So far this has been a very mild winter but it is still cold enough that everyone needs to be bundled up when they go outside. Today it was about 40 degrees outside and very sunny so I wore jeans, a long sleeved t-shirt and a hoodie and I was very comfortable. When we went out I put the baby in her diaper and a full length footie outfit along with a very thick cotton outfit like this over the first outfit. Then we put mittens and a hat on her and went on our way. She seemed perfectly happy and her hands and nose both stayed warm enough that I wasn’t worried until I saw a bunch of other parents out and about with their kids bundled like they were on their way to Antarctica. Full parkas and blankets covered every kid I saw and I even saw something that I can only describe as baby bunting but it looked more like little wool coffins with face holes. Several of them gave me the stink-eye and I assume it is because they figure I took the baby out into the cold without putting her in a parka or something first but that just seemed so unnecessary to me. We do have a baby parka for her but we’ve only put her in it when it is snowing or otherwise below freezing.
The baby seemed very happy the entire time we were out, smiling and looking around or falling asleep in her bjorn. We only walked about 5 blocks distance at any given time before getting on a bus or going inside a building so we weren’t outside for long but I want to make sure I am doing the right thing for my daughter. Should she have been in her parka today or are those other moms slowly roasting their kids?
Infants have a much better way of dealing with the cold the adults, they can burn fat directly into heat and be very comfortable instead of shivering which adults do. I’d say that most infants seem to be overbundeled.
Remember, a sweater is what your mother makes you where when she is cold. Apparently, all of the other mothers were cold, so they bundled up their kids.
If the baby was cold, she would have been unhappy and crying (you’ve probably noticed by now that unhappy babies cry).
It drives me completely freaking BONKERS the way my daughter’s grandmothers smother her in wraps when they take her out.
If the baby’s hands were warm, she was warm. Dr. Spock stresses the fact that babies don’t get nearly as cold as adults do, and a baby that is comfortable will actually have slightly cool hands.
I am not a mom or any sort of baby expert, however my friend had a baby about 4 years ago during the summer, so naturally the baby would wear just a cotton onesie and a bonnet in her stroller.
Our co-workers FREAKED OUT that my friend wasn’t bundling up her baby IN THE SUMMER (these people also claimed that you should never take a baby outside before it’s 6 months old. Um, hello, it has to go outside to get home from the hospital, nevermind doctor’s appointments and what not).
I did some research to shut them up (my friend quit this job as she and her husband were planning on moving after having the kid) and I found several sites that said a baby only needs one more layer than an adult which my mom confirmed.
So it seems that many people err on the side of over caution (better to be safe than sorry, but I bet a bundled up kid on a summer day could actually get heat exhaustion). If you watch Monk, there’s an episode where he babysits a toddler and has like 10 layers and a helmet on the kid.
These responses make me feel much better! I knew logically that she was fine but I didn’t want to inadvertently be doing any harm, you know?
Oh, CatherineZeta reminds me of the several parents I saw with sweaters and winter hats on their kids this summer! It was above 95 degrees and people were still wrapping their kids up like they were going to freeze to death. I’m sure I’ll get the stink-eye again this summer for only putting her in a onesie in the scorching heat.
I think it looks fine - I would have brought a blanket with me in case a wind came up - a chilly gust can really take a baby’s breath away (like, not actually kill the baby because of lack of breath, but make the baby uncomfortable).
I would have had it handy to bundle a bit if necessary.
I think the puffy suit is fine though - Junior had one when he was wee and enjoyed it alot - the only issue is from a distance it looks like just a little sleeper (i.e. not puffy) - perhaps that was the source of the stink eye.
I do agree with the other posters - if baby was unhappy or cold she would let you know.
ETA - any chance you were imagining the stink eye? When Junior was small I was VERY paranoid about doing things wrong and I thought everyone was giving me the stink eye. In retrospect I think I was just sensitive.
If in doubt, stick two fingers down the front of her top. If her chest is nice and toasty, she’s warm enough. And yeah, cool hands are fine.
Also, if you had your baby in a carrier and you were just wearing a top and hoodie, she probably got a certain amount of warmth off you and was warmer than the equivalent baby in a buggy.
Just thought I would add that Kiddo was always the least bundled baby at play group. When he was old enough to decide, I didn’t make him wear a sweater or jacket if he didn’t want to, though we did bring one with us. I got all kinds of flack for it, but he was comfortable and turned out just fine.
For better or for worse, your baby’s happiness and health are your responsibility, not any of the other Stink-Eye Mothers. Therefore, it’s up to you to notice her reactions to her environment. If she is, as you say, happy and engaged (or happily conked out asleep) then, sure, she’s fine. And E Wench already pointed it out but my first thought reading your OP was, if she’s holding her close in a bjorn then you’re keeping her warm yourself.
She’s adorable. I have a nine month old. As long as the baby isn’t fussing don’t worry about it. They WILL let you know if they’re unhappy. I bring my little girl out in at least three layers on cold days but I also bring a blanket and a diaper bag so I can add or subtract layers as needed.
She’s adorable! I’ve always heard the advice to dress your baby in the same style you’re wearing. If it’s sweater weather for you, it is for baby. If you’re in a t-shirt & shorts, that’s fine for baby, too.
I normally check the back of the baby’s neck - if it feels warm they are usually good to go. Particularly if you had her bundled against your own body heat in the sling, that should be keeping her warm enough.
I reckon it was something else that they were giving you the stink eye about - underdressing your baby is a particular complaint reserved for older women.
My daughter always seemed underdressed compared to other babies when she was tiny, too. Some of them were so bundled up that their arms and legs were sticking out at 90 degree and they couldn’t move at all, i]and* and they had a blanket over them, and a rain/windcover over the buggy. And it was maybe 12 degrees Celsius at the coldest. It was like they were slowly baking their babies.
One layer extra is a better rule if you’re walking around, warming yourself up that way, and the baby’s stationary in a buggy or sling.
Also, put two fingers in her neck under her clothes. If she sweats there, she is too warmly dressed. If her hands are cold (not cool) she is likely too cold.
It is true taht babies can keep themselves heated better then adults can. The scientific explanation is brown fat. Most babies are indeed dressed to warm.
