Guest Blog from Vicki – Wakefield Mumbler
The cold weather always seems to catch me by surprise!
Mini Mumbler was born in the middle of a heat wave so when the temperature dropped for his first winter (he was 6 months old), it was all a complete new learning curve when getting him dressed and taking him out for a walk!
Here’s some tips for keeping a baby and child warm in winter
- Dress your little one in layers so you can easily take a layer off if you go indoors.
- Choose natural fabrics that are breathable such as cotton or wool.
- Pop on a hat to keep their head warm. You can get some great ones that cover ears and cheeks for maximum warmth.
- Wear mittens. I know this is easier said than done and it is so difficult to get the thumb in the thumb hole! After 3 winters we have just come across mittens that have a long zip that goes down to the thumb – genius!!
- Mini Mumbler gets cold, especially on his extremities and we once had a painstaking walk back to the car as his toes had got too cold; it was awful! We have now ditched wellies for snow boots as our trusty winter outdoor footwear. Last year we got them from Sainsbury’s but have also bought from Asda in the past. They are insulated, waterproof and the best bit, they stay on his foot!
- When Mini Mumbler was a baby I carried him in a sling and worried about his feet getting cold. My Mum knitted him some long socks that went up to his knees to keep him all snuggly!
- Car seats!! Every winter there is a campaign to inform parents and carers not to put their baby or child in a thick coat or snowsuit in a car seat. Please don’t do it as there is too much material between the child and the car seat straps, leaving space for your child to become unsecured in the car seat.
- Put a spare coat or snowsuit in the car just in case you break down.
- Watch out for dry skin on your little one as it can become itchy for your child.
- Use a moisturiser or a balm to lock in the moisture. I found that Lansinoh nipple cream worked great on Mini Mumbler’s chin whilst he was teething in the winter!
- Check out Lullaby Trust and their room temperature page.
Thanks so much to our guest blogger Vicki. If you have family or friends in Wakefield be sure to let them know about the Wakefield Mumbler site.