| Winter is hard on everyone, but especially your little | | | | These should also keep you from over-bundling your |
| ones. If you are like most parents, you are constantly | | | | baby, which is dangerous because they can overheat. |
| fretting about whether or not they are warm enough | | | | 7. Baby lotion. If you don’t lotion your baby, you will |
| or if you are protecting them from all the germs that | | | | want to during the winter months. Winter air is dry and |
| make winter especially nasty. Well, have no fear! Here | | | | can cause your baby to have dry, itchy skin. |
| is a list of the top 10 baby must haves every parent | | | | Moisturizing your baby will help to protect your little |
| needs to ensure that their little one has a safe and | | | | ones skin. |
| happy winter. | | | | 8. Baby first aid kit. This is where you stock up on all |
| 1. Snowsuit or heavy bunting. When it comes to the | | | | your baby care essential so that if your little one |
| coldest days, heavy blankets just don’t do the trick. | | | | comes down with a fever in the middle of the night, |
| You need to invest in one or both to keep the warm | | | | you don’t have to send your exhausted spouse |
| not just outside, but also snug in their car seat. A lot of | | | | out for anything. Your baby first aid kit should include: |
| buntings even come with a hole that makes buckling it | | | | baby strength Tylenol, baby strength ibuprofen, baby |
| into your child’s car seat user-friendly. | | | | Vick’s vapor rub, suction bulb for little noses, extra |
| 2. Car seat cover. These are really only good for | | | | soft tissues, thermometer, and Mylecon (for gassy |
| newborns, but if you have a newborn you will learn | | | | tummy’s). You can tailor your first aid kit to fit your |
| that it’s a real lifesaver. They fit securely around | | | | child’s individual needs, just be sure that you have |
| your child’s car seat and they provide a cozy | | | | one. |
| environment that also protects them from the | | | | 9. Humidifier. Unfortunately for infants there really |
| elements. | | | | isn’t a lot you can do for them when they get a |
| 3. Hats and mittens. Ear infections are rampant among | | | | nasty cold. The best way to fight a cold for your infant |
| babies in the wintertime, because parents don’t | | | | is to prevent one. The best way to prevent one is to |
| keep their ears covered well enough. Don’t just rely | | | | ward off dry winter air with a humidifier. Either a warm |
| on the hood on their coat to keep those little ears | | | | air or cool air, both should get the job done. |
| protected, you need to invest in a hat that pulls down | | | | 10. A car emergency kit. This is especially important if |
| snuggly, but comfortably over their ears and stays put! | | | | you travel a lot, but is a good idea even if you only live |
| Mittens are also a must to protect tiny fingers from the | | | | minutes from town. You never know when a disaster |
| winter chill. If you have an older baby, you might | | | | might happen. You car emergency kit should be well |
| consider mittens with fingers that make grasping easier | | | | equipped for you and for your baby. It should include |
| and mittens less frustrating. | | | | things like warm blankets for you and baby, as well as |
| 4. Those lightweight receiving blankets you loved all | | | | extra coats, mittens, and scarves. You should also |
| summer are out now that the nights and days are a | | | | include things like non-perishable food items like |
| lot colder. You need to invest in several heavy fabric | | | | crackers, beef jerky, granola bars, etc. and for your |
| blankets that will make keeping your little one warm | | | | baby you should have a can or two of formula, a |
| much easier. | | | | bottle, and if your baby takes baby food, you could |
| 5. Long-sleeved and short-sleeved t-shirts. These are | | | | include a couple jars of baby food. You will also want |
| great for layering and adding extra warmth to your | | | | to keep a jug or two of purified water in your trunk. |
| little one. | | | | You will want to make sure you have a flash light, |
| 6. Footed pajamas-preferably in fleece. These are | | | | maybe a flair gun, and possibly a hand-powered |
| what you need to keep your little one extra warm on | | | | charger for your cell phone. After you have to kit all |
| those cold winter nights, especially since most babies | | | | together, be sure that it is an easily accessible place in |
| don’t stay covered up if you do use blankets. | | | | your car. There is no such thing as being too prepared. |