Cold mornings don't have to mean a chilly baby. Here's how footmuffs, cosytoes, raincovers and clever layering keep your little one snug in the pushchair all winter, while helping you avoid overheating.
Quick Summary: Winter walks can be a real joy with a little preparation, and this guide helps you keep baby snug in the pushchair all season. You'll find out what footmuffs and cosytoes are and how they fit, how to dress baby in light layers rather than bulk, and simple ways to tell whether they're too warm or too cold. There's practical help for wet and windy days, covering the pushchair safely, popping into warm shops and caring for your footmuff, plus an invitation to try footmuffs at our Peterborough showroom.
There's something special about a crisp winter walk with your baby, from frosty parks and bright cold mornings to that first breath of fresh air after a day indoors. But when the temperature drops, it's natural to wonder whether your little one is warm enough tucked up in the pushchair, or perhaps a bit too warm.
The good news is that keeping baby cosy on winter walks doesn't take a mountain of kit. A well-fitted footmuff, a few light layers and a sensible approach to covers and raincovers will see you through most of what a UK winter brings, so you can head out with confidence.
Footmuffs and Cosytoes: What's the Difference?
If you've been browsing winter pushchair accessories, you've probably come across both footmuffs and cosytoes and wondered which one you need. Here's the simple answer: they're two names for the same thing. "Cosytoes" is just the everyday name many parents use for a pushchair footmuff, so there's no need to buy one of each.
Which? describes a footmuff or apron as a helpful way to keep your baby warm and dry during cold snaps, and they usually have a water-repellent outer with a soft fleece lining inside.
Many footmuffs are designed to do more than one job, which is handy when the weather can't make up its mind. Several convert to a lighter seat liner when you remove the front or apron, and some have a foot zip or fold-down front so you can open them up on milder days.
How a footmuff fits your pushchair
A footmuff doesn't replace your pushchair's harness. Instead, it fits around it. Typically you thread the shoulder and hip straps through openings in the back, then bring the buckle through its own slot, so baby is strapped in as usual. Your footmuff's instructions will show exactly how.
Some footmuffs are sold as universal, while others are made for particular pushchair models. "Universal" doesn't always mean every pushchair, so it's always worth checking your pushchair manual before you add any accessory. If you use a carrycot, check your carrycot's manual for its own cover and the accessories it recommends.
You'll find a wide choice in our pushchair footmuffs collection.
- Same thing, two names: a cosytoes is simply another name for a footmuff.
- Harness first: the footmuff fits around the harness, so check the straps still sit snugly once it's in.
- Flexible designs: look out for removable fronts, foot zips and seat-liner modes for milder days.
Other Cold-Weather Pushchair Accessories
A few extra accessories can make winter walks more comfortable for both of you, and one of the most useful is for you rather than baby.
Pushchair mittens, sometimes called handle muffs, stay fixed to the handlebar so you can slip your hands straight in. Depending on the brand they attach with velcro or magnets, which means no more fumbling for gloves at the park gate. You'll find them among our pushchair accessories.
A raincover is the other winter essential, and some are universal while others are made for one particular pushchair. Browse our pushchair raincovers to find the right fit. For an extra soft layer in the seat, there are also seat liners and newborn inserts.
Before adding any accessory, check your pushchair manual for the ones its brand approves.
Dressing Baby for Winter Walks Without the Bulk
When it's cold outside, the instinct is to bundle baby into the thickest outfit you can find. In fact, several light layers keep a baby warmer than one or two heavy ones, and they're easy to add or remove as you go.
A simple rule of thumb from the NHS is to dress baby in one more layer than you're wearing yourself. If you feel chilly, they probably do too. For heading out in the cold, add a wool or cotton hat, mittens, and socks or bootees. Choose close knits so tiny fingers and toes don't get caught in the holes.
Young children, especially the under-fives, are more at risk from the cold than adults, so it's worth taking a moment to get the layers right. In a pram in cold weather, one or two lightweight blankets tucked over baby, with a sheet underneath and a waterproof raincover, will usually do the job. In a lightweight pushchair, or when it's very cold, add extra layers, and in a fabric or low pushchair put a blanket underneath baby too.
Whatever baby is wearing, always use the harness. Once their layers and footmuff are in place, check the straps still sit snugly.
- Light layers: several thin layers beat one thick one.
- One more than you: dress baby in one more layer than you're wearing.
- Little extremities: hat, mittens, and socks or bootees in close knits.
- Harness on: every walk, every time.
A note for travel-system parents
If you'll be moving baby from the pushchair to the car, layering matters even more. Bulky coats and snowsuits stop a car seat harness fitting closely, so dress baby in thin layers for the journey and take off bulky outdoor clothes before strapping them into the car seat. Check your car seat manual before adding any footmuff to it.
Is Baby Too Hot or Too Cold?
Getting the temperature just right is the part most parents worry about, and with good reason. Small babies aren't very good at controlling their own temperature, and they can overheat from too much clothing just as easily as they can get chilly.
