If you’ve hit this blog post, you’re probably wondering “What do I actually need for a newborn in winter?” One of the questions I get the most is how to dress your baby – newborn or not – in the winter. Today I’m sharing my 10 winter items that you must have for your baby. You might be surprised by the winter baby clothes I’m going to suggest, or maybe not!

10 Must-Haves for Baby Winter Clothes

You can see more of my baby winter clothes recommendations on my Amazon storefront, an easy place for me to share everything I recommend for baby!

1. A blanket. We have two blankets that we used constantly last winter. This small pink blanket (it’s been a top seller at this retailer since it came out over 5 years ago!) is soft and great as an extra layer in the car seat bucket (always over the safety straps, not under). This (monogrammable!) lined blanket is great to cover the stroller or car seat against the cold and wind. It’s a nice size so you can use it for a toddler, too, and not just in the infant years.

2. Car seat cover. When the weather gets chilly, you need an extra layer over the car seat. I say over because it’s not safe to add anything into the car seat between your baby and the straps. I loved this car seat cover that zipped up to keep baby’s body heat in. The flap was super helpful to put up when the wind got extreme and I didn’t want the baby to be subjected to the elements. Update: Now that we have our baby boy and are outside a lot more, I bought this car seat cover that is better suited for VERY cold temperatures. I’d highly recommend this heavier car seat cover if you live in a very cold area (where it gets down to 20 degrees or less).

3. Hat and mittens. When you have a young baby, hats are super important. It’s hard for an infant to regulate his or her body temperature, so keep an extra hat in the car in case you forget to grab one on the way out. Once your baby is a bit older and can pull off clothing items, you need something that will stay on – like this infant hat with a fastener and these mittens that have a fasten strap on them. You may also want to get some mitten clips so you don’t lose a mitten!

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4. Cozy sweaters. Practically every day our baby was in an infant sweater from one of our favorite brands.

5. A car seat-safe fleece jacket. You’ll want to have something with a hood on it for added warmth, like these fleece jackets that moms LOVE or these hooded sweatshirts. If my baby wasn’t in a sweater, she was definitely wearing a hooded sweatshirt. (Note: The fleece jackets are really easy to use in the car seat, where it’s unsafe to use a puffy winter coat.)

6. One-piece bunting. For the coldest days, you’ll need a one-piece bunting. They are really cute – and warm!

7. Booties. You know how cold your toes can get if you’re not wearing the right shoes? Make sure your baby’s toes are nice and toasty. These booties are easy to slip on and off and are budget-friendly, too! (Buy them in a size up.) Or you could go for this popular boot style (who doesn’t love UGG boots?) instead. And add in wool socks, too.

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8. Extra layers. I always grab an extra layer or two when we’re heading out and I know we’ll be spending time outside, just in case. It could be as simple as a thermal long-sleeve shirt or more involved like a “bear suit” as we call them. I just always like to be prepared in case the weather turns colder than I thought it would be! And I always have an extra fleece blanket in the car!

9. Fleece jammies. Nearly every day in the wintertime we put the baby in infant fleece pajamas. With the attached feet they’re extra warm, and they’re just really easy for a small infant, too! (We always layered an undershirt underneath.)

10. Long-sleeve undershirts. Every site that you read about car seat safety will tell you that you need to do layers, as opposed to something like a puffer coat. When our baby girl was only 3 months old during her first New England winter, I put a long-sleeve undershirt under her fleece pajamas, and then I would layer on a hoodie or fleece coat if she was in the car seat, or I’d add a full bunting if we were out and about. When you layer dress your child, you can always take off a layer or add another if the weather changes.

What are babies supposed to wear in the winter?

When in doubt, dress your baby in layers. Just like us New Englanders dress in the winter, start with a base layer (like a onesie) and add on from there. Winter baby clothes can really be anything, as long as you are layering and covering their skin. Look for merino wool or fleece, which will keep the heat in. Just be sure you don’t let your child overheat! My everyday layers for going out on a chilly day for baby look like this:

• Snug leggings and a bodysuit
• Another layer of pants and a long sleeve shirt
• Jacket (fleece lined or light puffer), hat, mittens, and warm booties

How do I keep a baby warm in the car?

First, start the car ahead of time to warm it up if possible. Don’t put your baby in anything bulky in the car seat. (This is where layer dressing comes in handy!) Blankets should always go over the straps of the car seat so that the baby can be strapped in tight enough. If you have a bulky snowsuit or other item they’ll need to wear outside, wait until you get to your destination to put the baby in that. If you’re really concerned about the temps while they’re in the car seat, invest in a really warm car seat insert (which does not interfere with the straps), like the 7am Enfant.

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