What's in your cold weather layette? « Back to Group Discussions

[cieloazul]

I'm starting to think about inventorying the baby clothes/gear we have and filling in any gaps. The gap I expect is how to keep baby warm as our last kid was born in a much hotter climate. What do you need or plan on having on hand in that respect? I want to keep the "stuff" to a minimum and make or thrift as much as possible and right now I'm not sure where to start (or stop!) TIA

[AlaskAnne]

Ugh, just thinking about this stresses me out.  I probably won't leave the house much in January for fear of freezing the poor baby.  Once I do feel comfortable taking him/her out for short walks, I'll probably use an Ergo and then bundle one of my husband's down jackets around us.  I'll look completely ridiculous but luckily most people in Alaska in the wintertime look ridiculous!  

For car travel, I'm hoping to find/make/be given a big ol' warm blanket to cover the car seat.  It seems like "buntings" are also a must?  I think these are just fleecy snowsuit looking things....

We have the Chariot stroller with the infant sling but I don't see us using that until April when the snow is melted and the temperatures are warm enough that I feel comfortable not keeping him/her close to me for body heat.

Our first big adventure will probably be trying to get to our cabin in March or so.  The cabin is a mile off the road and usually we ski or snowshoe.  I doubt we'll attempt skiing, but I think walking with snowshoes and babycarrying will work.  The other concern is that the cabin will be cold when we go out there.  It may be that my husband goes out first and gets a fire started while the babe and I hang out someplace warm.

Also, I need to start knitting lots of warm hats!  

[purposefuldoula]

I've been knitting up most of his warmer stuff. What I'd like to have in addition to onsies/t-shirts and gowns are a few cardigans, at least 4 pairs of longies, a few pairs of booties, gowns, rompers, and hats all knit up. With all of the different items, but just a few of each, he should have just enough to get through the winter. We'll see though, both of my girls spit up a ton, so if he's like that, he'll need some more shirts. 

[mamadiamond]

i've been starting to think about this too. dd was born in july so i have no winter newborn stuff. but we're about to move from DC where we get feet of snow and tons of sleet in the winter, to San Diego where i'm assuming is a milder climate. i'm worried about getting stuff that is too warm, actually. so i'm thinking long but cotton. going to get long sleeved onesies, and making cotton footie pants and some cotton sweaters. my mom is knitting me a wool and cotton blend carseat bunting. i think my other winter essentials are lots of booties, mittens, and hats. i have 4 warm sleepers that i was given for dd. i think in total i want to have 7 or 8 outfits, with a few sweaters and warm accessories, and lots of flannel swaddle blankets. i'll be wearing baby in the moby most of the time, and it is really warm (could hardly use it in the summer with dd). so as long as extremities are covered well, my body heat should keep baby pretty toasty.

[tropicana74]

Originally Posted by mamadiamond 

 my mom is knitting me a wool and cotton blend carseat bunting. 

I never lived there but as a frequent visitor I would guess that you won't have much need for the bunting. 
I lived in Northern CA where the weather is certainly cooler than SD and I really didn't even have a need for one. (I only mention it because you said it was being made....I always hate the idea of someone going through all that work for something that might not get used). Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe SD will have it's coldest winter in history and you will get to use the bunting a lot! 

[cieloazul]

Cool (no pun intended). I think I'm on the right track then. AlaskaAnne, you get the cold weather prize! We're looking at highs around 45F and that seems cold to me!

mamadiamond - My last was a December baby in San Diego. He came home in a footed cotton sleeper with a snap T-shirt under it and a light blanket over him. I think we had like 2-3 cotton hats and didn't use them much after the first month, ditto for socks. Mostly that winter he wore cotton t-shirts under a cotton gown or a cotton sleeper, or swaddled in a diaper. We didn't use any of the fuzzy synthetic sleepers or wool anything. By springtime...so February/March :) ...he was in short sleeves or onesies with babylegs. I loved babylegs in San Diego because the weather changes so much from AM to PM and from coast to inland, so in one day you may need to dress for several temp changes.

[Millie Ivy]

I'm in Dallas, and it's warm here.  We'll get some cold days/weeks in the Winter, but more like highs in the 40's than what most people are used to. Come Jan-March we could get some really colder spells with icestorms,but people tend to just stay in for those couple days, the roads don't get really taken care of and it's so few and far between.

This little guy is my first winter baby.  I have an April, May, and September.  Even with my September son, he was several months old before any cold set in, it was in the 100's when he was born. ;-)

I'm planning on cloth diapers, lots of wool longies, a few prorap covers, lots of cotton layering pieces (t shirts, onesies, footies, gowns), a couple of handknit sweaters and hats, socks and booties. 

