Winter Preparation Tips for Moms of New Babies

Winter is a time we worry most about babies, whether they are warm enough or are they too warm? Have they had enough fluids and have they been filling up only on bready starchy foods too? And one of the biggest concerns when you wake at 3 am with a slightly cranking baby and wonder “How long has this little munchkin been wet?”! Though no one can make seasonal troubles go away or completely rid you of all your concerns, what we can do is give you some tips on how to prepare for winter when you have a small baby.

1.       Don’t over/under dress baby

 Ideally babies need two layers more than Moms and Dads but every baby is different, winter babies and babies from colder regions tend to need fewer layers than babies who experience winter seasonally. Layering is the best way to ensure comfort for baby. That way you can add or remove layers whether you are indoors or outdoors. Overdressing baby can lead to overheating and complication thereafter while under-dressing can expose baby to the cold and cause a drop in immunity. 

2.       Stock Up: 

stock up on innerwear for layering. Make sure you have an ample supply of thermal innerwear, stockings and leggings and other warmsies! The weather makes laundry take longer to dry and with food spillage, playtime and other messy moments, it is better to be prepared in time for the real cold.

3.       Kill Germs: 

Wash your hands often, despite the weather! Wash up after changing baby’s diaper, using the bathroom or handling dirty clothes and tissues, and wash well before holding or feeding your baby. It is advisable to keep a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer nearby or in handy areas. In this weather it is better to pay attention to the cleanliness of common household surfaces and toys as well, especially if other family members have been sick. You can use disinfectant to wipe door handles, phones and TV remotes. Clean baby toys in light soapy water and rinse well. 

4.       Pamper baby’s skin: 

Your baby’s skin is her first line of defense against disease. But winter air can be harsh on delicate baby skin, especially if your baby is already prone to eczema and other dryness conditions. Older babies may develop patches on their knees and elbows, even if they don’t scratch, from crawling across the floor. So be extra generous when applying lotion, oil or baby moisturizer. The best time to apply them is immediately after a bath, while the skin is still damp. 

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.           Head outdoors: 

Moving away from old school thinking, mothers are now being encouraged to head outdoors as long as there are no icy/stormy conditions. The cool, moist air in winters is great to build the immunity of babies and it helps keep the breathing passage  clear and open, in fact is baby is suffering from the sniffles, cold air will give them immediate relief. So bundle up and head out for a day in the sun, which will also help your baby and you get adequate Vitamin D for the cold days ahead!

STAY DRY: 

And most important of all, keep baby DRY. Choose not only convenient but comfortable and compassionate products when it comes to baby’s ‘toilet’ needs. They need the comfort and freedom to move around and explore and they need to remain dry on the skin. This is a good season to explore SmartBaby cloth diapers. The feel and comfort of cloth is unmatchable of course but it is the super absorbency and unique design of SmartBaby cloth diapers that make them a popular choice with mothers. What you need in winter is a diaper that is re-usable (think of the environment for a second), comfortable, one size fits all (yes they are!!), are easy to clean and have stay dry comfort … bumGenius, FLIP and Econobum all do!