Taking a baby outside in the cold can be complicated and confusing, but worth the effort in the end. I’ve got a few tips if you have an almost-toddler like I do! (And even a few for those of you with newborns!)
If there is one thing that I love and hate at the same time, it’s trying to get outside with my almost-one-year-old when it’s snowy and well below freezing. We both love being outside and I notice a huge difference in his mood and mine when I make the effort to get us out, but it can take a lot of effort and forethought. I’m going to try and make the process simpler for you (and for future me) with this list of tips!
If you would like to skip directly to newborn tips, click here.
TIP NUMBER 1: DECIDE WHEN AND HOW YOU’RE GOING TO GO THE NIGHT BEFORE
This tip is first on my list for a reason. All of the planning and preparation in the world is for nothing if you never actually act on it. The best way for me to do this is to decide on it the night before, while I’m creating my to-do list and checking my calendar. I look at my day and the things I want to accomplish, and then I decide when and how I’m going to go outside with Calvin.
Sometimes we leave for a long walk at 8:45, right after breakfast, so we have plenty of time to get a couple of miles in before nap-time approaches. Because if it gets too close to nap and Calvin is in the stroller, there is a good chance he will fall asleep and ruin his naps for the day.
Sometimes we go out around 9:30, walk the dog for one lap around the block, and then head right back home to warm up.
Sometimes we don’t go outside until the afternoon, depending on our moods, the temperature, the weather, or my to-do list for the day. And sometimes it’s only for 5-10 minutes and we just stand there and breath in the air or I push Cal on the swing for a moment or two.
No matter when we go outside, I always try to make a loose plan for it the night before, so that I know when it’s coming up in my schedule and I can be prepared for it to be a good experience.
TIP NUMBER 2: CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST THE NIGHT BEFORE
This goes along with deciding to go, but the last thing you want is to get all pumped up and excited the night before, only to wake up to a blizzard (or worse, sleet) the next morning and have your plans dampened. Even though the weather forecast is far from perfectly accurate, you can at least get an idea of when the sun may be out, how cold it will be at different times of the day, and what you will need to be prepared for.
TIP NUMBER 3: BUNDLE YOURSELF UP WARM ENOUGH
This particular tip comes from just one mistake that I made and have not repeated since. Calvin, Lucky, and I were getting ready to go for our morning walk. It was mid-autumn, but we had recently been hit with a cold snap. I had bundled Calvin up in long pants, thick socks, a warm shirt, light hoodie, beanie, Carhartt coat, and a flannel blanket all tucked around his legs. Lucky was still rocking his thick, long, grown-out summer cut. I, on the other hand, was only wearing leggings, thin socks, athletic shoes, a sports bra, and a lightweight athletic hoodie. I am not an athlete and I do not run or jog. I enjoy my walks very much. After about ten minutes of walking, I quickly realized that I was not wearing enough clothing for the current outdoor temps
Long story short, that walk only ended up lasting for about 15 minutes, rather than the hour that I was planning on, because I was so cold that I had to take us all home and end the walk early. I am still kicking myself a little bit. So please, when you are preparing for these winter excursions, don’t forget to prepare yourself for the chill as well. Ending a walk 1/4 of the way through because Mom got cold (when baby and dog are both happy and warm) is just silly.
TIP NUMBER 4: USE LAYERS (FOR YOU AND FOR BABY)
Anyone who had lived in a cold climate for long will tell you that layers are the number one best way to keep warm. This is true for newborns all the way up through nursing home residents. They’re important for you so that you can ensure that you are warm enough to be outside as long as you’d like, but you can also loose a layer or two if your activity of choice warms you up enough.
They’re important for your baby because I think some parents get so worried that they can’t afford expensive, name brand, one piece, all weather, winter gear for their baby, so it’s going to be impossible to keep them warm and they shouldn’t even try. This is not true! While Calvin does own a Columbia baby bunting for cold, frozen, snowy outings, if he didn’t, I feel confident that I could keep him just as warm with the clothing that he (and I) already own!
If you want some more info and encouragement, Born a Backpacker on Instagram has a great post on this, linked here.
