Things a Winter Baby Will Need
Babies have difficulty regulating their body temperature, so it is important that parents provide warm clothing and bedding in order to keep their baby comfortable. Likewise, it is helpful for parents to pay attention to keeping their infant's skin soft with skin care products.
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Winter Clothing
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Layering clothing ensures that an infant stays warm, so it helps to have plenty of onesies for babies to wear beneath their clothing. Ideal clothing for winter babies includes long pants, long-sleeved shirts, thick socks and thick sleepers for nighttime. Outdoor clothing should include a bunting bag for full body warmth, along with gloves, a hat and boots.
Car-Seat Warmth
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Due to safety issues, it is recommended that babies not wear outerwear when in a car seat. This makes it essential that parents have a warm car-seat cover that can be zipped around the car seat, above the belts. The car should be warmed up before bringing the baby out; this can be done by running the heat in the car for, at least, five minutes.
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Bedding
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Light bedding is always recommended to avoid the risk of suffocation in babies. Because of this, extra steps will need to be taken to keep the baby warm during sleep. Heating should be turned up to a comfortable level in the bedroom or nursery. A thick baby sleep sack helps to keep the baby warm while avoiding heavy blankets. Swaddling blankets that zip around the baby's body also provide warmth and comfort, while preventing the baby from kicking out of the blanket or having his face covered if the blanket comes loose.
Skin Care
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Babies have very sensitive skin that can become dry and itchy during the cold winter months. During baths, parents should always use a gentle baby soap and shampoo to avoid drying out the baby's skin and hair. Lotion may be needed after each bath to keep the infant's skin feeling soft and smooth.
Going Out
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When going out for walks in the winter, parents should ensure that the baby is kept warm by using baby blankets in the stroller along with warm winter clothing. Some parents prefer to use a baby carrier, worn under their coat to provide the baby with the parent's body warmth.
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References
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