I don’t know about you, but the first flurries of snow we had recently felt just like the release we needed in the midst of lockdown. Parents raced outside like big kids & spent the morning laughing, playing & chatting to our neighbours (socially distanced of course) while our 3-year-old made his first memories of snowballs & snowmen & all that winter magic. We also spent a fair while singing Christmas carols…!
Strapping your baby to you or popping them in a buggy in snowy conditions can feel scary at first, but it’s a wonderful way of exploring beautiful winter scenes together.
Top Tips from Blaze Co-Director, Ché:
❄️ Good grip: If you don’t have snow/walking boots = wellies & warm socks.
❄️ Spare gloves & socks – snowy gloves get cold & wet quickly when you’re having fun!
❄️ Walking poles great for balance/stability if baby-carrying.
❄️ When you’re not sure how quickly you’ll get cold or how slippery the ground will be, keep the walk nice & short, somewhere you know/where there are others around.
❄️ Take a warm drink/snack
⛄️ Keeping baby nice and toasty:
❄️ Layer baby up (one more layer than you) so you can add/remove layers as needed - woollen cardies/trousers are your friend! Snoods/balaclavas, hat, gloves, leg warmers & booties all great for protecting extremities.
⛄️ If baby-carrying:
❄️ Sling/carrier ideal under your coat so it fits properly & baby is close - they'll get the benefit of your body heat.
❄️ Coat options - your normal coat with zip-in panel, left open with a carrier cover or a spare fleece/coat tied around carrier, or an oversized/baby-wearing coat to enclose you both. Avoid snowsuits for your baby as they can overheat.
⛄️ If using a pram/structured backpack carrier:
❄️ Baby can get chillier if not moving much, so try out combos of coats/snowsuits, blankets or padded cosies/covers, taking care they don’t overheat.
❄️ Raincovers = shelter from cold wind/snow. Keep as open as poss so they can enjoy the air/view too!
❄️ Hot water bottles in a spare blanket = good for warming up you/their feet while you head home for that hot choc/babyccino!
Snowy walks