The first winter is very crucial for the baby. Ayu was born in September and we stayed at my hometown (Chandigarh) during his first winter. I was worried about the cold and infections. But thankfully we had a smooth winter season. I learnt a few tricks from the mistakes I made and have explained them in this post. I hope you have a stress free and snuggly time with your new born.
Understand why the first winter is crucial
Babies are not able to regulate their body temperature like us adults. And that is the reason they are not able to cope up with the cold during their first winter. This cold can lead to some serious infections and illnesses. And thus, we need to be careful.
Dress him in layers
Layering is the trick to protect the baby from the cold. My doctor recommended to dress the baby in one layer extra as compared to me. So if I am wearing 3 layers of clothes, he should wear four. The clothes should be breathable to avoid over heating.
Do not bathe him everyday
Babies do not get dirty too soon. Bathe him once in 2-3 days to avoid dehydrating his skin. And bathe him right. Check the water temperature by inserting your elbow in the water. Too hot water rips the moisture off the baby’s skin and can cause irritation. Give a quick bath and put clothes on him immediately. Cover the head and chest as soon as he is out of the water. That helps in retaining the heat for some more time and prevents sudden change in body temperature.
Use a good moisturiser
A good moisturiser should be applied as soon as the baby is out of the bath. Moisturise according to the skin of the baby. If his skin is too dry, apply a moisturiser 2-3 times a day. If it is supple, one application would be enough.
Keep baby’s vaccinations up to date
Get your baby the necessary vaccinations at the right time. That helps protecting him from harmful diseases. Flu shot is given after the baby turns six months old. And is now mandatory in India too.
Keep the Hands clean
Babies love putting their hands in their mouth. And that can transfer germs. Wash his hands a number times during the day. Or use good wipes to regularly clean his hands. Anyone who touches the baby should wash his hands first or use a good hand sanitiser.
Keep baby’s feet /head covered
Keep baby’s head or feet covered at all times. Any one would be fine (indoors). When taking the baby outside in cold, make sure you dress him up properly and cover his head, feet and hands too.
Sunlight
Try to take him out in the sun as much as possible because it is an excellent source of vitamin D and also helps to improve the immunity of the baby.
Humidifier
Invest in a good humidifier and keep it in baby’s room. This helps in keeping the room warm and moist. This moisture helps in reducing the dryness in the baby’s nasal mucosa. If the baby suffers from blocked nose, use saline water drops to helps clear his nasal passage. Consult his doctor if you hear any type of wheezing sound or is he develops fever.
How was your first winter with the baby?
This was great~ It is my first babies first winter this year ! <3
We used a lot of these same suggestions with my little guy during his first winter and second winter and he did great! Good list.
Hey, very well explained. But why do you say either baby’s head or feet covered? I believe both should covered properly.
Hey. That is to avoid overheating. And indoors. Outside of course the baby needs to be covered from head to toe ❤️
Okay, that makes perfect sense. Thank you.
I had an October baby and bath times during winter were always stressful!! These are super helpful tips for new moms.
NO to wipes, yes to soap. Very easy to do with a washcloth. Wash and reuse!
Sounds like we are on top of it. Im not too worried though. Im from Denmark and there its very normal that your baby sleep outside in a big stroller for nap time, its proven that babies get a better immune system sleeping outside in fresh weather instead of a stuffed room. Just a little fun fact 🙂 Awesome post, always good to have a check list! Happy holidays <3
Such great advice. Layers is good suggestion because often it is cold outside but warm inside.
This is my baby’s second winter, but yes the first winter was scary in the beginning. We did good and all was well. These are great tips!
These are great suggestions. our winters never get that cold, so we didnt need to do much for our sons first winter
I have an October baby and I was equally tensed about our first winters. But we did well.. we dressed in layers too and used warm mustard oil for baby’s massages. We would also do some warm heater massages and keep her feet covered. Your tips are effective and I am sure will help new mommies.
Great tips. Winters are usually difficult with small kids esp new born babies. I still remember how difficult I used to find it with my first born.
This was so helpful for my future. I am still young but thank you for this.
good article packed with great advice 🙂 sharing with my friend who just had her 1st baby yesterday!
Wow. They are such useful tips to take good care of baby in winter
Sunlight exposure is so important.. Helps strengthen the boned and build immune system.. Nice practical tips
Wow such a well written post, need all of these tips and little one is really looking too cute!!!
Very healful advice. here winters are never that cold, so dint needs to follow much for my lo. Still, Winters are usually difficult with newborn babies.
Great tips Anchal! It is very important to layer up and keep the head, ears, feet and chest covered.
This is such a helpful post for all the new moms as winter can get really harsh for newborn babies. I will share with my friend who has recently delivered.
First winter of babies is very difficult. Parents are scared and really struggle to keep the baby safe and healthy. Great tips.
Wonderful tips! First winters are undoubtedly very crucial for infants. A lot of people believe that if first winters pass by without any infection to the baby, that ensures a good and strong immune system all through the child’s life.
Yes dear you are true that first winter is very crucial for little one.. This one helps alot
That’s a timely list! Though I guess it depends on the baby and location too. Here in Hyderabad, it’s never really cold enough to warrant covering my baby’s head (plus, she never let me :D)
We weren’t in a very cold place during my daughter’s first winters. And now she tells us when she’s too cold or too hot. You have some great tips there to keep little ones warm and comfortable.
Winter is some kind of joke in our part of the country!!! But yes, took care of all the points mentioned above for my first child’s second winter, as we were in the UK then and the change in climate was like extreme for all of us!
This is my baby’s second winter and this time I have prepared in advance. The first time around I didn’t do anything special and he caught his first winter flu. I give warm ajwain water on alternate days in the mornings to keep his immunity up.
Very essential and useful tips… I’m going to share it with my mommy friends
we had a smooth winters too thanks to layering ..i was able to remove layers when we visited stuffy places like restaurants…and agree they can’t regulate the body temp hence it is crucial..
Both my girls were born in December. And I really know the importance of these tips you shared.. Thanks this must help all new parents
Sensible and practical tips and looks like we are already doing quite a few of them right. Thanks for sharing
This is a great post for all new moms
I remember sitting for hours with my baby to soak in the winter sun. Also, endlessly researching on the perfect winter moisturizer. Motherhood is such a wonder. Good post!
Babies during this winter need to be taken care specially
I remember my mom saying that first winters are crucial. Mom’s have to he really careful. Good tips for moms with babies.
These are such helpful points. While going through the post, in my mind, I was thinking where is the sunbath point and finally saw that. Sunlight is very important for both newborn and new mother. That’s why like a custom, people massage new babies under sun light.
All the tips are so right; I have tried and tested these with my first baby.
Great advice – dressing in layers is so helpful as well as keeping baby moisturized.
Useful post for new mommies. Dressing the baby in layering always helps to avoid cold and too much heating.
Dressing in layers is important because when kids are indoors or while sleeping, they can’t be in too warm a set of clothes. Especially while sleeping there should be just enough layers to keep them from the cold, yet moms should take into account the fact that kids go really hot when sleeping and perspire too.
That’s right. Also because they feed multiple times. Makes them feel hot.
Awesome work by you, very essential and useful tips, i am going to share it with my mommy friends and family.
excellent work by you, very helpful for new moms