How to Enjoy Winter With a New Baby Part 2

My last NMP post was all about how to cozy up your life a bit to combat the winter blues.  I also promised a follow-up post focused on staying active and getting outside during the winter with a new baby. I generally appreciate winter because I am an avid skier, but even I have my moments. My first winter with a new baby we were in the middle of nowhere Central New York and there was no decent ski area for hours. It seemed to puke snow incessantly – which felt like a cold wet reminder of my new status as a mom.  I wondered if I would ever get back to enjoying winter the way I used to.  I felt cut off from the world and hoped for the thaw of Spring often.  I tried to make the best of a challenging living situation and looking back there were a few strategies that worked to get me through a long winter.

Before I dive into what worked for me, I want to remind all new mamas to take time to rest and recuperate.  There is no urgency to get back to any pre-baby routine or lifestyle.  Your body needs time to recover from birth and your baby needs you to cuddle, feed, and soothe her for the first several weeks. We recommend new mamas take as much time as they need to feel ready to venture out.  If you can find a way to stay snuggled, cozy, and somewhat content in your bed for a month that’s great.  When you start feeling a little itch to get moving again; when thoughts of the world beyond the door start creeping in, here are some ideas to help you venture out.

Try to get out a bit each day. Through our work supporting new mamas we’ve come to learn that fresh air and exercise can play a big role in preventing and alleviating postpartum mental health issues.  While winter presents some challenges to getting that dose of fresh air it’s not impossible.  A short walk with or without baby each day could help boost my mood and pass the time.

It’s essential to have the right gear for mama and baby.  Gear = clothing that keeps you dry and warm in winter.  Yes, it sucks to spend 20 minutes getting me and baby dressed for a five minute walk in arctic temperatures, but the post walk feeling of satisfaction is worth it.

Here’s the grown-up gear that I don’t leave home without during the winter:

• Warm pants – either snow pants with long underwear underneath or fleece lined jeans.
• Warm tops – I layer up on top with breathable fabric under a cozy down jacket – or a waterproof shell if it’s precipitating
• Hat & Gloves – get something that covers your ears and nice thick fleece gloves or better yet a warm pair of ski gloves
• Warm socks and boots – I have a $50 pair of waterproof boots that have lasted me several seasons and keep me dry and toasty.
• Balaclava or Buff – when it is super cold and you want to cover all skin up try one of these additional head/neck covers to protect any spots vulnerable to wind.

Baby winter gear:

• Soft carrier that will keep baby close to you – something like a wrap, sling, or soft carrier will be great. When it’s cold you want the baby to be snuggled next to your body heat.
• Snowsuit or Bunting – if you don’t have one already these are great.  We had a few from Patagonia which were adorable and stylish, but we ended up using the huge puffy no name pink one from the thrift store on the coldest days.
• Big coat, blanket, or special baby carrying coat to go over the baby.  I used my partner’s large down jacket zipped over the baby carrier (with baby’s head out of course).  They make special coats meant to go over baby carriers too if you want to splurge.
• Hat – cover that baby’s head to help keep body heat in.

I also want to recommend common sense here.  We had many sub zero days in Vermont last winter and I want to be clear I am not recommending a long outing with a newborn when it’s the coldest of the cold.  But a short (5-10min) walk on a 30 degree day with a properly bundled baby usually does us both some good.

Flexibility is key.  At first I tried to get my new baby to adhere to my schedule, but I quickly found out this is a recipe for frustration. I learned to go with the baby’s rhythm instead.  So we would go for a walk after nursing, maybe when she was tired if I wanted her to nap in the carrier. I was also flexible about where and for how long I was out.  I made sure to pick an activity or route that I could bail out from if things got dicey.  One day I only made it across the yard before turning back because it was frigid.

If I couldn’t be outside I tried to get out of the house. From the age of about 20-31 I avoided malls at all costs.  When I had my daughter, though, I found a new appreciation for malls, especially in winter.  If it was really too cold to be out, but I needed to get out of the house, I would make a trip to the mall.  Malls a great for walking, people watching, and feeling a little less isolated.  Libraries, coffee shops, and big box stores also work well.

Get out on the mild days.  There are days that I do not enjoy being outside, and there are days you probably shouldn’t take a tiny baby outside.  Think sub zero, snow, sleet, ice, etc.  So, when I got a nicer day I tried to take advantage of it.

Connect with others. We preach social support at NMP over and over.  Winter can be a time of isolation and loneliness for new mamas.  I found it so helpful to connect with other mamas at play groups, La Leche League meetings, postpartum yoga, and informal get togethers.

Carve out “me” time. I love skiing, and try to do it as often as I can, but with a new baby it felt hard to coordinate.  Sometimes my partner and I would take the baby with us to the mountain and trade off hanging in the lodge with the baby.  Other times we would go off on our own or with a friend.  It is still so important to me to carve out that time for myself and to engage in activities I enjoy.

Call in reinforcements or make a road trip. I remember feeling bored and lonely a lot with my daughter in the first year of her life. We were pretty isolated and if Taylor’s family wasn’t around, our home could feel pretty desolate.  When things started to look really bleak I would ask for a set of grandparents to visit or plan a visit to the grandparents.  Obviously this can be challenging for all sorts of reasons, but sometimes new mamas just don’t like to ask for help.  A visit from family or a short road trip once a month helped break up the long winter.

Meditate on the passing of the seasons…or consider moving to a warmer climate.  Even for me, my first winter with a new baby was long.  I remember getting into March and April and telling myself that next week the snow would melt – but it seems like it was there until May. When I start wishing away winter (or any season) I try to focus on the value of each season.  I enjoy all the seasons, and know that I long for each season once it has passed.  So, though winter can seem long, cold, and dark, I try to remember that it has value and it will pass, eventually.  Much like being a new mom the winter days can be long, but in the blink of an eye the season is gone. Hang in there, you can do it.