|
| Make sure your baby's head is covered
when out in winter weather
|
Hats off
You were probably lectured about the loss of heat through your head when you were at school, and it's true that it's important to put a hat on a new (usually bald!) baby in winter.
Remember, even if you are pounding the pavement with your buggy, your child is lying still
and therefore not working up bodyheat like you. However, you should take a baby's hat off
(along with any outer coat or jacket) once you are in a warm place, even if the baby is
asleep; it is better to disturb her than let her overheat.
Out and about
In cold weather, it is a good idea to dress your baby in layers rather than one very thick
outer coat or all-in-one. (Very thick all-in-ones are suitable for specific times in very
cold conditions.) Even in winter, the changes of temperature - in your car, along a street,
in a busy outdoor space - may vary, and having only a stripped-off or a fully wrapped-up
option is not very flexible.
Although it is true that cold hands and feet aren't a true gauge of your baby's temperature,
they should be covered just as regularly as the baby's head, when out in cold conditions.
Keep a couple of light pram blankets with you in case you need to alter the layers covering
your baby. (When they are big enough for a pushchair, there are warm 'foot muffs' - like
little sleeping bags - which are widely available from several companies and can be useful,
especially for children who quickly kick off or wriggle out of booties, shoes or socks.
Buggy Snuggle do some particularly funky designs from about £30-£50. McLaren and Great Little Trading Company also do versions.) Also, even when it
isn't raining, a buggy's rain cover is a useful way of keeping a howling wind off your
child's cheeks.
In either hot or cold weather, if you are carrying your baby in a carrier on your back or
front, beware that your own heat is adding to their own layers, and check their limbs for
excessive heat or cold exposure. Baby Bjorn now make a 'sleeping bag' to fit over a carrier
for winter, so that a baby does not have to wear very warm clothing close to your body.
When sleeping
As your baby grows, you will become more confident in how many layers to cover him with and
of how thick his nightwear should be. For a newborn, rather than putting him in thick
sleepsuits, it is preferable to put him in a short-sleeved vest, a regular sleepsuit and
then add layers of bedclothes depending on the temperature of the room. Most bedding shops
sell light fleecy blankets and cotton blankets for cribs, prams and cots, if woollen ones
seem too heavy or potentially 'itchy' for your child.
A nap during the day will probably not require the same about of layers as a nighttime sleep
because the general temperature will be higher.
If you worry about your baby getting cold because they have kicked off their covers, one of
the many sleepingbags on the market might be a good idea. These are available in a range of
sizes and can still be useful long into their toddler period. These sleeping bags meet over
the shoulders so the top looks more like dungarees. This stops your baby from sliding down
into the bag, which also makes them useful if you worry about your baby slipping under
bedclothes. Some 'sleeping bags' zip from top and bottom, which makes them easier to open if
you need to change a nappy without disrupting a sleepy baby too much.
In any circumstance, you should always remember to put your baby to bed at the bottom of his
cot so that he cannot wriggle down under sheets when sleeping.
Room temperature
Ideally, a room should be kept between 20ºC and 23ºC during the day and 15.5ºC and 18.5ºC at
night. Of course, through one night, the temperature will vary, but if you have your baby's
cot or crib in a place away from draughts or direct heat sources, you will soon find out
what seems evenly comfortable.
In very cold weather, if you choose to keep the heating on (on a lower setting, as the whole
family will find it too stuffy through the night, otherwise) bear in mind that this will dry
out the air more. A humidifier or a bowl of water on a radiator will help keep the air
moist.
