · July 2015

DrMommaDVM said:
Just throw a blanket over the car seat and have the car warmed up ahead of time.

This.
They can't regulate their temperature like us. My daughter was always very warm so we did long sleeved onesie and pants with socks.
You can't put a coat on them in the car. We would do a light weight hoodie sometimes with a cover over the car seat and have the car warmed up.

Lolo427 · July 2015

Great question! I too have often wondered this as here in NH (as Lord know our Canadian friends here know) it can easily get to below 0 in the middle of winter. Makes me nervous.

Puddlewonderful · July 2015

My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

Pontot31 · July 2015

Puddlewonderful said:
My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

Leave them in the house while you scrap. And run the car during that time so it'll be warm by the time you're done.

dogsombrero · July 2015

Puddlewonderful said:

My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

I had DH put auto start on the car for me. I'll do it again now that we've got a bigger SUV. I just put the defrost on high before getting out every night and pushed the button from the window. My car stayed locked and when I got in the car I'd have to put the key in the ignition to actually engage the car so if anyone tried to steal the car the act of putting it into gear would shut it down.

Pontot31 · July 2015

dogsombrero said:

Puddlewonderful said:

My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

I had DH put auto start on the car for me. I'll do it again now that we've got a bigger SUV. I just put the defrost on high before getting out every night and pushed the button from the window. My car stayed locked and when I got in the car I'd have to put the key in the ignition to actually engage the car so if anyone tried to steal the car the act of putting it into gear would shut it down.

I love my auto start! Best investment ever. Great in the summer and the winter.

tmandato1234 · July 2015

Honestly it all depends where you live. I'm in Florida, although people think that it's always warm. The past couple of years it's been getting really cold. I know JC penny's has thermal long sleeve onsies. I picked them up a while ago because they were on sale. But try to stay in that range. If it snows. Invest in a snow suit. Jacket thing. Blankets and hats. The auto start for the car is awesome to have. I have a Huyndia and they have it through blue tooth on your phone. You just pay the app fee and Tada !! It's also good to have during our hot summers and springs.

urby87 · July 2015

Pontot31 said:

Puddlewonderful said:

My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

I had DH put auto start on the car for me. I'll do it again now that we've got a bigger SUV. I just put the defrost on high before getting out every night and pushed the button from the window. My car stayed locked and when I got in the car I'd have to put the key in the ignition to actually engage the car so if anyone tried to steal the car the act of putting it into gear would shut it down.
I love my auto start! Best investment ever. Great in the summer and the winter.

One of the few downsides of driving stick: no remote start (not without some mechanical workarounds and changing the way I park, anyway).

oliarnmom1517 · July 2015

urby87 said:

Pontot31 said:

dogsombrero said:

Puddlewonderful said:

My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

I had DH put auto start on the car for me. I'll do it again now that we've got a bigger SUV. I just put the defrost on high before getting out every night and pushed the button from the window. My car stayed locked and when I got in the car I'd have to put the key in the ignition to actually engage the car so if anyone tried to steal the car the act of putting it into gear would shut it down.
I love my auto start! Best investment ever. Great in the summer and the winter.

One of the few downsides of driving stick: no remote start (not without some mechanical workarounds and changing the way I park, anyway).

Definitely!! Except I like my stick so I'm ok without it!! And I don't drive my car very much during the winter.. I usually drive my moms because the past few years we have had crazy ice storms.. So I'm afraid I'll get into a serious accident.. So I just drive a different car..

urby87 · July 2015

oorl11052015 said:

Pontot31 said:

Puddlewonderful said:

My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

I had DH put auto start on the car for me. I'll do it again now that we've got a bigger SUV. I just put the defrost on high before getting out every night and pushed the button from the window. My car stayed locked and when I got in the car I'd have to put the key in the ignition to actually engage the car so if anyone tried to steal the car the act of putting it into gear would shut it down.
I love my auto start! Best investment ever. Great in the summer and the winter.

One of the few downsides of driving stick: no remote start (not without some mechanical workarounds and changing the way I park, anyway).
Definitely!! Except I like my stick so I'm ok without it!! And I don't drive my car very much during the winter.. I usually drive my moms because the past few years we have had crazy ice storms.. So I'm afraid I'll get into a serious accident.. So I just drive a different car..

I actually prefer to drive stick in the winter. I'm awkward anymore in an automatic...

katiedhunter · July 2015

I live in Canada where winters can get very cold. Usually range from -10 to -40 Celsius. I'm so very very thankful for my attached garage! Warm vehicle every time, and I also have remote start for when I'm not home. I've never had a newborn over winter so this will be a learning curve for me. I'm counting on car seat covers and blankets! Oh and little beanie hats.

