There’s a chill in the air and the winter months are just around the corner. Can I be honest and say that the coldest months are hands down the most challenging time to dress a baby? With a little one at home, it’s easy to feel like the cold keeps you cooped up inside until spring’s arrival, but here’s another honest truth: with the right winter baby clothes handy, it definitely doesn’t have to be that way. Not only is getting outdoors in nature good for everyone, it can be a whole new level of fun to watch your baby take in their first snowy experience.
So let us help you get prepared for winter with a little one. From base layers and baby snowsuits to sleepers and wearable blankets, we’ve found the best baby gear for winter 2020 and 2021.
Sleep Tight: Bedtime Essentials for Winter
Warm Pajamas for Your Sleeping Babe
No matter how well you are or aren’t sleeping with a new baby in your home, keeping your baby warm at night shouldn’t be something else you need to worry about. Cozy pajamas like the Fleece Sleep and Play from Carter’s are a winter clothes essential you’ll be glad you added to your shopping cart.
The two-pack sold on Amazon has a 4.8-star rating a 3,567 reviews from mostly happy parents who insist these pajamas are soft and warm. In our house, we love to layer these pajamas over a simple, white bodysuit for an added layer of warmth.
The Warmest Sleep Sack
The Baby DeeDee Sleeping Sack is a wearable blanket made from quilted material to keep your baby warm when winter is in full swing. The fabric is 100% cotton, filled with polyester stuffing, and breathable enough for safe sleep all night long. While a few reviewers mention that the sleep sack didn’t hold up for long-term use, the majority have nothing but good to say about this 4.7 star rated sleep sack. My only question: where can I find something like this in my size?
The Most Versatile Sleep Sack
Since the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents dress their baby in thin layers during the winter months to keep them warm as part of safe sleeping guidelines, I wanted to feature another sleep sack that has a ton of potential for year-round use: the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle. It might not be the warmest option out there, but with thin layers underneath, it can easily work for cold winter nights and then your baby can be dressed down during warmer months.
“Cannot live without this!” said one of the 906 reviewers who gave this sleep sack a 4.8 star rating on Amazon.
Playtime: Keep Baby Warm During Outside Play
The Best Baby Bunting
With my fourth baby on the way, I need warm options for getting my baby outside so my big kids can burn off some steam every day. Bundling my baby up starts with really great bunting and I’ve got my eye on the Fleece Footed Jumpsuit by Carters.
Thanks to the 1,610 reviews and a 4.8-star rating, this budget-friendly option ended up on my baby registry. Some of the best features include fold-over mittens, attached booties, and a snug hood with darling bear ears.
The Warmest Booties
Whether you plan to spend a lot of time outside as a family or want a cozy option for cold mornings at home, these sweet little booties are seriously warm. Even if you have a non-walker, you’re going to want some soft and cozy baby snow boots to keep those little toes warm. We love the Hudson Baby version, because they are adjustable, washable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns in a warm fleece material.
The Zutano Cozie Fleece Booties also have a flexible fit, slide on easily and can be tightened at the ankle with snaps. They are available in sizes 3 to 24 months and you can choose from colors like heather grey, lilac, or navy blue. If you end up as happy with them as this reviewer, you just might want them in every color:
“I saw a baby last month wearing these amazingly cute little booties and had to get the 411 one them. My daughter now has about 6 pairs! They keep her feet warm, they are easy to put on, and most importantly they stay on for the most part.”
For walkers, you just can’t beat a pair of baby UGGs, can you? They are a bit on the higher-end pricewise, so you may want to size accordingly to get the most use out of them.
The Best Base Layer
A base layer is exactly what it sounds like—a first layer that adds an extra of warmth underneath your clothes. Wool is one of the best materials you can go with when choosing a base layer because it naturally wicks moisture from sweat away from the body.
Typically, I’ve shopped secondhand for base layers for my kids since they $75 to $100 for set. I was so impressed when I saw the affordable, 100% merino Wool Bodysuit available from H&M this year. Even if your plan for winter is a lot of time inside, something this cozy will get plenty of wear. Don’t forget to grab a pair of matching wool leggings!
The Coziest Mittens
Let’s be honest: baby mittens are kind of a headache to get and keep on, so when searching for a pair of mittens for my new baby, my priority was finding something warm and something wearable. The Zutano Baby Fleece Mittens check both of those boxes, plus they’re super cute.
The two mittens are attached by a string that can loop through a jacket, bunting, or coat. The mittens are thumb-free saving parents from the headache of getting them on just right. The mittens are available in one size meant for ages 0 to 6 months and you can choose from 11 different colors, including cranberry, navy, and lilac.
Warm, Wool Socks
As much as I hate to cover those adorable baby toes, these Thick Wool Socks from H&M look ideal for keeping baby feet warm. Made from wool and acrylic, they actually look like something your grandma might have knit you.
Hats Off to You, Baby
When it comes to winter baby hats, you need one important feature: some kind of fastener so it doesn’t come loose or your baby doesn’t pull it off. Some babies may go with the flow and keep a hat on their head (or be young enough it won’t matter), but others will fight that hat with all of their might. So, we suggest a stay-put but still safe and strap-free hat and mitten set from Carter’s Simple Joy’s—these look adorable on any baby and won’t come loose.
We’re also huge fans of babies in pom-pom hats, so you can take your pick of colors and mix-and-match so you always have a spare with this affordable option from American Trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I dress my baby to sleep in the winter?
The same rules apply for dressing a baby for sleep in the winter. Stick with light layers and aim for one more layer than you need at night to keep warm as recommended by the AAP. Babies shouldn’t sleep with a blanket, because of the increased risk of SIDs, so that extra layer will keep them cozy in their sleep.
What should my baby wear in the snow?
In the snow, keeping your baby dry is just as important as keeping them warm. For this reason, it’s a good idea to layer water-resistant bunting with a hood, fold-over gloves, and booties over the top of their everyday clothes. And when in doubt, you just can’t go wrong with a baby snowsuit for ease-of-use and convenience.
