Dressing your baby in a weather-appropriate way might be trickier than you imagine. You need to consider several factors and your child’s well being should always be your top priority. And things can become a bit more stressful for first-time mothers who don’t have any experience when it comes to dressing babies. This article should give you valuable tips that will help you get your baby ready for all types of temperature!
The golden rule: Most parents know about this rule and they successfully apply it. The golden rule says that you should dress your newborn with as many clothing layers as you would dress, plus one more. This is because infants tend to get cold faster and easier than older children and adults. They might feel a breeze double in terms of coldness compared to you. And this is why adding an extra layer of clothing would be wise. This rule applies to babies in the first six months to the first year of life.
How to dress your baby during summertime
In hot or warm weather, your concern is not the cold but the warmth. You don’t want your baby to be too hot to the point that they are sweating. This would be bad for their health and it would make them more fussy and irritable than usual.
If the temperature is higher than 75 degrees F, you might want to consider one layer of clothes being enough. For instance, you can have your baby wear a onesie and a hat on their head to protect them from the sun. Her legs and hands can be exposed to direct sunlight safely unless they have a certain condition that limits such an exposure. You should also make sure that the material of the clothes is appropriate since they are wearing just one layer of clothes. Cotton is a good material that you can’t fail with. Whatever material you choose to put on your baby it should be breathable. Their skin has to breathe smoothly through the clothes so they don’t get sweaty or any skin reactions.
Accessories are a great idea too, especially during those hot summer days. For instance, you can have your baby wear sunglasses to protect their sensitive eyes.
You might also want to bring an umbrella with you if you are taking them outside in the sun. And as a general rule, you should try to stay inside with your baby during the highest heat hours such as afternoon time.
How to dress your baby during winter days
Winter season is the most dangerous season for infants and young babies. Your baby can easily catch a cold if they are not dressed properly and you should pay a lot of attention to the layers of clothes you have them wear.
A good strategy would be to have your baby wear a onesie directly on their skin and on top of that a different outfit consisting of a shirt and pants before adding the jacket. Snowsuits are also very useful if you have to take your infant out in extremely low temperatures. Your baby should be completely covered when they go outside during winter. This means that they should wear a thick hat, socks, mittens, and even a scarf to protect their neck. Don’t forget about the boots which should be structured well enough to keep their little feet warm for the entire time they are in the cold. If you take your baby outside in a stroller you might want to add a blanket to make sure they stay warm. However, if you do add a blanket you might need to lose a layer of clothes so they don’t get too hot.
How to dress your baby during spring and autumn
These two seasons are particularly confusing for parents. The temperature is not too low but not too high either. So, it is easy to dress your baby inappropriately in these confusing times. But if you apply the golden rule from the beginning of this guide, you should be on the safe side. You should also check your baby often to see if they are sweating or getting too cold. Babies are different and they can adapt in different ways to mild temperatures. This is why is difficult to establish a set of norms for how to dress your little one in the spring or autumn.
When your baby is inside
If your baby stays inside the house, you should maintain the room temperature anywhere between 68 degrees F and 73 degrees F. This applies regardless of the season you might find yourself in. They should be comfortable enough to not sweat or need a blanket.
Typically, when your baby is inside your home, you can just dress them with one layer of clothes as long as the room temperature is the optimum one. If you feel that it might be too chilly, add another layer of clothing to them or cover them with a blanket when they sleep. The good news is that as long as your baby is inside the house, you can control the temperature of that space. So, you might want to invest in a system that provides you with optimum and constant temperature for the sake of your baby’s health and comfort!
Conclusion
Even if dressing an infant is not easy, this guide should give you the proper guideline to protect your baby in any weather conditions. It is important to keep your baby inside during days with extreme temperatures, being them hot or cold. You don’t want to expose your child to any risks unless you have to take them out. And in such a situation that can’t be avoided, you should apply the information in this guide.
If your baby is not dressed appropriate to the temperature in their environment, they might develop different types of colds and even extreme conditions like hypothermia. This is why you shouldn’t take any risks when it comes to your little one’s outfit.
