Hellobee Boards

@Goldengirl: I've also been looking at this thread started by @stiletto_mom: for my upcoming December baby! Some great suggestions here:
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/due-in-december-winter-baby-clothes-shopping-list#post-2564231

I live in the mid-south, so while it does get cold, it's not as cold as the north. We had fleece sleepers, a fleece sleepsack, and lots of hats. For transfer to the car, I covered her with a fleece blanket (draped over the car seat or tucked around her) and we parked the car in the garage so she wouldn't be in the elements too long. I also did a lot of babywearing, so she would be in a fleece sleeper with socks and a hood/hat, then in the carrier under my fleece coat.

Car seat cover was probably the most essential - http://jjcolecollections.com/car-seat-cover

My list might be a little different than some because we always traveled by car:

Booties - Old Navy had decent ones
Mittens - hard to find cold weather baby mittens, so I got toddler ones.
Hoodie/Fleece Jacket
Fleece hat
Fleece blanket
Layered clothing - onesie, pants, long sleeves, socks

I didn't do much baby wearing in the winter because of logistics, but you can always carry baby into the store and strap on the carrier once you're inside.

We loved the uggs bixbie booties, nice and cozy and stayed on well. I wore her frequently but not a ton for walks because worried about slipping. Typically I would pre-tie the moby before leaving the house. When we got to our destination I'd get in the back seat with her and put her in and put her hat on and then I'd wrap my coat around her as much as possible and then throw a blanket over her to walk inside.

I also bought a zip up fleece vest from lands end in a size too big and I'd wear it under my coat zipped over her. If I did that I'd typically have her in two layers plus the wrap and vest which was plenty down to maybe 25*.

We used the regular JJ Cole winter bundle me in the stroller and paired it with a snowsuit. I don't think we walked much if it was below about 25* though.

We usually keep the house pretty chilly but that winter we kept it toasty for her. I have friends who bought child safe space heaters for their kids rooms so they could control the temperature. It's worth noting that over heating is linked to sids so we felt more comfortable having her just in pajamas and a sleep sack for sleeping and controlling the room temperature than multiple layers and a hat which is what you might find older generations suggesting.

@oliviaoblivia: @tinyperson: Do you ladies feel like the M Coat was significantly better than a maternity coat or sized up coat? Debating whether or not to make the investment...DD3 is due in November and it's going to be a long NY winter of walking her older sisters to school, but I'm not sure whether I'll plan to babywear or put her in the stroller w/bunting and car seat bunting cover most of the time.

@Goldengirl: Amazon.com. I'm American so my folks bring stuff up all the time. Some of the baby boutiques may carry them. Lots of mom friends swear by Padraig booties.

Mcoats have great resale value. I expect to get about 85% back. You can find them on sale at Evymama and often for a discount at the baby time show.

It's all I've worn for the past three winters so I've gotten my money's worth.

Hahah baby #2 is due end of November in CA so I was like, a sweater? Good luck in the actual winter cold, I certainly don't envy your weather!

Chicago cold here.

DD1 is a December baby and honestly we didn't go out much the first two months. And when we did it's usually somewhere indoors so it's mostly having to keep her warm when we run in and out of the car.

Items I found useful are: long sleeve onsies for layering, footed fleece pajamas, thick sleep sack, carseat cover, socks, mittens, hat, humidifier for her room.

We had snowsuits but didn't need them since her carseat had a fleece lined cover and she was never actually outside for too long.

The car seat covers always made me nervous about air circulation so for our Chicago winters, we just used a fleece baby bunting. Since it was made of fleece, it was carseat safe and it had fabric that folded over the feet and hands so you didn't need to mess with mittens or booties. Since fleece isn't the warmest fabric out there, we just layered with warm clothes underneath and a blanket over top with a hat. (http://www.columbia.com/snowtop-ii-bunting-%E2%80%93-infant-SN0213.html)

@pachamama: Another December momma-to-be. Good call with the cute blankets! I didn't think about that but will be sure to have a couple on hand.

@Goldengirl: I laughed at "not a slightly chilly California day" We Californians are blissfully spoiled!
I bought DD Zutano booties from Amazon. I found they had a wide range of types and sizes. I admit I bought the lighter weight ones but they have fleece fuzzy ones too!

@PinkElephant: I bought them at the end of last season so I'm looking forward to using them this winter!

@Goldengirl: We are nowhere near as far north, but we did babywear all through a pretty chilly winter with DD1!!! I would wear a long coat buttoned to the bottom of the carrier, and then DD would be in a bunting thing with legs (think fuzzy PJs but big enough to go on top of her clothes). I would also take a thick blanket and tuck it all the way around here in the baby carrier if it was extremely cold. I attached a picture so you can see- she was warm enough to do an outdoor Christmas lights event and it was like 15 degrees out. I think babies stay warmer in the carrier than out of it since you can share your body heat.

New England January baby here. We used a shower cap style car seat cover and it worked beautifully, just put him in a fleece sleeper under that with a hat. You may want to look at the 7am brand since you are in an extremely cold region it sounds like. The Zutano booties are awesome too, they really stay on.

I used my Lillebaby pretty much right away with him when walking the dog, I had purchased a zip insert for my winter ski and down jackets (could use with both) and it worked for my pregnancy and once I was babywearing. It was by a Canadian company, Make My Belly Fit. I really can't recommend it enough since I got double usage out of it and did not have to purchase a whole new coat.

In the early days we didn't take him out much at all, other than doctor's appointments but getting the fresh air on sunny days with the Lillebaby was awesome. And wearing the baby keeps them much warmer than bundling them in the car seat, your body heat is the best for them.

@goldengirl I was able to fit the straps under no problem but my jackets definitely had room. It can be overwhelming understanding the zipper options and the insert isn't for everyone. They are great if you have questions.

So my baby was 9 pounds at birth...I should always qualify with that. I forget he was never a teeny tiny newborn but it is approved for lower weight. I utilized a receiving blanket under his bum to put him in a "frog" position. The instructions with the carrier were very easy and there are videos on their website. I had no trouble using the carrier with a new baby and love using it now at just over 6 months.

Hope that helps!