Essential Winter Items for 0 – 24 months

Winter is here and we are rugging up~

Our daughter was born in late autumn. Having lived in the subtropical climate all our life, we had no idea how to dress our baby for the Philadelphian winter. Throughout her infancy, we were constantly concerned that she might be cold. After two years of practice, I developed a winter clothing strategy to suit our comfort level (see table above). When dressing our child for warmth, we layer clothing of different warmth level to achieve an overall target value that suit the outside temperature. This minimised the guesswork of getting dressed and allowed us to know exactly what type of clothing is required when preparing for the cold. As a result, we found that there are a few absolute winter clothing necessities that our baby needed in the first 24 months of her life:

Stroller Footmuff

Especially for the first winter of the baby’s life, stroller footmuff was our best friend when going out. Blankets, not to mention that they are a SID hazard for infants, are difficult to provide warmth efficiently when there is a wiggling baby underneath it, or when the howling wind is blowing in all directions. Thick fleece suits or snowsuits are wonderful for sealing in the heat. They are great for walking/crawling children but infants sleep a lot in the first few months of their life. When you go indoors and the child is napping, trying to get the suit off a sleeping baby without waking her is close to impossible. Sometimes you just have to give up and let the child roast in the suit, which is also inappropriate. In this situation, stroller footmuffs are much more manageable in that they provide a well-sealed but easily accessible cocoon for the baby. Our JJ Cole Infant Bunting kept the baby toasty warm in her first winter (after she suffered a couple of months being either too cold in a blanket or too hot in a winter suit). We loved it so much that we purchased the larger Toddler Bunting for her second and now third winter. Recently we have also scored a Bugaboo Universal Footmuff with a whopping 60% off discount from Bugaboo.com! This footmuff has a water resistant surface and two-way zippers that can accommodate older children. For an even colder climate, Bugaboo also has the down-filled High Performance Footmuff. Get one of those to stay extra cozy in chilly regions.

Base layers

During our first winter, I found that footed onesies are the best base layer for our baby. There is no chance of the top lifting up or bunching up under layers of clothing that makes the baby cold and/or uncomfortable. We love these super cute Fleece Footed Sleep & Play by Carter’s. For older babies and toddlers, the Uniqlo Heattech base layers are warm but thin, perfect for layering up in winter without the bulk. Lastly, fine wool is also our much-loved winter material. We have been using Disana Merino Wool Leggings as a winter base layer, as well as using it as pajama pants in case her cloth diaper leaked at night. They are warm, breathable, water-resistant, and only require occasional washing.

Light-weight Puffer Jacket

To keep the wardrobe efficient and affordable (but still super cute), a light-weight puffer jacket is a must for children of all ages. We love our Puffer Jacket by Primary.com. It is warm enough to wear alone in late autumn and compact enough to use as a warmer mid-layer under coats. We took our girl to her first ski trip at 13 month-old and she played happily in -10C wearing the outer shell of her 3-in-1 Ski Jacket and this puffer jacket underneath. **Get 20% off your first order with Primary.com with code: PRIMARYYI LOC6**

Winter Suit

As soon as our baby started crawling, the Columbia Western Barlow Bunting became our go-to winter outfit. It is warm and it is easy to put on and off. The last thing you want is to fight with your toddler for 30 minutes just to put her coat on, let alone the pants, the hat, and the mittens. All of these are built into this suit. Moreover, just like our beloved puffer jacket, you may use this bunting alone with a base layer, or wear it under a snowsuit for added waterproofing and warmth.

Shoes and Booties

We were able to score some pre-loved booties for our daughter in her first winter. Otherwise, the Zutano Booties would be in my essential winter gear list for pre-walkers. There are so many different colours to choose from, too! For walking toddlers, a pair of sturdy but soft leather enclosed shoes, such as our Hero by Livie & Luca, are more than sufficient to keep her feet warm. For wet and snowy days, these super light Crocs LodgePoint Boots are a breeze to put on and run in.

What are your must-have winter baby gears? Share with us below!