12 Essentials for getting through winter with a newborn

Winter just might be the best time to have a baby. Just as your body needs lots of time to rest and recover from birth, the rest of the world is hunkering down and staying indoors too. And it feels so special to have a newborn baby around Christmastime! 

But you'll still be going out occasionally, even if it's just for a walk in the neighborhood or a trip to church or the store. Whatever you've got planned this winter, we've got you covered!

After having two of my babies in late autumn in blustery Chicago, I've figured out what you actually need for newborns in the winter. These have been the 10 most useful items I've found to keep babies warm and cozy through the cold months ahead.

These covers work amazingly well to keep babies cozy and warm! Look for the "shower cap" style that's safe to use on a car seat, such as the Cozy Cover Infant Carrier Cover or the SkipHop Stroll & Go.

Another option instead of a car seat cover (or in addition to it, depending how cold it is where you live) is a car-seat-safe snowsuit or winter coat. I'm partial to the OneKid Road Coat Snowsuit.

Baby-wearing keeps baby snug and warm, but you'll want a coat that zips over the baby carrier. You can use a maternity coat, get a special one for baby-wearing, use a jacket extender, or simply buy an over-sized and stretchy fleece jacket.

Warm, fleecy footed pajamas are essential for cold nights! Look for ones with zippers or magnets, not snaps, for easy dressing during middle-of-the-night diaper changes.

You'll need to put baby in layers much of the time, and baby mittens, warm booties (Zutano is a popular brand), and long socks will all come in handy.

A soft, warm sleep sack is a necessity for a newborn! There are many cute options on Etsy, and we love these HALO sleep sacks that double as swaddles.

If your family spends more time getting around on foot than in the car, you'll want a stroller bunting, like the JJ Cole Bundle Me.

Whether you like animal hats, personalized hats, or just a simple beanie, you'll need a few hats for your baby, and all the options are just precious!

A hooded fleece one-piece suit is ideal for layering, and don't forget plenty of onesies and leggings for layering. Summer babies can get away with just a few light outfits, but with a baby coming in the winter, you'll want plenty of options for bundling up!

Whether flannel, fleece, or microplush, wintertime crib sheets make bedtime that much cozier.

On very cold days, a hat doesn't offer enough skin protection, so look for a tiny balaclava to keep the neck and chin covered too.

You can use several different options as a base layer in cold weather (personally, I usually use fleece pajamas). But if it's very cold or you'll be outdoors for a while, the best option is wool, and you can't beat pure Merino.