Winter is the time of year when baby care becomes a little more complicated. It gets more challenging since you still have to follow postpartum self care tips after delivery, along with taking care of your newborn. Babies are not yet old enough to regulate their own body temperature. So it’s up to us parents to take extra precautions for our baby to stay warm and healthy. Just like taking care of your baby during summer time, dressing your kid in appropriate winter gear to keep them warm without overheating is one of the most important things you can do.
Cold Weather Baby Caring Tips
Your infant may struggle over the winter. You may be concerned about keeping her warm or preventing her from contracting colds. Furthermore, it might be a lot difficult to expose your baby to sunlight during this season. We have some pointers to make this process easier. Find answers to some of the challenges that new parents face during winter.
Should I Stop Massaging My Baby During the Colder Months?
If you want to help your baby get warm in the winter, you can do something good for them. You have to get the house ready for your baby, making sure every thing is in order, especially during the winter. To help fight the cold temperature, you can give them a massage. It will make their blood move and also warm them up.
Make the massage comfortable for your baby by setting up everything you’ll need before you undress them.
- Before you massage your baby, make sure the room is warm. Do not let the heater be near your baby.
- When you are done with the massage, bathe in warm water. Bring cleansing soap, shampoo, and other items to bathe.
- Before touching your baby, make sure that your hands are not cold.
- Warm up the massage oil a little bit, just enough that it feels like your warm hands.
Your baby might cry when you take their clothes off. But if you rub them with warm oil and stroke them, they will stop crying and enjoy it. If they don’t like it, don’t worry and try another time.
If you like, you can keep her partially dressed. Take off her pants first and use a towel to cover her legs and feet when you are done massaging them. Then take off the rest of her clothes.
If she pees during the massage, remember to keep her nappy or cover her private areas. You can also keep the message short and quickly move her on to a bath. You can also consider having a bath with your baby, just make sure it wouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes.
In the Winter, What Massage Oil Should I Use for My Baby?
Mustard oil is a thick oil that has been used for generations in India to massage babies. It is popular in the winter because it is believed to have healing properties and can warm up your baby.
Some mothers heat the oil first. They use garlic, carom seeds, or fenugreek seeds. These ingredients are for heating, giving additional benefits to the oil. They help boost the baby’s immunity. But if your baby has sensitive skin, eczema, or any other form of a rash, mustard oil might not be good for her.
Most mothers will tell you that their baby’s skin is better when they put mustard oil on it. But some research says mustard oil can be bad for the skin because it takes away protection from your body. If your baby’s skin is sensitive or seems red after the massage, switch to a softer oil. If you use mustard oil, wash it off in her bath after the massage.
Other oils you can use in the winter for sensitive skin are sunflower oil, safflower oil, grapeseed oil, and unscented mineral oil. But olive oil is not good for people with sensitive skin because it has a similar effect to mustard oil. It can also hurt your protective skin barrier.
If you don’t plan to give your baby a bath, use baby lotion. It will not leave your baby sticky or slippery, and it does not stain clothes.
In the Cold, How Can I Keep My Infant Warm While Bathing?
Before taking off your baby’s clothes, make sure that everything is ready for their bath.
- Warm the room to a comfortable temperature.
- Fill the bucket with warm water.
- Prepare your baby’s change of clothes.
- Make sure you have the shampoo and baby cleaner in the bath.
You don’t need to bathe your baby every day when it’s cold. But you should still wash their private parts after they have a wet diaper and clean their hands before they eat or play. Be extra careful with their hands and remove dirt in their fingernails. You should also clean their neck and face folds with a cloth when eating or drinking milk.
If you bathe your baby, do it for no more than five and 10 minutes. This will help keep her warm and prevent her skin from drying out.
Give her a sponge bath if you want to get your baby wet on cold days. Wipe each part of her body with a clean towel before moving on to the next area.
What Types of Infant Outfits Are Appropriate for the Colder Months?
There are many kinds of winter clothes for babies. But it is not easy to find the warmest one. Put one more layer on your baby than you would wear. If you notice she’s cold or hot, take a layer off or put one on her.
The back of the neck is the best way to tell if your baby is too hot or too cold. If it’s wet, then she’s sweating and too hot. When it feels colder, then put on more clothes for her.
If your baby is hot, they might have red cheeks. They may breathe faster than usual and seem fussy even though they are well-fed, rested, and clean. You need to ensure that your baby does not get too hot because babies can lose fluids fast and become dehydrated.
Swaddle your kid under two months old. If their hands or feet feel cold, it is time to put on more clothes. If you touch them and look blue or blotchy, you need to see a doctor. Your baby should also wear mittens and booties when it is cold outside. This will keep them warm.