Layering is important here in TX for the grown ups too, because temps change really quick, and no one is accustomed to cold-ish weather any more.  So you go out in a tshirt and a  sweater, and my the middle of the day a tank and cotton cardy is plenty, and in the evening you wish you had your coat. ;-)  My kids end up in slings a lot too, so wearing him will keep us both warmer than we probably care to be.

[segolilymama]

Baby Legs! I love those things in all weather, because they are so stinking cute - but with a winter baby, I have stocked up on a few more pairs. They add a layer of warmth, and when you are doing diaper changes keep their little legs warm :)

[AlaskAnne]

sego - do you buy them, knit them or make them out of something else?  my mom knitted me one pair out of sock yarn and they are sooo cute, but I don't think I have the patience to knit on that small of needles.  

[segolilymama]

I buy them. I really don't knit, though I was learning a bit and made a square once ;) We have a place here called 'baby steals' - it's actually an email thing you can get on and every day they have a daily deal, really good prices on lots of things. Anyway the warehouse & such is here, and they had a huge inventory blow-out recently, I think I paid $2 a pair for them. They can be $10-20 other places!

[Anyitara]

For the last baby, we had long sleeve onesies, cotton or fleece pants, fleece booties & mittens, a zip over thick fleece and a fleece blanket for over the carseat.  We didn't leave baby in the carseat, so no fear of overheating - plus we'd put the blanket down if we weren't in the bitter cold.  Mostly the kiddo ran around in the onesies and pants indoors.  This was in Iowa, so YMMV. :)

[DeeGee 1873]

I am in the same boat as Dallas/San Diego moms, except probably even warmer. It snows in Houston every 10 years or so. January and February are the coldest months in Houston, except we don't even really have a right to call it cold, cool at best. Long sleeve onesies, baby leggings, socks and hats are plenty. A cozy blanket for the car and some warm layering outerwear will be sufficient for even the coldest days. I have a great tutorial on how to make baby leggings from women's socks (easy to pick up several pairs at target for really cheap and quick to cut and sew). I am sad my friends didn't keep their site going, but they have some great money saving and craft ideas so I hope this comes in handy for some of you: http://embracethepenny.com/2010/12/10/baby-leggings-an-easy-homemade-gift-tutorial/

[lovemyzoo]

Fleece and woo pants and sleep sacs for home, warmth and cloth diaper covers.
Blankets over baby/carrier when out. I refuse rouse bulky ov clothes when using carseat. I have a few swears and sweat shirts but the 1st few weeks are easier with long sleeves, pants and blankets.
This is my 2nd winter baby in new york(last was in feb) and I have 2 northn babies in sept. most of my babies are wing but 4 were born in AL so.

[madis81]

Ooo... I'm trying to decide on "winter" clothes here. We really don't get cold weather, but if we travel north for 2 hours we have mountains and snow! We tend to travel the 2 hours for the "season". I think we might be able to get away with a blanket, long sleeves, a sweater or two, long pants, and perhaps a fleece zip-up cover thing (what are those things called?) to use if it gets chillier then usual. I want baby legs, because they are so stinkin' cute!

[lovemyzoo]

I use baby legs year round
I have a wool hat for the baby too

[kawa kamuri]

Onesies and cozy, footed sleepers. Hats. Bankets to put over and tuck around her while in the carseat. That's pretty much it. After all these babies in all these years that's what works best for me. 

[kel]

So I might have gotten a bit carried away;) - but it was fun to make a list and to keep it in mind when I'm stitching or thrifting! http://abrightermess.typepad.com/a-brighter-mess/2012/08/just-for-fun.html

[mamatwo8]

Wool, Wool , Wool and silk/wool... Ruskovilla, Engel and Lanacare... I  bought a bunch new for Nixie Last winter when she was slightly newborn... so Ill just use them, beacause I LOVE them. I have a bunch of yummy wool longies, wool softshoes, leather mocs, silk bonnets for indoors. Wool for outside. a few cotton lap shirts. In PA winter can be mild or crazy so we wil see.. Im not buying anything though. Ive been there done that and WONT do it again.

[kel]

I love those brands, too, but definitely waaayyy out of my price range! 

[TheDivineMrsM]

DD was born the same time of year (and my EDD for this baby is her second birthday). I had a stockpile of hats, fleece one-piece feety pjs, and swaddle blankets. We used a big fleece blanket to cover the car seat and a fleece bunting for outings on extra cold days.