The worlds of parenthood and infant care—as well as the products and techniques to parent children more effectively and safely—are vast and ever-expanding.
One long-standing essential of caring for little ones is ensuring that they stay comfortable and cozy throughout seasonal transitions with fluctuating weather and temperatures.
Especially sensitive to varying heat and cold, uncomfortable babies are more susceptible to sleep disruption, mood swings, and an adverse effect on overall well-being. Luckily, a variety of modern research, resources, and offerings are available that can significantly impact and ease these seasonal transitions, so that babies stay cool and comfy all year long.
Temperature regulation is crucial for every infant because small children have not yet developed the ability to regulate their body temperature. This means that babies are more likely to face critical impacts when exposed to dramatic weather variations, potentially experiencing overheating or hypothermia.
According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, higher ambient temperatures and heat waves have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of all-cause infant mortality and all-cause hospital admissions. Several studies also found consistent evidence that low ambient temperatures on the day of birth increase the risk of neonatal mortality, while another found that infant mortality increases when outdoor temperatures drop below 43° Fahrenheit.
Both new and seasoned parents can ensure their babies are in the sweet spot temperature-wise by following several key tips and by dressing them in breathable, soft, and high-quality fabrics.
Photo Credit: Wild Acorns
Methods to Regulate Temperature
Layering pieces is one primary and reliable way to regulate a baby’s body temperature. Approaching dressing this way allows parents to quickly and easily modify their child’s clothing to coincide with weather and temperature changes.
For example, in fall and spring, American SPCC recommends that parents should dress their child in a layered outfit, like a short-sleeved bodysuit, a long-sleeved T-shirt, long trousers, or leggings and socks, along with a light jacket, jumper, or blanket. This way, parents can add or remove garments as temperatures fluctuate, making sure their little ones are neither too warm nor too cold amid the day’s fluctuating temperatures.
At night, sleep sacks are an excellent choice—a safer option than bulky blankets that pose a risk of suffocation but that still keep infants warm and protected in their cribs. Available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, fabrics, sizes, styles, and weights, sleep sacks serve a similar purpose to layering, offering a cozy cocoon for baby and peace of mind for parents that can easily be taken off when desired to keep body temperature well-maintained.
Another way to optimize comfortability for little ones is to dress them in breathable fabrics. Though sometimes underestimated, these are an ideal addition to an infant’s wardrobe in every season, with materials such as organic cotton, linen, muslin, and bamboo not only offering breathable comfort, but also beneficial for sensitive skin. Add some fun but practical seasonal accessories—like sun hats, sunglasses, beanies, gloves, and socks—to offer further protection from the elements throughout all four seasons, particularly with today’s vastly ranging weather conditions.
Photo Credit: Wild Acorns
Best Brands for the Job
Many brands adhere to guidelines that keep infants’ comfort top of mind, like Wild Acorn Clothing and Hanna Anderson. Each offers premium and affordable solutions, whether parents are looking to layer, to bundle, to dress up, or to dress for bed.
Created by Sarah Bowmar in her quest to give her children the best night’s sleep possible, Wild Acorn is a primary example of a children’s clothing brand that was established with health and well-being in mind. All products in the line are made with bamboo, gentle on all skin types, soft and stretchy, moisture-wicking, and breathable, making them perfect in all climates. Toddlers stay cool and dry while still sporting adorable sets and sleepwear in hand-painted watercolor patterns that they love.
Though there will always be a draw to labels focused on visual appeal—like clothing featuring favorite cartoon characters, superheroes, and holiday themes—parents appreciate knowing that there are many options on the marketplace today that provide more than just eye-catching graphics. Brands that concentrate on comfort (though certainly not at the risk of style!) share several things in common, such as a focus on functional design, flexibility, longevity, and using natural, breathable, and sustainable materials. These clothing options are intended to transition well from indoors to outdoors and to grow with children as they develop.
Better yet? Over the long haul, sustainably designed pieces from high-quality brands such as Wild Acorn Clothing are known to wash and wear well.
Closing Thoughts
Modern infant wear is about so much more than cute onesies, novelty patterns, pretty bows, and fuzzy fabrics. Parents are becoming increasingly attuned to temperature fluctuations as well, especially during seasonal transition times, and want to find products that are aligned with their child’s enhanced sensitivity to the climate, both inside and out.
Fortunately, many brands now offer full lines of high-quality garments and accessories that are environmentally conscious and that have been intentionally crafted to keep babies optimally comfortable all year long.
You can’t go wrong investing in layering pieces, sleep sacks, top-tier fabrics, and seasonal accessories from brands that focus on design, functionality, breathability, sustainability, and long-lasting flexibility—no matter what the weather may throw at you!
