Winter in the UAE is many families' favourite time of year: cooler mornings, park picnics and evenings outdoors. But it brings a question many parents ask: how warmly should I dress my baby? Outside it can be pleasant, while inside air-conditioning, malls and cars can feel surprisingly cold. This guide helps you get it right, room by room and outing by outing.
The golden rule: layers, not bulk
Instead of one thick outfit, dress your baby in thin, breathable layers that you can add or remove as you move between the warm outdoors and cool indoor spaces. A simple rule of thumb many parents use is one more light layer than you are wearing yourself.
Natural fabrics make layering easier, because cotton, muslin and merino wool help regulate temperature and let skin breathe. Read more in our guide to breathable baby fabrics.
How to tell if your baby is too warm or too cold
Babies cannot tell us, and their hands and feet often feel cool even when they are warm enough. The best check is to feel the back of their neck or their tummy:
- Warm and dry: just right
- Hot, damp or sweaty: remove a layer
- Cool to the touch: add a layer
Overheating is a bigger risk for babies than being slightly cool, so when in doubt, go lighter.
Indoors with air-conditioning
Many UAE homes keep the AC running all year. For daytime at home, a cotton bodysuit with a light knitted layer on top usually works well:
- A short- or long-sleeved cotton bodysuit as the base layer
- A soft knit on top, such as our newborn cotton knitted dungaree or knitted cotton jumper
- Socks if the floor or room feels cool. Our merino wool baby socks stay warm without overheating
Out and about: malls, cars and evening walks
A winter day in the UAE can mean a warm, sunny morning in the park and a chilly, air-conditioned mall in the afternoon. Pack for both:
- A light outfit for outdoors, ideally long sleeves to protect against the sun
- A knitted layer or jacket in the bag for malls, restaurants and evenings
- A blanket for the pram, which you can tuck in or fold away. A personalised knitted blanket is perfect here, and it won't get mixed up at playgroups
- A muslin swaddle as a light cover or sunshade
In the car seat, avoid bulky jackets, which can stop the harness from fitting snugly. Buckle your baby in wearing thin layers and place a blanket over the harness instead.
Now that my kids are older toddlers, we spend most of our winter afternoons at outdoor sports spots: football pitches, tennis and padel courts, and basketball courts. They wear light sports clothes, but I always bring a cotton jacket they can throw on once it cools down in the evening.
Our favourite ways to enjoy winter outdoors
Winter is the season to get outside, and some of our favourite family moments don't need a ticket at all:
- Kite Beach: a classic for a reason. Long walks along the sand, a running track by the beach and plenty of space for little ones to play, with the Burj Al Arab in the background.
- Joining a sports group: there are lots of community running groups that meet for evening runs every week, and regular beach volleyball games. It's a lovely way to stay active and meet other families.
- Long walks in community parks: green, leafy community parks are perfect for slow walks with the pram or the scooter.
- A night in the desert: a desert camp is a real winter highlight. Nights in the desert get much colder than in the city, so pack warm layers, socks and a blanket for the little ones.
Bedtime: safe and comfortable sleep
Sleep is where getting the temperature right matters most. Widely recommended safe sleep advice includes:
- Use a baby sleeping bag rather than loose blankets in the cot. Loose blankets, pillows and soft toys should be kept out of the sleep space for young babies
- Choose the tog to match the room: a lighter tog for warmer rooms and a higher tog for cooler ones. Our 0.5 tog muslin sleeping bags suit warmer rooms, and our 1.5 tog muslin sleeping bags suit cooler, air-conditioned bedrooms
- No hats for sleep indoors: babies release heat through their heads
- Check the back of the neck before you go to bed yourself, and adjust a layer if needed
Many parents find a room thermometer helpful, as it makes choosing the right sleepwear much easier.
Quick guide: what to wear where
- Warm, sunny outdoors: one light cotton or muslin layer, sun hat, shade
- Cool evening outdoors: cotton base layer, knitted top or jacket, socks, pram blanket
- Air-conditioned home or mall: cotton base layer plus a light knit, socks
- Bedtime in an air-conditioned room: cotton sleepsuit plus a sleeping bag with a suitable tog
This guide is general information. If you are unsure about your baby's temperature or health, please speak to your paediatrician.
