Last updated: 6th March 2019
Winter is on the way in the Southern Hemisphere. Beach days and balmy nights are quickly slipping away, where your baby could crawl around sans-clothes, feeling the heat on their delicate skin.
It’ll soon be time to rug up your precious little ones in preparation for the drop in temperature. As it gets colder, it’s important to remember that babies feel the cold differently to us adults.
How babies react in colder climates
According to paediatrician Jennifer Shu, M.D., co-author of Heading Home With Your Newborn, babies – especially newborns – are unable to regulate their own temperature and their bodies can lose heat quickly from their hands, head and feet.
Of course, young babies can’t tell you when they’re too hot or too cold, just as they can’t tell you when they’re hungry, tired or sick. In winter, it’s crucial to watch out for cues to help regulate your baby’s temperature:
- Your baby might be too hot if the back of their neck is warm or sweaty, a bumpy rash has appeared on their stomach, or their cheeks are flushed.
- Your baby might be too cold if their lips have changed to a darker colour, or the nose, fingertips or ears appear pale.
Here are our best tips for keeping your baby warm this winter – and don’t worry, it doesn’t involve your wriggly bub wearing a puffy ski jacket all season.
6 tips to prepare your baby for the cold
1. Set the optimal baby room temperature
It is much easier to ensure you have a happy and perfectly temperate baby in the comfort of your own home. When you are indoors, be wary that your baby has an ideal room temperature all year round (around 16-20 degrees celsius).
So instead of blasting the heater this season (and your electricity bill), consider cooling the jets on your indoor winter sauna to protect your baby from overheating.
2. Protect your baby’s head and toes
A great tip for winter-ready parents is to keep a beanie and a pair of booties near your front door. That way, every time you leave the house you can prepare your baby’s tiny head and toes for the elements.
Our Boody beanies and booties are the perfect pair to prepare baby for the chill; plus, they’re super soft, eco-friendly, and thermo-regulating. A must-have this winter season!
3. Be prepared for bedtime
While you may snuggle up in your doona to stay warm at night, it's not a recommended method for those in the early stages of life.
Instead, Baby Center Australia proposes parents use two to three baby blankets for winter tucked in under the mattress (when the temperature is under 18 degrees) or a baby-approved sleeping bag.
Sleeping bags are a great alternative to blankets, as they keep your baby’s temperature consistent all night long. And what about what to dress baby in at night? Opt for baby winter pyjamas to keep bub extra snug on those chilly nights.
4. Take advantage of the onesie
From newborns to crawlers, onesies are an ideal outfit season-to-season and come in a range of styles and colours. As it gets colder, find a onesie that works for your baby (and you) – a practical baby bodysuit will do you the world of wonder as you try to keep out of the chill.
Your onesie checklist should include:
- A soft, durable material
- Long sleeves
- A zip for quick dressing (skip the button-ups)
- Built-in socks and mittens
Quick tip: if you feel your baby is still cold in a onesie, try adding extra socks and mittens above or underneath the onesie for extra warmth.
5. Don't forget the wrap
Muslin wraps are typically popular during the summertime; the lighter, delicate fabric is made for breathability. But in the early days, babies need to be swaddled to prevent overstimulation and to help regulate their changing temperatures (it also keeps their arms and legs from squirming).
When the weather shifts, switch out the muslin wraps for something a little warmer. Try Boody’s Stretch Jersey Wrap for Babies, an indispensable wrap for winter babies.
6. Layer up!
Now you’ve mastered the art of keeping your baby nice and warm at home, facing the great wide world can be a whole other issue.
The best preparation is to simply layer your baby’s clothing, especially when moving from indoors to outdoors. Start with a t-shirt and leggings combo or a onesie and go from there; as a guide, dress your baby in the same amount of layers as you, then add another.
Remember, some babies like to be warmer than others. You know your baby best. Winter is the ultimate time of year to spend quality time with your bub and keeping them warm with lots of snuggles.
