When it comes to winter, the months from newborn to toddler can be a struggle for parents. With activities ranging from underwhelming to overwhelming, concerns about being too hot to too cold, and the myriad of health and safety questions in general, parents who are wondering what to do with their babies this winter season are not alone. Read on for creative (and safe) baby winter activities that make the most of this special season with your little one.
It's cold outside, baby: Indoor activities to keep busy
How to dress baby in winter
Whether you decide to stay inside or venture outdoors, it is important to dress your baby properly during the winter months. Parents need to be cautious of overdressing their baby as much as underdressing. According to KidsHealth.org, “Most SIDS deaths happen in babies between 1 and 4 months old, and cases rise during cold weather.”
To prevent overheating (and hypothermia as well), the general rule of thumb is to dress babies in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions. "Parents and caregivers should dress infants in light clothing for sleep and keep rooms at a temperature comfortable for adults," said Alan E. Guttmacher, MD, director of the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Even if this means waking your peacefully sleeping baby to remove her outdoor clothing after bringing her inside, it is worth it to be safe.
When outdoors, babies and young children should wear layered clothing and have their head, hands, and feet covered. Wet clothes should be changed immediately. If you have your baby in a carrier or in an stroller with the top pulled down, be sure to check periodically that your baby can breathe and that his face does not feel too cold or hot.
Enjoy this time with your little one — nothing will seem clear-cut or convenient, and there will be a million opportunities to feel like you’re not doing enough. But as long as you are paying attention to your baby, and making them feel safe and loved, you can’t go wrong.
