How to Protect Your Baby From the Cold and Why Checking Their Neck Matters
How warm does your baby need to be dressed when it gets colder outside? We explain what matters in clothing and why checking your baby's neck helps.
Written by Wetterbaby Editorial Team on May 21, 2025
When it gets colder outside, you probably ask the same question most new parents do: how warm does my baby need to be dressed now? Infants can't yet say when they're too cold, and they lose heat noticeably faster than you do. That's why it's worth understanding how babies experience cold.
Why Babies Are So Sensitive to Cold
Newborns sense temperature differently than adults. Their temperature regulation isn't fully developed. On top of that comes little insulating fat tissue, and because they barely move, hardly any body heat is generated. Your baby lies still in the stroller while you warm up from pushing. The head, hands, and feet cool the fastest, so your baby can already be chilling while you still have your jacket open.
The Right Clothing in Winter
The answer is layering: several thin layers rather than one thick piece. That way you can adjust on the go: a layer off in a warm café, one more when the wind picks up.
A good winter setup starts with a bodysuit (onesie) and a footed sleeper (called a sleepsuit in the UK) in wool-silk or cotton, with a warm snowsuit or a footmuff (a cozy stroller bag, sometimes called a bunting bag in the US) in the stroller on top. A hat that actually covers the ears and forehead holds better than the thin bonnets that slip with every movement. Add mittens and thick socks or shoes.
Around the Neck: Never a Loose Scarf
In wind or below-freezing temperatures, reaching for a scarf is tempting. Don't. Loose scarves can tighten or slip over the face, which makes them a real safety risk. Safer options are a balaclava-style hat that warms the neck and ears too, or a snug neck warmer. In the first months, no extra neckwear is usually needed if the jacket or snowsuit closes high enough.
Avoiding Overheating
The most common mistake is not too little clothing, but too much. An overdressed baby sweats around the neck and becomes restless. Hence a quick feel of the neck: place two fingers on the back of your baby's neck. Comfortably warm and dry means the clothing fits; damp means one layer too many. Good moments to check are after a walk, after a car ride, and before sleep.
The Wetterbaby app provides precise clothing tips every morning, tailored to the current weather and your child's age. Wind, temperatures below freezing, UV index, and the feels-like temperature all feed into the recommendation.
In the end it's a balance: enough protection from the cold without tipping into overheating. The neck tells you reliably whether you've struck it.
Source:
AOK health magazine, How parents protect infants from the cold (in German)