TIP NUMBER 5: STAY CLOSE TO HOME WHEN POSSIBLE
Normally, Calvin is the type to stay outside as long as possible. He absolutely loves it. But there are some days when he just isn’t in the mood to be outside for more than ten to fifteen minutes.
For this reason, I almost always try to stay within five minutes of home. I’ll walk laps around the block most of the time. I can still get some distance in, but if Calvin decides he’s done and wants to go home, we can get there before he melts down. This really doesn’t happen very often, but it has happened before. It also means that if he starts to get drowsy in the stroller, I can get home quick and keep him awake, therefore preserving his nap.
I like to start a workout on my AppleWatch so I can see how far and how long I’ve gone, even if we’re just walking the same tight loop over and over.
TIP NUMBER 6: MAKE SURE BABY IS FED AND RESTED
This goes hand-in-hand with the tip above. If your kid is hungry or tired, your trip outside may be more difficult. Now, this isn’t always true. Sometimes when Calvin is getting tired and I just need ten more minutes to get him to his nap, I’ll take him outside and we’ll just stand in the yard for a few minutes. The change of environment and temperature are enough to distract him from his tiredness long enough to make it until nap.
However, I never start a stroller walk within an hour of his nap if I can help it. He will be awake and content for a couple of minutes and then the motion will put him right to sleep. At that point, my options are to walk for the next 1-2 hours (depending on the time) and hope he stays asleep, try to keep him awake and run home, or let him sleep and know that his sleep is going to be all thrown off that day. So, I always try to take our outdoor walks immediately after a sleep and a meal, and we almost always have a great time this way.
TIP NUMBER 7: BRING SUNGLASSES FOR YOUR BABY
This tip counts year round, but is especially important in the Northern Hemisphere in the winter. Due to the tilt of the earth, the sun is lower in the sky, meaning that the shade on many strollers isn’t going to protect your little one’s eyes from the sun’s harsh rays. And if there is snow on the ground, the sun will also reflect from the ground right into their eyes.
I always try to bring Cal’s sunglasses with us on walks. I have these ones. They are a little big on his bare head, but for the winter, I extend the elastic quite a bit, and put them on over his winter hat. They stay right in place, and they protect his little eyes from the bright sun. His mood is also a lot better when he isn’t trying to thrash his head around to get out of the blinding light.
TIP NUMBER 8: MAKE SURE TO MOISTURIZE EXPOSED SKIN AFTER SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS
This is especially important where I live in northern Utah. It is very cold and very dry here, plus we live at a high elevation. Because of all of these reasons, I always try to put moisturizer on Calvin’s chin, cheeks, lips, nose, and forehead after we come inside. I have used Aquaphor, lotion, Tubby Todd ointment, and coconut oil. Just use whatever you have that is non-toxic.
I also use a sunscreen stick on his face before we go out in the sun too. You can get a sunburn in the winter just as easily as in the summer (even faster with snow on the ground!). Protecting baby skin (and your skin) is so important.
BONUS TIP FOR NEWBORNS: BABY WEAR WHENEVER POSSIBLE
Babywearing was my secret weapon when I wanted to get outside with my newborn in February. I would dress him in a zippered sleeper, mittens, a fleece hoodie, beanie, and fleece booties over his sleeper, then tuck him up in my Sollybaby wrap. We were good to go! If it was especially cold, I would bring an extra fleece or flannel blanket and tuck it over top of him. The heat of my body was the perfect warmer for him, and I never had to worry about him getting cold. He stayed toasty warm and usually slept the whole time. I also had access to the back of his neck and upper back, so I could check and make sure he wasn’t overheating.
BONUS TIP FOR NEWBORNS: MAKE SURE THE HEAD AND FEET ARE SUFFICIENTLY COVERED
We lose the most heat through our head and our feet, and this is especially true for tiny little babies. They are not good at regulating their own body temperature, so dressing them appropriately is important. Make sure that baby always has a hat or hood when heading out in chilly weather. Also make sure they have a footed sleeper, socks, or booties to keep their toes nice and warm.
Thank you so much for being here and hearing a few of my tips for getting outside with your babes, even when it’s cold and difficult. I hope that some of these tips help you and that you’ll be able to get out and enjoy the sunshine and brisk, beautiful air.
BARREL OF MERRELL'S 
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