Let it Snow

We woke up this morning to the first snowfall of the season on Minnesota. At less than two inches, the snow is still enough to cover lawns and tree limbs and rooftops and brighten the drabness that is usually associated with November. While this snowfall won't amount to much and tomorrow's predicted high of 40 will return the sidewalks to a stroller-friendly state, at least I know I'm ready for when winter comes to stay.

Through last spring Oliver was still small enough for his infant car seat and the cover that cocooned him in warmth. I would dress him in a simple fleece outerwear suit, a hand-me-down from a cousin, put a hat on his head, socks on his hands (they work much better on babies than actual mittens!) and drape a thin blanket over his lower body. Once the cover was on, his little face was all that showed. He stayed warm and protected from the wind. We often walked when the temperature was in single digits, yet he peacefully slept in his cocoon. When Oliver was nine weeks old, we started joining a friend for a weekly Saturday morning walk around Lake Como and I only canceled once - when the wind chill dropped to the double digits. And that was because it was too cold for me. (Oliver would probably have been fine.)

Now that Oliver is sitting up in a stroller, dressing for cold weather has new challenges. I have two hearty friends, one a non-car-owner from Montreal and the other an all-season, all-weather outdoor enthusiast, and we've been sharing strategy on how to get our babies winter-ready. What gear works best with babies and most importantly, how do we protect those little faces from the harsh Minnesota winds?

The obvious preparation was to upgrade from a car seat cover to a stroller bunting, a sleeping-bag-like cover that hooks into the seat of the stroller. Oliver is small enough still that when completely zipped up, the bunting comes up to his chin. Assuming that he'll be walking at some point this winter and will presumably spend at least a bit of time running around outdoors, we bought him a proper winter jacket and snow pants and boots. But mostly, he won't need this much clothing underneath his stroller cover. Instead, it's protecting the head that will be the most difficult. I found him a fleece hat that snaps underneath the chin and wraps snugly around his head and ears. But finding any sort of neck warmer or face mask in even toddler size has been impossible. So the latest idea thrown out there was to to put a rain shield over the stroller with the thought that the flexible plastic covering would be enough to cut down on the wind. Applying Vaseline or Dermatone to the exposed skin would be added protection.

Not until the bitter cold weather sets in will we know how much we need to tweak our system for safely and comfortably enjoying fresh air with our emerging toddlers. But despite the hassle, time and strong will required to go take a walk (with or without a baby) in winter in the Upper-Midwest, I don't feel I have any other choice. Walking is my only form of exercise now and I try to stick with it for both my physical and mental health. If I don't prepare for the outdoors, I'm stuck walking indoors at places like the Mall of America. Plus I'm hoping that Oliver grows up embracing winter and believing that spending time outside and pursuing physical activity can only take place in seasons that don't require a parka.