Newborn: how to dress your baby in summer and winter

Baby arriving soon? And you don't know how to dress a newborn? Of all the worries you may have before baby arrives, the fear that your baby will be too hot or too cold comes up all the time! But don't panic, we'll explain everything!

Why dress baby warmly?

Birth is quite a shock! Baby suddenly goes from a lovely warm environment in mum's tummy (37°C) to a much cooler outside temperature. Baby can't cope with this temperature shock alone.

And there are two reasons for this:

Relative to their weight, a newborn's skin surface area is proportionally three times larger than an adult's. So a newborn is three times more exposed to temperature changes than we are!
It's the brain that regulates the human body's temperature. But the part of the brain containing the gland responsible for temperature regulation only starts working after several months.

How should you dress your baby at birth?

At birth, in summer as in winter, dress baby in warm clothes, at least for their first few days.

From the maternity ward to your first weeks at home, here is the typical outfit for baby, day and night!

First, a long-sleeved wrap bodysuit (crossover style) that opens fully at the front (this will make your life much easier when changing baby!).
Next, a velour sleepsuit (even in summer!) that opens at the front.
Then a wrap cardigan / warm cardigan in wool or cotton. Useful in winter and summer alike! Baby will go through a big temperature shock at birth, suddenly going from 37°C to around 20/22°C.
A cotton hat: essential to prevent any heat loss, whatever the season! It's important to cover baby's head and ears, because the body cools down through the top of the head. That's still true as we grow up (so yes, your parents were right to make you wear that gorgeous balaclava to school!)
A pair of socks or booties.

If your baby is born in summer, you can gradually dress them more lightly with short-sleeved bodysuits, lighter sleepsuits and possibly a lighter baby sleeping bag.

Which fabrics should you dress baby in?

Go for 100% cotton, preferably organic. Unlike synthetic materials, natural materials let the skin breathe. What's more, they greatly reduce the risk of allergic reactions. And baby's skin is particularly delicate at birth!
So to make the right choice when shopping, check that your clothes carry the Oeko-Tex label. This label guarantees that the clothes are free from harmful substances. And to be sure you're buying organic (and ethical!), look for the label GOTS. Ideally, you'd even have both labels!
That's actually the choice we made at Premiers Moments. All our lovely clothes are made of organic cotton and have been specially designed for the well-being of newborns.

When will baby be able to regulate their own temperature?

At around two months, baby will be less fragile. But they will still be immature when it comes to regulating their temperature! It's considered that only from 18-24 months will baby be able to regulate their temperature naturally. But they still remain more sensitive than an adult to changes in temperature.

As you'll have gathered, baby always needs to be well covered, especially during the first few days. In the height of summer or during an extreme heatwave, you can still dress them in lighter clothes. Premiers Moments also offers a whole summer collection that adapts to your little one's different needs!

Also make sure you dress them in clothes that are the right size. For more information on this, feel free to read our baby size guide.

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.