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The Best Winter Baby Clothes for Layering, Lounging, and Outdoor Adventures
The Best Winter Baby Clothes for Layering, Lounging, and Outdoor Adventures
Photo by @carolinaaandes

The Best Winter Baby Clothes for Layering, Lounging, and Outdoor Adventures

From snowsuits and booties to hats and tiny mittens, here's what will keep baby warm and cozy in colder temps.

author-Latifah Miles
By Latifah Miles and Amylia Ryan
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Updated On
Updated On
Our editors independently test and curate products. If you make a purchase via our links we may earn a commission.
Photo by @carolinaaandes

In This Article

Cozy Under Layers
Warm Outerwear
Comfy Sleepwear
Wintery Accessories

When it comes to wintertime essentials for baby, it's all about striking a balance: you don’t want them too cold, but you don’t want to overheat them with too many layers, either. Start by thinking about your local climate and lifestyle. Do you love outdoor winter activities, or are you more of a hibernate-til-the-spring family? Will you be walking outside with your baby most days, even if it’s cold, or spending more time in the car running errands? This can help you decide what type of outerwear, accessories and other additional baby clothes you’ll need for those chillier months.

Before you break out a baby-sized puffer coat, our gear editor and Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Jen LaBracio says it’s important to note that winter coats and car seats don’t mix. “Coats and other thick layers are bulky, and no matter how much you tighten your car seat straps, you’ll leave behind a few inches of slack—and that means your baby may slide out of their seat in the event of a crash,” she says. Instead of a coat, LaBracio says to “dress your baby or toddler in two to four thin layers or use a blanket or car seat cover that fits over (never under) your seat’s straps.”

Here are the best baby winter clothes, broken down into helpful categories, to add to their wardrobes and keep them warm all season long.

Cozy Under Layers

Honest Baby Clothing 10-Pack Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Bodysuits - Rainbow Gem Blues, Newborn, 10.

Honest Baby Clothing 
10-Pack Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Bodysuits

Buy
Babylist$59.99
Amazon$69.99
Target$69.99
Small Story 5 Pack Long Sleeve Solid Bodysuits - White, 0-3 M.

Small Story 
5 Pack Long Sleeve Solid Bodysuits

Buy
Babylist$24.99
Carter's Little Planet Organic Cotton Rib Footed Pants (2 Pack) - Heather Grey Stripe, Sweet Cream, Newborn.

Carter's 
Little Planet Organic Cotton Rib Footed Pants (2 Pack)

Buy
Babylist$16.00
Amazon$16.00
L.L.Bean Infants' Wicked Warm Underwear One-Piece.

L.L.Bean 
Infants' Wicked Warm Underwear One-Piece

This midweight one-piece makes the perfect first layer for the littlest family member if you’re heading out in the cold for the day.
Buy
llbean.com$34.95
Little Sleepies Heather Sage Ribbed Crescent Zippy.

Little Sleepies 
Heather Sage Ribbed Crescent Zippy

This zippy helps regulate baby's temperature no matter the season—it works in both winter and summer!
Buy
littlesleepies.com$34.00
Thick Thermal Crew Sock.

JORMATT 
Thick Thermal Crew Socks

Buy
amazon.com$10.99

Warm Outerwear

Buntings, snowsuits, zip-up sweaters and coats add an extra layer of warmth and can be worn over lighter clothes to keep your baby from overheating. To make sure your baby stays comfy instead of sweaty, you can outfit them in heavier outerwear for rides in the stroller and use lighter outerwear for baby wearing (since they’ll be absorbing some of your body heat, too). And a reminder, your baby shouldn’t wear their coat, bunting or snowsuit while buckled in their car seat. We included the Buckle Me Baby Winter Coat among the products below because it's specifically designed to be worn in a car seat and doesn't interfere with car seat strap tension (and is has the stamp of approval from our gear editor).

Comfy Sleepwear

When it comes to keeping your baby warm at night, it’s a delicate balance. You don’t want them to be too cool, as they’ll be uncomfortable and wake up a few dozen times. And you don’t want them to be too warm, as overheating can be a contributing factor to SIDS, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. So how do you strike the perfect balance in the cooler months? You can check the TOG (thermal overall grade) of any wearable blanket or swaddle. The higher the number, the more insulated it is. The chart below will help you decide which TOG rating you should use based on the temperature of your home. Also, a general rule of thumb is that your baby typically needs just one extra layer than you in any given environment. That can be a bodysuit and a swaddle, a bodysuit and fleecy footed pajamas or another suitable combination.

Wintery Accessories

Tiny hats, booties and mittens are more than just cute—they’ll help keep your little one’s extremities warm and comfortable all winter long. You’ll notice we included a car seat blanket and while LaBracio doesn’t recommend using any car seat accessory, she says it's a “great alternative to a child wearing a winter coat while riding in a car seat, which isn't safe. The blanket goes over the harness so it doesn't interfere with the seat's straps or the buckle.” And here’s another tip for a baby who loves pulling off their hat: try a hat with a tie bottom or a snap closure.

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