Newborn babies sometimes don’t know how to regulate their body temperature. If your infant is cold despite their clothing, take them into your arms. Your body heat will assist them in regulating their own body temperature. Make sure the clothes you buy for your kid are soft. Her skin is more sensitive than yours, so she needs to wear soft clothes. You can wear a wool sweater or a thermal if you put her in a cotton shirt first. If the wool made the skin red and irritated, use something softer to keep warm. You can find good quality clothes that are affordable – especially if you are looking for cheap alternatives for your baby.
How Can I Keep My Infant Warm at Night Without Overheating Her?
Don’t let your baby get too warm when they sleep. This may be related to sudden infant death syndrome, most commonly referred to as cot death.
Keep your baby’s room safe and comfortable by using a room thermometer. The temperature should be between 23 and 25 degrees C. If you don’t have a thermometer, the room should feel right for an adult who is not wearing many clothes.
To keep your baby from overheating, make sure her bed is not near radiators or heaters. Do not put a hot water bottle or electric blanket in her bed.
If your baby is less than two months old, you can keep her warm at night by wrapping her in a warm blanket. Utilize cotton, flannel, or fleece blanket.
Once your baby is two months old, it’s time to stop swaddling her. If she rolls over and gets stuck, she can’t breathe. Use a sleeping bag. If your baby remains cold, you can top the sleeping sack with a light warm blanket.
If you use a cot, put your baby in it with her feet touching the foot of the cot, so she cannot wriggle down and get her head under her blanket. Then tuck the blanket under the mattress on all three sides and make sure that the top of the blanket is at chest level and that her arms are out of it. Keep her face and head exposed to allow proper breathing and avoid overheating.
How Can I Safeguard My Infant From Seasonal Coughs and Colds?
It is not possible to keep your baby from ever getting sick, but you can do things to reduce the chance.
- Exclusively breastfeeding your baby will help her body fight off infections. That is true even if you get sick with the flu.
- Make sure that you wash your hands often. Ask others to do the same. It is equally critical to wash your baby’s hands, even if she is crawling and attempting to grab objects.
- Keep your baby away from sick people.
- If your infant is more than six months old, she should receive the flu vaccine. It will safeguard her against more severe kinds of flu.
- If you or your husband smoke, make an attempt to quit. Babies exposed to smokers have a higher rate of coughs, colds, and other viral diseases than babies who are not exposed to smokers.
When Should I Take My Infant to the Doctor If They Become Ill?
If you have a common cold, it can be hard. It usually does not need to go to the doctor. But if your cold has other symptoms, you should see a doctor. These include:
- Your baby may have an ear infection if she pulls at her ear and cries.
- If your infant is wheezing or having difficulty breathing.
- If your newborn is less than three months old and has a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, or 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, consult your physician.
If your baby is sick, you should see some home remedies that are safe for babies.
To learn more about caring your baby in winter, you can check out this link.
Frequently Asked Questions About Caring for Your Baby in Winter
How Do You Take Care of a Baby in the Winter?
It is best to dress your baby in clothes that will keep them warm in the winter. You want to be sure they are protected from the cold. Keep them warm by using a humidifier and moisturizing often. Remember not to put clothes on your baby that are too hot because it could make them sick. If you have eczema, you should use a cream or steroid treatment for babies made for this condition.
What Can I Put On My Baby’s Face in Winter?
When your baby has chapped skin, it can be hard for them to heal. You can help by putting on something that will keep their skin moist. You could put on petroleum jelly, Eucerin, or Aquaphor.
How Can I Keep My Baby Warm in Winter in India?
Dress your infant in three layers to keep him warm. A cotton bodysuit and leggings should be the initial layer. On a second level, a warm shirt and jeans may be worn. And finally, cover your baby with a jacket, mittens, cap, and socks.
Do Babies Cry When They Are Cold?
Your baby may cry when it is hot or cold. If the baby is fussing, look for signs of being too hot or cold. Signs of being too hot are sweating, damp hair, heat rash, and clammy skin.
What Do 6-Month-Old Babies Need for Winter?
By 6 months, a baby may be happy about the feeling of snow. This is because snow is a new texture. It can also be slippery or cold, so babies need clothes that keep them dry. They should wear a waterproof snowsuit with attached feet or a snow jacket and waterproof pants and boots.
What Is the Best Time of the Year to Have a Baby?
The study found that mothers who conceived from June to August gained more weight during their pregnancies and gave birth to babies. Who were on average 8 grams heavier than those born in other months?
Can I Use Ghee for Baby Massage?
Ghee is also used to make babies feel better. It makes their skin more smooth and supple, which helps them grow stronger and faster.
Is Ghee Good for Baby Massage?
Ghee is good for baby massages. It has a natural moisturizing quality and helps make their skin soft and healthy. Use it instead of other products like lotion that contains chemicals.
Does Baby Oil Darken Skin?
Generally, baby oil will not darken your skin when used to moisturize. But some experts suggest mixing baby oil with iodine, a dark-colored solution usually used as an antiseptic. And rub it on the skin in concentric circles to get an instant darker color.
