In short: In winter, dress your baby in several thin layers, as a rule one layer more than you are wearing. Outdoors they need a hat, mittens and, in the pushchair, a footmuff. Strap them into the car seat without a coat or thick snowsuit. Indoors and for sleep, take the hat off, keep the room at 16–20 °C and check warmth on the back of the neck or chest.
Author: Eva Birsa, mum and co-founder of Evitas · Updated: 28 September 2026
The basic rule: one layer more than an adult
The NHS and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) share a simple rule: dress your baby in one more layer than you would wear in the same conditions. Choose several thinner layers instead of one thick coat, so you can easily remove or add a layer when you walk into a shop, a bus or your home.
It is just as important not to overheat your baby. The Lullaby Trust points out that babies are safer a little cooler rather than too hot, because overheating increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Table: what to dress your baby in during winter (guide)
| Where | Outside above 10 °C | Outside 0–10 °C | Outside below 0 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| At home (heated) | long-sleeved bodysuit + leggings or a sleepsuit; a thin cardigan if needed. No hat. | ||
| Outdoors in the pushchair | long-sleeved bodysuit, leggings, cardigan or jumper, thin hat; light blanket or open footmuff | bodysuit, leggings, jumper or knitted cardigan, warm pramsuit or jacket, hat, mittens, socks; pushchair footmuff | as for 0–10 °C plus one more thin layer, a warm hat covering the ears, mittens; closed footmuff, hood up against the wind; shorter walks |
| In the car seat | thin layers (bodysuit, leggings, jumper), hat and mittens; no coat or thick snowsuit under the harness. Put the coat or a blanket over the buckled harness. | ||
| Night-time sleep | room 16–20 °C; long-sleeved bodysuit (plus pyjamas if needed) + baby sleeping bag with a suitable TOG rating. No hat, no loose blanket. | ||
This table is a rough guide based on advice from the NHS, the AAP and The Lullaby Trust. Also consider wind, damp, sunshine and how your baby responds. Always check warmth on the back of the neck or chest.
How to dress your baby at home
In a heated home a baby usually needs only one or two layers: a long-sleeved bodysuit and leggings or a sleepsuit, plus a thin cardigan in a cooler room. No hat is needed indoors. The NHS and The Lullaby Trust advise removing hats and extra clothing as soon as you come inside, even if it wakes your baby.
You will find long-sleeved organic cotton bodysuits and a warm hooded jacket in our Name it collection.
How to dress your baby for a walk: layers, hat, mittens
1. Base layer
A long-sleeved bodysuit and leggings or trousers. A soft, breathable fabric next to the skin is more comfortable than one thick, rough layer.
2. Mid layer
A jumper or knitted cardigan that is easy to take off. Wool and some synthetic fabrics are warmer than cotton; in very cold weather add one more thin layer.
3. Outer layer
A warm pramsuit or jacket that keeps out the wind. This layer is for walks only: it is not suitable under a car seat harness or for sleep.
4. Hat, mittens and socks
Babies lose a lot of heat through their heads, so outdoors they need a hat that covers the ears. Add mittens and warm socks or booties.
In the pushchair: a footmuff instead of a blanket
In the pushchair seat unit a footmuff is more practical than a blanket because it stays in place and the harness goes through the slots. Under the footmuff your baby should wear thin layers, not a thick coat, or they will overheat quickly. Never cover the whole pushchair with a blanket or muslin, as this restricts airflow; use the hood and a rain cover against wind.
When you go into a shop or onto a bus, open the footmuff and take off the hat. We explain how to choose a footmuff (harness, warmth, washing) in Pushchair footmuff: how to choose. Models from Done by Deer, KikkaBoo and other brands are in our pushchair footmuffs collection.
In the car seat: no coat or thick snowsuit
In a car seat the harness must sit snugly against your child's body. The AAP warns that a thick coat or snowsuit compresses in a crash, the harness becomes loose and your child is no longer well protected. So:
- Dress your baby in thin layers (bodysuit, leggings, jumper), a hat and mittens.