Puddlewonderful · July 2015

Thanks all! I'm going to tell my husband I need remote start because The Bump says so

BlondeMomma92 · July 2015

I have a similar question, I suppose I'm conflicted about how to dress my baby girl because I live in Alabama--- where there isn't much of a "winter" but the rest of my family lives in the Chicagoland area. I plan on bringing baby up to Chicago for a visit around Christmastime. So how would you all suggest I prepare my LOs clothing supply? Should I try to stick mostly to the climate of Alabama, or would it be wise to have a wardrobe that encompasses both climates?

CarrieOct15 · July 2015

BlondeMomma92 said:

I have a similar question, I suppose I'm conflicted about how to dress my baby girl because I live in Alabama--- where there isn't much of a "winter" but the rest of my family lives in the Chicagoland area. I plan on bringing baby up to Chicago for a visit around Christmastime. So how would you all suggest I prepare my LOs clothing supply? Should I try to stick mostly to the climate of Alabama, or would it be wise to have a wardrobe that encompasses both climates?

If you're just going for a visit, I would buy a couple of outfits before you go. I wouldn't get an entire wardrobe if you're not going to be there often.

mommynorris · July 2015

My son was born in November, we just put him in a long sleeve sleeper with a car seat cover, he was outside for less than a minute and always made sure the car was warm before putting him in. As far as scraping ice off the window- it's much quicker to run outside and turn on the defroster and let it run for a while before trying to scrape the windows.

ks24119 · July 2015

What about what to wear home from the hospital if it is very cold this November?

VexedMommy · July 2015

ks24119 said:

What about what to wear home from the hospital if it is very cold this November?

Your child should be outside for about 2 - 5min max since someone else will have to bring the car around so someone can check that you have a car seat properly installed. I would suggest strapping the baby into the car seat in the hospital room and then you can just click the seat into the base. The car should be warmed up by the time it's brought around and checked out then you will go from your car to the warm inside of your home. I would buy whatever outfit you would like for baby's going home outfit and use a car seat cover or blanket around baby if it's very cold outside.

lyankowi · July 2015

Remember socks too. The nurses made fun of me for not bringing socks. DD was born late April I didn't know I needed them.

RaisingJulian · July 2015

CarrieOct15 said:

BlondeMomma92 said:

I have a similar question, I suppose I'm conflicted about how to dress my baby girl because I live in Alabama--- where there isn't much of a "winter" but the rest of my family lives in the Chicagoland area. I plan on bringing baby up to Chicago for a visit around Christmastime. So how would you all suggest I prepare my LOs clothing supply? Should I try to stick mostly to the climate of Alabama, or would it be wise to have a wardrobe that encompasses both climates?

If you're just going for a visit, I would buy a couple of outfits before you go. I wouldn't get an entire wardrobe if you're not going to be there often.

Definitely agree. I live in the Chicago area and it can get really cold and gross but if it's just for a visit I wouldn't buy much just enough to get through the trip

oliarnmom1517 · July 2015

urby87 said:

oorl11052015 said:

urby87 said:

Pontot31 said:

dogsombrero said:

Puddlewonderful said:

My fear is being home alone on maternity leave and needing to go out and scrape ice off the car. Obviously the car takes a while to heat up even while scraping...any garage-less moms have tips for this? I'm guessing the answer is just bundle them in the slowly warming car, but the thought of scraping in the cold with a potentially screaming baby does not sound pleasant.

I had DH put auto start on the car for me. I'll do it again now that we've got a bigger SUV. I just put the defrost on high before getting out every night and pushed the button from the window. My car stayed locked and when I got in the car I'd have to put the key in the ignition to actually engage the car so if anyone tried to steal the car the act of putting it into gear would shut it down.
I love my auto start! Best investment ever. Great in the summer and the winter.

One of the few downsides of driving stick: no remote start (not without some mechanical workarounds and changing the way I park, anyway).

Definitely!! Except I like my stick so I'm ok without it!! And I don't drive my car very much during the winter.. I usually drive my moms because the past few years we have had crazy ice storms.. So I'm afraid I'll get into a serious accident.. So I just drive a different car..

I actually prefer to drive stick in the winter. I'm awkward anymore in an automatic...

When it's just snow it's perfectly fine and I don't have an issue.. I don't do so well on ice.. My friend has a video of me driving her car.. It's an automatic and I try to find the clutch and I have my hand in the middle trying to find the stick to shift.. It's quite comical actually lol

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