What should my baby wear in the pram or stroller?
4 min read
Quick answer
For baby stroller clothing, dress your baby for the outdoor temperature, then let the pram's blanket or footmuff count as one layer. Never cover the pram with a blanket or muslin for shade, as the NHS warns this can cause overheating. Use a parasol or sunshade and check your baby often.
- Dress for the outdoor temperature, then count the blanket as a layer
- Never drape a blanket or muslin over the pram
- Under 6 months: keep out of direct sun
- Feet-to-foot if your baby sleeps lying flat
- Shed layers as soon as you go indoors
How to dress your baby for the pram
Start with the outdoor temperature. The NHS rule of thumb is one more layer than you are wearing, and a pram blanket, footmuff or pramsuit can be that extra layer. These are TinyLayers starting points, not NHS rules.
- Hot, 24°C (75°F) and above: one thin layer of lightweight cotton, a wide-brimmed sun hat and shade
- Warm, 22–23°C: short-sleeve vest with light trousers or a romper, and a sun hat
- Mild, 15–21°C: vest and sleepsuit, with a cardigan or light jacket on cooler days
- Cool, 10–14°C: vest, sleepsuit, warm cardigan, pramsuit, hat and mittens
- Cold, below 10°C: vest, sleepsuit, fleece, insulated pramsuit, hat, mittens and socks
Can I cover the pram with a muslin or blanket?
No. The NHS warns that a blanket or muslin draped over a pram or pushchair can make your baby overheat, so never use one to cover it.
Use the pram hood, or attach a parasol or sunshade to the pram, as the NHS suggests.
Pram clothing in hot weather and sun
NHS advice is to keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sun completely, and to limit sun for older babies wherever you can, especially from 11am to 3pm. Sunscreen is not recommended before 6 months. From 6 months, the NHS suggests SPF 30 or higher with both UVA and UVB protection.
- Loose, lightweight cotton clothes and not too many layers
- A sun hat with a broad brim or a neck flap
- A parasol or sunshade clipped to the pram
- Extra breastfeeds, as your baby may want to feed more than usual (fully breastfed babies do not need water until they start solids)
- Never leave your baby in a parked car, as it heats up quickly
Pram clothing in winter
Several thin layers under a footmuff or pram blanket are easier to adjust than one thick outfit. A warm hat and mittens help outside.
The tricky part is coming inside. The NHS advises taking off hats and extra layers straight away when you go indoors or board a warm bus or train, even if your baby wakes. Open the footmuff and take off the rain cover in shops and cafés.
If your baby sleeps in the pram
Treat a lie-flat pram like a cot. The NHS says place your baby on their back in the feet-to-foot position, with their feet at the bottom of the pram. Use a lightweight blanket or a baby sleeping bag, never a duvet or pillow. Take hats off when you are back inside.
If your baby falls asleep in a seated pushchair or car seat unit, the AAP advises moving them to a firm, flat sleep surface on their back as soon as you can.
How to tell if your baby is warm enough in the pram
At each stop, slide two fingers onto the back of your baby's neck or their chest. Warm and dry means they are dressed right. Hot or sweaty means open the footmuff or take a layer off. Cool means add a layer or head home. Cold hands alone are normal, the NHS says.
Sources
We check this guide against these sources. It is general information, not medical advice: speak to your health visitor, GP or paediatrician about your own baby.
Questions parents ask
Can I put a blanket over the pram to help my baby sleep?
No. The NHS advises against covering a pram or pushchair with a blanket or muslin, because it can cause your baby to overheat. Use the hood, a parasol or a sunshade for shade, and find a quieter spot if your baby needs to settle.
Does my baby need a coat in the pram?
Not always. A footmuff, pram suit or warm blanket over thin layers can replace a coat. Too much padding plus a hood and rain cover can make a pram warm on a mild day, so check your baby's neck after 10 to 15 minutes and take a layer off if they feel sweaty.
What should a newborn wear in the pram?
Follow the NHS rule of one more layer than you, for example a vest, sleepsuit and cardigan with a blanket on cooler days. Keep a newborn out of direct sun, lay them feet-to-foot if they are sleeping flat, and remove hats and extra layers once you are inside.
Is it safe to use a pram rain cover?
Rain covers keep your baby dry, but they can make the pram warmer. Take the rain cover off when the rain stops and when you go indoors. Check the back of your baby's neck often while it is on. If your baby feels hot or sweaty, open the cover and remove a layer.