A few tips to keep your babe warm during the winter months in New York City. Whether a local or a tourist, bundling our littles properly is a must.
- Layer, layer, layer. Dressing your child in a t-shirt and parka just will not do. I recommend dressing your littles in a onesie as opposed to a t-shirt to prevent possible tummy exposure. Then layer with a sweater/sweatshirt, and finally a coat.
- Choose pants that are lined. If you cannot find some, dress your babe – boy or girl – with leggings or tights under their little pants. I also recommend finding tall socks that go to their knees. This way when you are carrying your little (or baby wearing), if their pants become raised, they don’t expose their precious skin to the freezing temps.
- Suck it up and pay for good shoes. We personally have purchased baby Uggs for Baby Zog. I balked a bit at the $60 price tag but I was able to shop around and find a great deal. I recommend also looking on eBay or on Craigslist for gently used shoes. Baby Uggs keep tootsies nice and toasty even in below-freezing temps.
- Know how to protect your little in the stroller. We have gone through several phases of BundleMe’s. Our current version is the JJ Cole Toddler Arctic BundleMe. We were able to purchase it locally from another parent who used it maybe twice. Solid investment. It is like traveling in a fleecy on the inside, weather-proof on the outside sleeping bag. We also own a Phil & Ted’s Double Stormy Weather plastic cover. You might think this is just for rain – but it also works fantastically to keep the windchill off your baby – and the snow. You’ll see them on strollers right and left as you stroll the city.
- Buy a coat for yourself suited for babywearing. If you plan on babywearing often, then you should purchase a coat that is large enough to go around you and your child. Ergo used to make a coat that zipped up over baby, but it looks like it has been discontinued. This is solved easily enough – simply buy a coat in a larger size.
- Cover that little head and those little hands. Make sure you buy the right hat. This hat SHOULD include a warm fleece lining, ear flaps, and a tie under the chin. Heat is quickly lost through the head and this can make all the difference to a warm, happy baby and a cold, cranky baby. Also purchase warm mittens that are fleece lined. If possible, shop for some that also either have strings to go inside the coat or clips to attach to the coat sleeves. I’d also recommend purchasing a smaller pair to layer under a larger pair.