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How to swaddle a baby in a muslin wrap
Whether you’re asking yourself ‘what are muslin wraps used for?’, ‘how to swaddle a newborn’ or ‘when to stop swaddling baby’, we’re bringing you a step by step lowdown with pictures. What are muslin wraps used for? If you’re totally new to the muslin wraps game, don’t worry. Many of us have been there. And, while you might already know about swaddling a baby, what you might not realise is there are plenty of other ways to use muslin wraps in your little one’s early days. Feeding If you’re feeding while on the go, a muslin wrap is a great cover to stop bub getting distracted. Tuck the muslin into your bra strap and place the soft fabric across bub’s cheek to keep them safe and comfy. Note: Always ensure there’s an opening to allow fresh air to flow through. Burping Aside from swaddling, burping is one of the most popular uses for the muslin wrap. The soft, thick and absorbent fabric will make sure whatever you’re wearing stays clean when you pat your little bambino gently on the back. Teething Not everyone knows this, but a muslin wrap can even be used as a teether! How does that work, we hear you ask? Simple. Just freeze a small cube of breast milk, or boiled water if your bub is a bit older, wrap it in a muslin, twist the ends to hold in place and let your little teething tot chew away. Swaddling Last but not least, muslin wraps are used to swaddle baby to sleep. Muslin wraps tend to be light and flexible, so bub doesn’t overheat, and firm enough to allow your little one to feel comfy and safe. But how exactly do you swaddle with a muslin wrap? We take a look at how to swaddle with the best swaddling technique. How to swaddle a baby with a muslin wrap Ok, so it’s time to get down to some safe swaddling. First things first, you need to lay the muslin wrap out in a diamond shape. Once you’ve done this, fold the top corner down roughly a quarter. Then, place bub on the turned corner so that the corners of the muslin spread out from bub’s arms. Next, hold your little bambino's right arm down at their side. Pull the muslin over that arm, across the body. If bub is much smaller than the muslin, roll them to the side to smooth the rest of the muslin across the back. The muslin needs to be tight, but baby should still be able to bend their waist. Note: always make sure their hips are free to move. Hold down bub’s left arm before pulling the bottom corner up and tucking it under their left shoulder. Move the right corner over your little treasure's body before finally pulling it firm by placing them on their side and wrapping the excess around the back. The results? You’ll know when bub quickly falls asleep. So, what sort of swaddle products should you be looking for? Well, bamboo is the perfect fabric for swaddling as it’s ultra soft and durable. Our feather-light muslin wraps are crafted in 100% bamboo viscose, a fabric that features an open weave for ultimate breathability. 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Newborns are born with the Moro reflex — a startle reflex — and most babies don’t outgrow it until they’re four or five months old. For this reason, be careful when stopping the swaddle too early. If your baby’s Moro reflex is still strong, they may startle themselves awake at night and during nap time. If your baby is able to break free of their swaddle, this doesn’t always mean that it’s time to stop swaddling. But if bub is persistently breaking free of their swaddle each night, it’s either time to stop swaddling or switch to a safer muslin wrap. Warning: Never allow babies to sleep face down. If your baby is rolling over onto their tummy while they sleep, it’s time to stop swaddling. Safety must always be top of mind when it comes to swaddling your baby! Although swaddling for sleep is generally all good, it’s important you don’t swaddle your little one all day long. Babies also need to move freely so they can develop their gross motor skills and become stronger. 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How to cope with a new baby during COVID-19
Bringing your baby home from the hospital can be a surreal experience. There is a great deal of tears (from baby and parents), laughter, cooing, and chaos. But you don’t have to do it all by yourself – there are often family members and friends lining up to help you. At least, this was the case until 2020. With Victoria currently locked down and the threat of the second wave of the pandemic looming over the rest of Australia, isolation has become more important than ever. Of course, if you have a new baby at home, this can be easier said than done. In addition to handling your responsibilities as a new parent, you are also having to cope with the realities of parenting during COVID-19. This can leave new parents feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Even if you have older children (which brings with it different challenges such as what’s being posted across social media), the idea of bringing up younger children during a pandemic is enough to put pressure on any parent. If parenting during COVID-19 is something that you’re struggling to do, here are some top tips to help you out during this difficult time. Make sure you’re splitting duties Before the outbreak, it was easy to get help from willing family members and friends. At the very least, you had a grandparent or two willing to hold the baby while you took a shower or ran some errands. Unfortunately, this isn’t possible anymore – new parents are on their own. Needless to say, this can lead to you feeling overwhelmed, since you have to juggle quite a bit more. So, how can you cope in this instance? Here, it is all about the division of labour. You and your partner should be equally sharing responsibilities. This way, the work gets cut in half. Not to mention, you will have a lot more time to spend together as well. Take care of yourself Whether it is the demands of being a new parent or the worries regarding COVID-19, it can be easy to stop taking care of yourself. You may not eat proper meals or fail to exercise on a regular basis. Not only can these bad habits compromise your health, but it can also have a negative impact on your mental health. So, start by planning out your meals a little better. Not in the mood to cook? Look for healthy foods that you can whip up quickly, maybe even without turning your stove on. Keep the processed foods to a minimum and load up on fruits and vegetables instead. If you can get some fresh air and exercise, do try to manage this. Take the proper precautions to wear a mask and ensure that your baby is well-protected to. Carry hand sanitiser and check that no one comes to close to you and your little one. You should also exercise indoors as well. Take a portable bed or cot and keep your little one beside you. Then, workout as needed. It will make you feel a whole lot better. Look for online healthcare support It is natural to freak out about how your baby is doing as a new parent. Every sneeze or too-long cry can seem suspicious. To ensure that your baby is in peak health, accumulate a number of online healthcare contacts. This could be a paediatrician, pediatric nurse, or even a doula. Just have someone that you can call or message if you have any questions. This way, you will be able to put your mind at ease and take some of the stress out of being a new baby. Remember that if you have serious concerns, though, it is best to take your baby to a hospital. Social distancing doesn’t mean an end to socialising The main problem with isolating during the pandemic is the feelings of isolation that come along with it! This can increase when you have a new baby. After all, this was supposed to be a time for you to show off your little one to family members and friends. Thus, you may feel especially removed from those closest to you, particularly your parents. Well, just because you need to partake in social distancing doesn’t mean that the socialising has to come to a total stop. Use technology to keep you with the people in your life. This is particularly important for new grandparents. They can often feel like they are missing out and may feel rather down about it. Video calls on a regular basis, however, can make them feel more involved. These calls can be detrimental for your sanity as well. Talking to people – especially ones that haven’t thrown up on you that day – can act as a stress reliever. You can voice concerns, talk about any issues you may be facing, or simply gossip! These are all the ways that you can cope as a new parent during the pandemic. It will be tough, but this is definitely something that you will be able to manage and get through. Written by Chathurika Kahavita