The easiest check is to feel baby's tummy, or the back of their neck as some footmuff brands suggest. If baby is sweaty or their tummy feels hot, take off a layer. Don't be alarmed if their hands and feet feel cool, as that's normal.
It's worth thinking about the weather and temperature each time you head out, rather than using the same set-up every day. A frosty morning and a mild, damp afternoon call for different layers. Some brands also advise keeping footmuffs away from heaters and open flames.
- Feel the tummy: or the back of the neck, for a quick check.
- Sweaty or hot: remove a layer.
- Cool hands and feet: perfectly normal on their own.
Covering the Pushchair: Keep the Air Flowing
On a bitter day it can be tempting to throw a blanket over the whole pushchair to keep the cold out, but this is one habit to avoid. Never drape a blanket, muslin or cover over the pram or pushchair itself, because baby can overheat underneath it. A lightweight blanket tucked over baby on a cold day, as above, is a different thing entirely. The pushchair itself should stay open to the air.
A raincover is designed for the job, but it still needs a little care. Most brands say to check the ventilation whenever it's fitted and not to use it in hot weather. Some also say to keep it secure and clear of baby's face, never use a torn one, keep the plastic away from children and not use it indoors. Your manual may also suggest taking yours off whenever it isn't needed, to prevent condensation building up inside.
Some footmuffs have their own adjustable hood, so you can draw it in snugly on cold days and push it back when it's milder. Pushchair hoods with windows or mesh panels let air through, though they may let a little rain in too.
- Never drape: no blankets, muslins or covers over the pushchair itself.
- Raincover checks: check the ventilation every time, and follow your manual's other raincover advice.
Wet and Windy Days
British winters are often more damp than frosty, so a plan for wind and rain is just as important as staying warm. Your pushchair's hood is your first line of defence against both, and an extendable hood that pulls right over gives baby extra shelter.
Many footmuff outers are water-resistant against wind and light rain, but that isn't the same as waterproof. When the rain sets in, a pushchair raincover is still the way to keep baby dry. Check whether one came with your pushchair or whether it's an extra. Raincovers pack down small, so it's easy to keep one in your changing bag or basket.
Winter days are short, so think about being seen too. Bright or reflective clothing and accessories help on darker afternoons, and some pushchair accessories come with reflective trim. If your walks take you over ice, snow or wet leaves, larger tyres with thick treads can help, and our guide to all-terrain pushchairs explains more.
When you get home, a little care keeps your raincover in good shape. Don't fold the pushchair with the raincover on, let the cover air-dry fully before you put it away, and avoid storing it fitted, as that can lead to mildew.
- Hood up: an extendable hood gives extra shelter from wind and rain.
- Water-resistant isn't waterproof: use a raincover in proper rain.
- Be seen: bright or reflective accessories on darker days.
- Dry before storing: never fold or store the pushchair with the raincover fitted.
From Cold Streets to Warm Shops
It's easy to forget to unwrap baby when you step inside, but shops, cafés, buses and trains are often much warmer than outdoors.
Take off hats and extra clothing as soon as you're indoors or on a warm bus, train or car. If baby is staying in the pushchair while you browse, open up or remove covers and heavy layers so they don't overheat, and take the raincover off.
This is where a footmuff with a full-length zip, side zips or a fold-down front really earns its keep, as you can let some warmth out quickly without taking everything apart. While you're out shopping, resist the urge to hang bags on the handlebar or pile coats on top of the pushchair or canopy, because the extra weight can make it tip.
- Unwrap indoors: hats and extra layers off as soon as you're inside.
- Open the footmuff: use zips or a fold-down front to let heat out.
Caring for Your Footmuff
A footmuff works hard over winter, so a little care goes a long way. The golden rule is to follow each item's care label, as washing and drying instructions vary from brand to brand. Some can go in the washing machine, while others need gentler handling, so there's no single rule.
When it comes to drying, let footmuffs and pushchair fabrics dry naturally, away from direct heat. If the pushchair itself gets wet, open it up and let it dry fully before you store it. For storing a footmuff between seasons, check your manual, especially if it has a down filling.
For more on keeping everything fresh after a soggy walk, see our guide on how to clean and look after your pushchair after a wet autumn.
- Care label first: every footmuff is different.
- Dry gently: away from direct heat.
Try Footmuffs at Our Peterborough Showroom
Sometimes it helps to see and feel a footmuff in person, from the softness of the lining to how easily the zips open and how it sits in the seat. You're very welcome to visit our Peterborough showroom and try footmuffs, raincovers and pushchairs with our friendly team on hand to help.
Walk-ins are always welcome, and appointments are available for anyone who prefers one. You'll find us at Unit 24, King Street Industrial Estate, Langtoft, Peterborough PE6 9NF, open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and closed on Sundays. You can call us on 01778 562806 or find out more about us.
