Can You Take a Newborn Outside in Winter? Real Life Parenting Questions Answered

It’s Cold Outside. Can I Take the Baby Out Anyway?

I have a two and a half year old and an infant.

My toddler loves being outside. We go to the playground and the parks as often as we can. Being outdoors is his favorite part of the day. We live in Maryland, so winter weather is part of life here. Cold days are expected, even if they still make me pause.

I have a hand me down snowsuit that should fit the baby. I get my son into all his layers and make sure his hat covers his ears. He heads outside first and waits on the front porch while I bundle the baby. I put her in her snowsuit and wrap her in an extra blanket before we step out together.

I can see our breath in the air, and it smells like snow. My toddler takes off toward the jungle gym, climbs the ladder, and goes straight down the slide. At first, the baby seems content. She looks around, watching her brother move and play. But it does not take long before she starts to fuss.

Her cheeks feel cold. She sneezes a few times.

I start to wonder if it is too cold for her to be out here. Do I have enough layers on her? What do families in much colder climates do during long winters?

At the same time, I know how important movement is for my son. His activity level sets the rhythm for our whole household. If he does not get his energy out, his nap and bedtime will both fall apart. That ripple affects everyone.

I tell myself I can do this. People raise more than one child all the time. Still, the questions pile up quickly.

Should I ask another family to meet us so we can share the load, with someone keeping an eye on the toddlers and someone focused on the babies? Should I call a babysitter to stay with the baby while I take my son outside? Or should I stay home with the baby and have the sitter take my son out to play?

Do I need to wait until the weekend, when my partner is home and we can divide the responsibility?

These moments feel small, but they carry so much weight. They sit right at the intersection of safety, connection, logistics, and self doubt. Parenting young children often means holding competing needs at the same time and doing your best with the information and energy you have that day.

If you have ever stood in the cold air wondering whether you are doing enough or too much, you are not alone. These questions are part of learning how to care for more than one child, and part of learning how to care for yourself in the process.

Here is what guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and related pediatric experts says about babies and cold weather:

1. Children lose heat faster than adults
Because infants and young children have smaller bodies and less ability to regulate their temperature, they are more at risk for cold injuries like frostbite and hypothermia when they are outside without warm, dry clothing. The AAP stresses watching how kids are dressed and bringing them inside often to warm up during cold weather play.

2. Dress babies in layers
The AAP and pediatric safety experts recommend dressing infants and children in thin layers of clothing so they stay warm and dry. A common rule of thumb is to dress a baby in one more layer than an adult would wear in the same conditions. Hats, warm socks or booties, mittens, and a coat or snowsuit appropriate for the temperature help protect against heat loss.

3. Be cautious about extreme cold
While there is no exact temperature that is “safe” for every baby, pediatric guidance generally suggests extreme caution when temperatures or wind chills are very low. In general outdoor play at temperatures with wind chill below about minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit is not recommended because exposed skin can begin to freeze in minutes.

4. Limit time outside when it is very cold
In cold weather, even bundled infants can lose body heat if they stay out too long. The AAP advises bringing children inside regularly to warm up, especially when you notice signs of cold stress such as fussiness, red or cold skin, shivering, or changes in behavior.

5. Watch for signs of cold injury
Frostbite and hypothermia are real risks in cold weather. Frostbite often shows up as pale or gray skin and numbness in fingers, toes, ears, or cheeks. Hypothermia can make a child lethargic, clumsy, or unusually quiet. These conditions require immediate action to warm the child safely and medical care if severe.

6. Car seat safety in winter weather
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should not buckle a baby or young child into a car seat while they are wearing a bulky winter coat or snowsuit. Thick, puffy clothing compresses in a crash, creating extra space between the harness and the child’s body. That extra space makes it harder to get a snug fit and increases the risk of injury because the child could slip forward or out of the seat in a crash. The AAP recommends dressing children in thinner layers and securing them firmly in the harness. Once they are buckled in, you can place a blanket or coat over the top of the straps to help keep them warm without interfering with the harness fit.

In short, the AAP’s approach is to allow outdoor time in cold weather when babies are appropriately layered, monitored closely, and brought inside to warm up often, and to be especially cautious at very low temperatures or long exposure times.

If you want advice that is specific to your baby’s age, health, or the exact temperatures you’re experiencing, it’s always a good idea to talk with your pediatrician.