These are the clothes your December baby will need, and we have thought of Christmas too!
If your baby is due in December, your first few weeks together will fall right in the middle of winter. It is cold outside, often windy, and the mornings can be frosty. At the same time, your home will be warm, Christmas is getting closer, and everything starts to feel that little bit cosier.
The good news is that dressing a baby for winter is not as complicated as it may seem at first. With a few well-chosen pieces, you can easily put together your little one’s first winter wardrobe. In this article, we will go through what you will need, how to dress your baby at home and for walks, and we will also choose some of LiaaBébé’s winter-toned and Christmas-inspired baby clothes.
What clothes will your baby need in December?
In short:
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long-sleeved bodysuits
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warmer sleepsuits
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a thicker sleeping bag for sleep
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a winter hat and socks
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a blanket and/or footmuff for walks
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footed trousers
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a jumper
In the first few weeks, babies grow quickly, so it is worth choosing a handful of pieces that can be easily mixed and matched.
What is the weather usually like in December?
December is a proper winter month. The average monthly temperature can be around +1 to +4 °C, which means that during the day, the air is usually just a few degrees above freezing. Daytime temperatures are often around 2 to 6 °C, although milder spells can happen too, when the temperature may rise above 10 °C.
Nights and early mornings, however, can be much colder. The temperature may drop below 0 °C several times, and throughout the month there can be around 10 frosty days on average. Occasionally, there may also be cold mornings below -5 °C.
December weather is often foggy, damp or windy, and during the month there may be several rainy or even snowy days. That is why, for outdoor walks, it is always worth being prepared with warmer clothing and taking an extra blanket with you.
How should you dress your baby at home in winter?
According to professional recommendations, a room temperature of 22 to 25 degrees is ideal for newborn babies. They need a slightly warmer room temperature because they cannot yet regulate their own body temperature properly. A room temperature of 22 to 25 degrees is safe for them, helping to prevent them from getting too cold or overheating.
If the room temperature stays constant during the night, LiaaBébé recommends a bodysuit and sleepsuit for your baby up to around 24 degrees, paired with a sleeping bag. At a room temperature of 25 degrees, a bodysuit is usually enough under the sleeping bag or blanket. The material should be soft and stretchy, so dressing your baby feels easy and gentle. Temperature-regulating fabrics can help keep your child’s body from getting too cold or too warm.
What should a newborn baby wear during the day?
A newborn’s daytime outfit is similar to their night-time clothing. Up to around 6 weeks of age, babies are not yet able to properly balance the environmental factors that affect their body temperature. They do not move much yet, so their body does not produce heat in the same way as older babies who are already wriggling, rolling, crawling or moving around more. This is why it is especially important to make sure your baby wears one more layer during the day than you would feel comfortable wearing yourself.
Going for a walk with your baby in winter, yes, it can still be a good idea
Many parents are unsure whether it is okay to take a baby out for a walk in winter. In reality, fresh air, when it is not freezing and not too cold, can still be good for your baby, as long as they are dressed properly. Get them used to the cold gradually, and start with short outings.
During December walks, a newborn baby usually lies still in the pram and does not move around, so they can get cold more quickly. Their outdoor outfit should always be one layer warmer than yours. It is an old piece of advice, but it still holds true. Usually, your baby will wear a bodysuit, a sleepsuit, a warmer footmuff, plus a hat and socks. A blanket can also be useful in the pram, especially in windy weather. In this case, you can place a muslin cloth or some kind of wind protection in front of your little one’s face.
What does the TOG rating mean for sleeping bags and baby blankets?
TOG is a unit of measurement that indicates the thickness and warmth of a material. It shows how well baby clothing keeps your child’s body warm. The higher the TOG rating, the warmer the sleeping bag or baby blanket.
To help you choose:
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0.5 TOG 22 to 25 °C
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1.5 TOG 20 to 23 °C
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2.5 TOG 18 to 21 °C
So, if the temperature in your home is 23 degrees, you can choose between 0.5 and 1.5 TOG depending on what your baby will wear underneath the sleeping bag.
Our favourite winter-inspired LiaaBébé baby clothes
Now for the loveliest part. If you enjoy planning, styling and choosing a beautiful winter-inspired outfit for your baby in December, go for clear blue shades and matching seasonal patterns. The Luna Blue sleeping bag is a soft pale blue, while Stormy Night is grey. Among the bodysuits, you will find Dreamy Blue, Lagoon Blue, pale Luna Blue and Ocean Blue pieces too. The Night Sky bodysuit features a constellation pattern, while Stars has a classic star print.
The sleepsuits are beautiful too. Alongside Luna Blue and Ocean Blue, the Ice Grey Dinosaur zip-up sleepsuit looks wonderfully sweet on the tiniest babies. The baby blankets are available in patterns that match the little outfits, such as Ice Grey, and it is also worth taking a look at the Aqua-Stormy Night blanket.
Choose a hat and mittens to match your baby’s outfit.
One more little extra: let’s think about Christmas too. Red and green bodysuits and footed trousers are also available from us.
Why does the right material matter in winter?
Newborn skin is sensitive, and clothes that are too thick or do not breathe well can easily make babies overheat, while clothing that is too thin can leave them feeling cold.
Bamboo-fibre clothing is popular because:
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it helps regulate body temperature
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it is soft and kind to the skin
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it is breathable
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it is also so stretchy that even tiny, delicate babies are easy to dress
LiaaBébé baby clothes are made from these materials so babies can feel comfortable in both colder and warmer months.
Frequently asked questions about dressing a December baby
When is it too cold to take a newborn for a walk?
Generally, below -5 °C it is better to keep trips short if you really need to go out, or to skip the walk altogether.
Does a newborn need mittens in winter?
On colder days, thin baby mittens can come in handy, especially if it is windy.
Can I use several blankets in the pram?
Yes, but many parents find a footmuff more practical because it provides more even warmth.
If your baby is born in December, the most important things are layered dressing and choosing comfortable, natural-fibre clothes . A few well-chosen bodysuits, sleepsuits and sleeping bags are more than enough for the first few weeks.
And do not forget: your baby’s first Christmas is a special moment. A sweet festive outfit will not only look lovely on them, but will also become a beautiful memory for the whole family.
Written by Mónika Veres
References:
NHS, “How to dress a newborn baby
The Lullaby Trust, “Safer sleep in cold weather