- Take off the coat, jacket or thick (including fleecy) pramsuit before buckling up.
- Tighten the harness and do the pinch test: if you can pinch a fold of strap at the shoulder, tighten it further.
- Put the coat or a blanket over the buckled harness.
- Once the car warms up, move the blanket away and remove the hat so your baby does not overheat.
The AAP also suggests keeping the infant carrier indoors so it is not ice-cold. More in our guide How to choose a car seat and in the infant car seats 40–87 cm and car seats collections.
Night-time sleep: no hat and no overheating
- Room temperature 16–20 °C, as recommended by the NHS and The Lullaby Trust.
- No hat indoors. Babies release excess heat through their heads, so never put a hat on for sleep indoors.
- A baby sleeping bag instead of a blanket. Choose the TOG rating by room temperature; at 16–20 °C a TOG 2.5 is a common choice. See the chart in Baby sleeping bag TOG rating and our baby sleeping bags (e.g. Done by Deer, Jollein).
- Only a bodysuit or pyjamas under the sleeping bag. Do not use outdoor clothing (jackets, fleecy pramsuits) for sleep.
- Cot away from radiators, baby on their back, on a firm flat mattress, with no pillows, duvets or toys.
- If your baby falls asleep on a walk, remove the hat and outer layers when you get home, even if it wakes them.
How to check if your baby is warm enough
Do not go by hands and feet: they are often cool even when a baby is warm enough. Feel the back of the neck or chest (the NHS also mentions the tummy). Warm, dry skin is fine. If the skin is sweaty, clammy or hot, your baby is too hot: remove a layer or open the footmuff.
Signs of overheating and hypothermia
Signs of overheating
- sweaty or clammy back of the neck, hot tummy or chest
- red, hot skin and damp hair from sweating
What to do: remove a layer and the hat, open the footmuff and move your baby somewhere cooler.
Signs of hypothermia
- cold to the touch, including the chest or tummy
- floppy, unusually quiet and sleepy
- refusing to feed
- pale skin; older children shiver
What to do: bring your baby somewhere warm straight away, change wet clothes for dry ones and wrap them in a warm blanket. The NHS advises urgent medical help if you suspect hypothermia in a baby; in the EU call 112.
Frequently asked questions
How many layers does a baby need in winter?
As a rule, one layer more than you. For a walk at 0–10 °C that means a bodysuit, leggings, a jumper, a warm pramsuit or jacket, hat and mittens, plus a footmuff in the pushchair.
Should my baby wear a hat indoors?
No. Take the hat off as soon as you come inside or the car warms up, and never use one for sleep indoors. A hat indoors can cause overheating.
Can my baby wear a coat or snowsuit in the car seat?
No. Bulky clothing under the harness reduces the protection of the car seat. Dress your baby in thin layers, buckle up, do the pinch test and cover them with a blanket or coat over the harness.
What temperature should a baby's room be in winter?
Between 16 and 20 °C. At this temperature a TOG 2.5 sleeping bag with a long-sleeved bodysuit is a common choice.
How do I know if my baby is cold?
Check the back of the neck or chest. If they feel cool, add a layer. Cold hands on their own do not mean your baby is cold. If your baby is floppy, unusually sleepy and refusing to feed, get medical help.
How long can a baby stay outside in winter?
There is no single rule. In very low temperatures and wind keep walks shorter and check warmth on the back of the neck along the way. If unsure, ask your paediatrician or health visitor.
Sources
- NHS – How to dress a newborn baby
- NHS – Hypothermia
- The Lullaby Trust – Cold weather
- The Lullaby Trust – How to dress your baby for sleep
- AAP HealthyChildren – Cold Weather Safety for Children
- AAP HealthyChildren – Winter Car Seat Safety Tips
This content is for information only and does not replace advice from your paediatrician.
