Keeping Your Child Warm in the Winter

I remember the early days of motherhood, taking my poor little baby out in far too many layers of clothing, two blankets, a full snowsuit, and a hat. Then I wondered why she was crying--the poor thing was way too hot! As much as we want to protect our baby, we can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and go in the opposite direction. To this day, my poor baby freaks out everytime she gets too hot--I'm convinced it's from the early days of being dressed in enough clothing to do well in an igloo.

Okay so what's the balance, how do we keep our precious children warm enough without overheating. It's a bit easier when they can talk and let you know the scoop, but if the are infants or early toddlers then how do you know what's enough but not too much? I think it starts with a bit of common sense, something that we hopefully gain as we clock more time as parents. If you think of what you would wear in colder weather, use that as a baseline with a bit of modification. If it's fall weather, then a lightweight coat may do the trick. If it's the middle of winter and you can see your breath, then it's time to do some work on winterizing your child.

It's worth investing before the temperatures get too cold in a couple of things. I have a nicer winter coat and a more casual, but I also have some fleeces and jackets that can help with layering or temperature changes. I have now put together quite the collection of coats that can weather any storm and help to keep my little one warm in the coldest of temperatures. A good hat (not wool because they are way too itchy and uncomfortable) and mittens can help too, they can work for layering. I can recommend from my own experiences--don't get the snowsuit if you can help it. A snowsuit is fine if they are playing outside, but to bundle them up in everyday is not only a nuisance but practically their own personal furnace. These things get hot and I know how uncomfortable my daughter was in hers, so never again!

Check the temperature, use common sense, and prepare for the elements. If you have a good selection on hand (fill in the blanks by buying on sale or visiting a local Mom to Mom sale) and a few accessories such as a hat and mittens, then you can keep your child warm, cozy, and comfortable. A good combination for any child! But what about sleep? I know that this was one of the most confusing things to me in motherhood--how do I keep my child warm in bed when it gets cold outside?

I get so cold in our house in the winter, and I thought that must apply to my child as well. You know the rules though, you're not supposed to put anything in your baby's crib including a blanket. I remember looking at my baby thinking how cold she must be. Then I found the wearable blankets--these things rock! This is the answer to keeping your child warm without defying the rules that say nothing goes in your crib with your child. They come in a variety of sizes and go over the pajamas, by zipping them up you create a nice little pocket of warmth around your child. Perfect, now they don't have to freeze!

We are also mindful about keeping the heat at a reasonable temperature. Recognizing that energy prices (along with everything else) are on the rise, we ensure that the house is warm enough without breaking the budget. This is when a bit of layering can go a long way. We make sure that our daughter is always in the right amount of layers for the temperature. For example on a chilly day your child could be perfectly comfortable in a long sleeve onesie, pants, and a sweater--keeps them warm without overwhelming.

Keeping your child warm in the cold temperatures need not be a challenge. With a little bit of preparation before the temperatures get too cold, you can keep everything on hand that they'll need to make it through winter in the most warmth and comfort that you can give them.