How to dress your baby for every season

Babies cannot yet tell you that they are too warm or too cold — and they cannot regulate their temperature as well as adults. The good news: you don’t need a special rule for every degree. Thin layers that you can add or remove, and a quick check with your hand, work in every season.

The quick check: feel your child’s chest or the back of the neck. Warm and dry is right. Damp, sweaty or hot means take a layer off. Cool hands and feet are normal.

The layer principle

Several thin layers keep warm better than one thick one and are easier to adjust when you go inside. A common rule of thumb is one more layer than you are comfortable in — but your child’s skin is the real guide. Older toddlers who run around often need fewer layers than you.

Summer: cool, covered, in the shade

• Light, loose clothing made of cotton or linen; long sleeves protect more skin than bare arms.
• A wide-brimmed hat with a neck flap.
• Shade first. The NHS advises keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sunlight and keeping older children out of strong sun as much as possible, especially between 11 am and 3 pm.
• Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months. From 6 months, use a high-SPF sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB and reapply often — ask your pharmacist or doctor which one suits your child.
• Never cover the pram completely with a blanket or muslin: heat builds up inside. A ventilated sunshade or parasol is better.
• Drinks: offer more feeds or drinks in hot weather. Babies under 6 months who are breastfed usually don’t need extra water.

At night in hot weather, a bodysuit or just a nappy with a very light sleeping bag may be enough. Aim for a room temperature of about 16–20 °C if you can.

Winter: warm outside, lighter inside

• Base layer (bodysuit), middle layer (sleepsuit or jumper) and outer layer (pram suit or snowsuit) for outings.
• Hat, mittens and warm socks outdoors — the head, hands and feet lose heat fast.
• A footmuff or blanket in the pram keeps your baby cosy without too many clothes.
• Take off outdoor layers indoors — even if it means waking a sleeping baby a little. Cafés, shops and buses get warm quickly.
• In the car seat: no thick jacket or snowsuit. Bulky padding makes the harness loose. Buckle up snugly in normal clothes, then put a blanket over the straps.
• At night: no hats indoors, no hot-water bottles or electric blankets. A sleeping bag with the right TOG for your room temperature is enough.

Spring and autumn: the tricky seasons

Mornings are cold, afternoons are warm. Dress in layers that come off easily — a cardigan or zip-up jacket over a bodysuit — and carry a spare layer and a hat. A light waterproof jacket and puddle-proof trousers with wellies turn rainy days into play time.

Toddlers and preschoolers

From around 1–2 years, children move a lot and warm up fast:

• Let them help choose between two weather-appropriate outfits.
• Practise putting on jackets and shoes — independence comes with practice.
• Reflective strips help them be seen in the dark months.
• For nursery or daycare, pack a full spare outfit and label everything with their name.

When to ask for help

If your baby seems unusually hot, floppy, very drowsy or has a high temperature, or seems very cold and hard to warm up, contact your doctor or out-of-hours service. In an emergency, call the emergency number.

Read more

For sizes and how many clothes a newborn needs, see our guide to newborn clothes.