What you need to keep your Canadian baby warm

The temperature is falling and here comes the snow. You don't want to spend the winter season inside, afraid to take your baby out — it's Canada after all. Kids love a snowfall, and we all need fresh air and sunshine. By following some basic principles — including layering, wearing the right fabrics, and keeping dry — you and your baby can enjoy the great outdoors all winter long.

Materials matter

When buying winter gear for your baby, pay close attention to what it's made of. For deep cold, Lycra and silk are better insulators next to the skin than cotton. For a middle layer: flannel, wool, or fleece shirts will be warmer than long sleeve cotton t-shirts. Corduroy, lined pants, and overalls are warmer than blue jeans or cotton pants. Outside layers should be water resistant or repellent. Blankets made of fleece and wool will work best to fight sub-zero temperatures.

Layering your little one

Whether you are spending the days inside, outside, in the stroller or car, you should have layers of clothes or blankets that can be easily added or taken off to keep your baby the right temperature.

Take spares

Have dry replacements ready. You will need back up winter clothes so that wet ones can be removed and replaced by dry mitts, socks, and hats.

One challenge of winter dressing, especially in Canada where we have four seasons, is that we move from one environment to the next and the temperature is always changing. Here are some basic gear guidelines for the places you are most likely to be with your baby this winter.

Staying warm indoors

During the day

• Cotton onesies or t-shirts, will provide an extra layer for your baby if your home is at an average temperature.
• A snug, light weight sweater or sweatshirt can also provide an extra layer when playing inside.
• Thin wool or wool blend socks will keep your baby's toes warmer than cotton ones. If you do use cotton socks, a pair of slippers will do the same trick.

Tip: A good rule of thumb is to dress your baby in one more layer than you are wearing.

Naps and night time

Warning: Babies should not be put to sleep covered in loose or thick blankets due to the risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• Sleeping bags or sleep sacks
  are safer than loose blankets. Simply zip your baby into a sleeping bag over their pyjamas and you won't have to worry about blankets falling off or a chill in the middle of the night. You can find bags made of different materials, including cotton and fleece. Some sleep sacks have sleeves while others are sleeveless. The most important thing to consider is the sleeping bag should fit well around your baby's arms, and neck, and be long enough that they can stretch their legs out straight.
• Sleepers
  Besides being really cute, these pyjamas are perfect for the winter. They keep your baby's toes and hands warm. When layered with a cotton onesie, and a light blanket, they may be warm enough for a mild winter night. On really cold nights, these pyjamas layered with a sleeping bag will keep your baby toasty.
• Cotton hats
  For your newborn, tiny cotton hats are a great way to keep them warm when sleeping and in the car.
• Blankets
  A light muslin or cotton blanket, tucked under baby's arms, can provide that extra layer of warmth needed overnight.

Tip: If you are wondering about the temperature of your baby's room, use a room thermometer.

Outside for the day

Dressing for chilly winter days can be daunting, not to mention time consuming! Here are the essential items.

• Snowsuits and bunting bags
  Find snowsuits or bunting bags that are very easy to put on and take off. Some come with a single zipper, which may make your life a lot easier. Snowsuits have form-fitting legs and arms, and most are equipped with hoods, while buntings are more like little sleeping bags, sometimes with a seam between the legs to make stroller snap-ins easier. Look for gear with a good layer of insulation and a water-repellent exterior fabric.
• Long underwear
  If you are planning to be outside for long periods of time, you might consider buying long underwear for your baby. Any absorbent synthetic fabric next to the skin will keep your baby dryer, and warmer, outdoors.
• Socks
  A single layer of socks that are wool, wool blend with silk or polypropylene will offer good insulation against the wet snow. Do not buy extra thick socks since they can make your ba-by's feet cold by restricting blood flow and air circulation around toes.
• Hats
  You need a warm, close fitting hat that covers your baby's ears. Experts from Sick Kids hospital in Toronto warn parents not to use fashion hats or baseball caps to fight the cold.
• Neck warmer
  Sick Kids' experts also recommend a tube-shaped neck warmer instead of a scarf because of the risk of strangulation.
• Mitts
  Babies should wear mitts instead of gloves, to keep their fingers warmer. (Plus, gloves are impossible to get on little fingers!) Have several pairs of mittens with you at all times so you can switch to dryer ones when needed. For small babies, mitts that extend up to the elbow will be easiest to keep on. Or better yet, opt for the bunting that covers them completely, so you don’t have to worry about it!li>
• Boots
  If your baby's snowsuit or bunting bag does not cover their feet, dress them in warm waterproof boots that have enough room for little toes to wiggle.

Tip: Check out second-hand stores or Facebook Marketplace, and ask around in your mom groups before buying a brand-new snowsuit or bunting bag. Kids usually wear snowsuits for only one season because they outgrow them quickly. That means you can usually find a barely-used snow suit that is in great shape for a quarter of the price, if not free. Alternately, if you plan on saving winter gear for subsequent kids, it might be worth investing in new, good quality items that can be washed and stored for the future.

In the car

For safety reasons, experts recommend you avoid putting your baby in their car seat while wearing bulky winter coats and snow pants. Here are some good options for keeping your baby warm — and safe — in the vehicle. Layers. Dress baby in snug light layers, such as a warm hat, onesie, thin hoodie, snug fleece jacket, and fleece-lined pants.

• An extra blanket.
  Tuck a blanket over the fastened straps in the car seat. Remember to remove the blanket and/or hat if your baby is too warm.
• A car seat cover.
  These are shower-cap style wool and fleece-lined covers with elastic edges that stretch around the outside of your car seat and have a hole where your baby's head pokes through.

Safety tip: Transport CanadaOpens a new window advises parents to avoid after-market covers that go behind your baby or sleeping bags in the car seat as this could cause the straps to become loose and unsafe in case of a crash.

Read more from a car seat expert on how to keep your baby safe in their car seat during the colder months.