Babies are not able to regulate their body temperatures as adults, so it’s important to be attentive to their needs as the temperature changes during the fall and winter. Your baby is not able to tell you if they’re cold, hot, or uncomfortable, so it’s up to you to learn their cues for discomfort or distress and do your best to be proactive about keeping them warm. Here are some tips for dressing your baby this winter.

Remember car seat safety

Safety is always priority, and it’s important for all parents to know that jackets, coats, and blankets can cause car seat straps to be loose and unsafe. Always remove your baby’s coat before strapping baby in the car seat. I always keep some blankets in my car so that once baby is strapped, I can tuck a blanket around my son, on the outside of the straps, so that he stays warm but is still securely fastened in his car seat.

Hats with straps

Babies can lose a lot of heat through their heads, so use a hat to protect their head from the cold. Easier said than done though, right? What baby wants to keep a hat on their head? Thankfully, a lot of coats and bodysuits come with hoods that are not easy for a baby to pull down. Using hats with chin straps will also help it to stay put and prevent baby from ripping it off. This adorable hat from Old Navy will keep baby warm and stay put.

Mittens with Velcro

Keeping baby’s hands warm can also be a challenge. Nothing seems to like to stay put on those little hands, and gloves and mittens seem to slide right off on their own. Look for mittens that have a wrist Velcro strap so that they cannot easily slide off. Also, while they are little it will be MUCH easier to get mittens on those chunky hands than gloves. I learned the hard way not to even bother trying to find gloves that fit and then wrangle those wiggly fingers into each glove finger if I did happen to find baby gloves.

Furry bear suits

Full furry bear suits are a classic warm full-body staple for your baby. We love this one from LL Bean, it’s perfect for a girl or a boy and looks so soft. This is a great way to add a layer of lighter clothing so that you can adjust if you’ll be going in and out, perhaps during a shopping trip, parade, or other holiday event.

Safe Sleep

Keeping baby warm at night while keeping them safe can be a challenge because loose bedding such as blankets and pillows are dangerous and should not be used. Overheating your baby is also dangerous and is a risk factor for SIDS, so if the temperature in your home stays at a comfortable level, your baby might only need a onesie under some footed pajamas, and perhaps a sleep sack.

What tips would you add to help new parents dress their babies for winter?