Dressing for the Season: How Should I Dress My Baby?

Dear parents,

You've probably seen those tiny "astronaut" babies in the park during winter, dressed in layer upon layer, with only their eyes visible and unable to move. Or maybe the elders at home are constantly nagging you: "He has no socks on, this child will get sick!"

Dressing a baby correctly is one of the parenting arts that requires the finest tuning. If you dress them too lightly, they get cold; if you dress them too heavily, they sweat and get fussy. So, what is the right way? What does science tell us about babies' body temperature?

Let's put urban legends aside and find that "golden balance" to keep your baby happy and safe in every season.

Body Thermostat: Why Are They Different From Us?

Babies' (especially newborns') mechanisms for regulating body temperature are not yet mature. When we get cold, we shiver (produce heat); they cannot shiver. Their sweat glands do not work at full capacity either. Therefore, they are more sensitive to the ambient temperature than we are.

But beware. This sensitivity does not mean we need to bundle them up in layers constantly. In fact, research shows that overheating is much more dangerous for babies than being cold (it increases the risk of SIDS).

The Golden Rule: "You + 1 Layer"

The general rule is: Dress your baby in just ONE LAYER more than what you are comfortable wearing in that room.

• You: Are sitting in a t-shirt,
• Baby: Can wear a long-sleeved thin bodysuit + a thin cotton shirt over it.

Note: When the baby starts moving (crawling/walking), their metabolism speeds up, and dressing them in the SAME thickness as you is sufficient.

Why Are Hands and Feet Always Icy Cold?

This is where parents most often get it wrong. Do not touch your baby's hand or foot and say "Oh no, freezing!" and throw a blanket over them. Since babies' circulatory systems are not fully developed yet, blood goes to vital organs (heart, brain, lungs) first. It reaches hands and feet last. Correct Checkpoint: Touch your baby's back of the neck or chest to understand if they are cold.

• If the neck is warm, the baby is fine.
• If the neck is sweaty, you have overdressed them; remove a layer immediately.

Sleepwear and TOG Values

For babies who kick off covers at night, the safest solution is "Sleep Sacks" (Wearable Blankets). Loose blankets are not recommended under age 1 due to suffocation risk. When choosing a sack, look at the TOG (Thermal Overall Grade) value:

• 0.5 TOG: Summer heat (24°C and above room temp)
• 1.0 TOG: Spring / Mild winter room (20-23°C)
• 2.5 TOG: Cold winter room (16-19°C)

Critical Winter Safety Warning: Car Seats and Coats.

This information saves lives: Never put your baby in a car seat wearing a puffy coat. In the event of a crash, the air inside that puffy coat instantly deflates, and the harness becomes loose. The baby can be ejected from the seat. The Right Way: Buckle the baby into the seat in normal clothes, tighten the harness, and then drape the coat/blanket over the straps.

Staying Cool in Summer: Cotton and Muslin

Avoid synthetic (polyester) fabrics in hot weather. These prevent the skin from breathing and lead to heat rash. Choose natural fabrics like 100% cotton, bamboo, or muslin. And remember, the skin of babies under 6 months is defenseless against the sun; stay in the shade and definitely use a hat.

Does Sickness Come from the Cold?

Our elders say, "He got cold, that's why he got sick." However, scientifically, the cause of illness is not cold weather, but viruses and bacteria. Of course, extreme cold (hypothermia) can lower immunity, but a child won't get pneumonia just because their socks were taken off. On the contrary, clean and cool air is good for immunity.

Dear parent, trust your instincts and the "neck test." Your baby will be much happier exploring the world in clothes that allow them to move freely rather than turning into a cabbage!

Wishing you comfortable days.

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References

This article is based on the following scientific studies, clinical guidelines, and World Health Organization documents.

1. Moon RY, Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (2016). SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Evidence Base for 2016 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment. Pediatrics, 138(5), e20162940. PMID 27940805

   • (The AAP task force's evidence base for the 2016 safe-sleep recommendations, establishing that overheating and the sleep environment are modifiable SIDS risk factors.)

2. Bach V, Telliez F, Krim G, Libert JP (1996). Body temperature regulation in the newborn infant: interaction with sleep and clinical implications. Neurophysiologie Clinique = Clinical Neurophysiology, 26(6), 379-402. PMID 9018699

   • (Reviews how newborn thermoregulation interacts with sleep and how environmental temperature is managed clinically.)

3. American Academy of Pediatrics (2025). Winter Car Seat Safety Tips: Keeping Kids Safe & Warm. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Winter-Car-Seat-Safety-Tips.aspx

   • (AAP parent guidance warning that bulky winter coats must never be worn under a car-seat harness and explaining the one-layer-more dressing rule.)

4. Bach V, Libert JP (2022). Hyperthermia and Heat Stress as Risk Factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A Narrative Review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10, 816136. PMID 35498814

   • (Narrative review synthesizing the evidence that hyperthermia and heat stress raise the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.)

5. Okken A (1991). Postnatal adaptation in thermoregulation. Journal of Perinatal Medicine, 19 Suppl 1, 67-73. PMID 1779399

   • (Physiological review of how newborns adapt thermoregulation after birth and why peripheral skin such as the hands and feet is cool.)

6. World Health Organization (2022). WHO recommendations on maternal and newborn care for a positive postnatal experience. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240045989

   • (WHO postnatal care guideline covering thermal care of the newborn, including keeping the baby warm without overheating.)

7. World Health Organization. Newborn health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/newborn-health

   • (WHO topic page on essential newborn care in the first days and weeks of life, the period when thermal regulation is most fragile.)