The idea of ‘warmth’, particularly in waldorf circles, is always of great interest. The reason is simple – warmth, especially for the baby and young child, is of utmost importance. Children do not have a fully developed sense of temperature so it is up to us as the parents to provide appropriate clothing in order to maintain warmth. This serves them with physical warmth, which in turn creates soul warmth and allows them the opportunity to be fully within their body. Items in your child’s wardrobe should be made from natural fibers whenever possible, as they hold living properties and bring a spiritual connection to the natural world around us. Wool, silk and cotton are all excellent choices.
Woolen undergarments are a perfect first layer, particularly in cooler climates. Wool’s seemingly magical properties keep the body from becoming too cool as well as too warm. Wool is an absolutely essential and important fiber for warmth.
And let me stress here the importance of hats! A great deal of body heat is lost through the head (or more specifically, the scalp) so it is imperative that we cover our babies’ and children’s heads the majority of the time. Silk is a great natural fiber for newborns, as it is exquisitely soft and luxurious and even wards away cradle cap. Wool and wool/silk blends are also ideal for cooler climates and/or conditions. Remember to take air-conditioned spaces into account in the summer!
Keeping the feet warm is important as well. and once again, wool is best!
I have a personal goal to knit a little silk hat for every newborn i meet. :)
Happiness to me is a pile of handknit, natural fiber goodness – each imbued with the spirit and energy of the maker. What could be more perfect for your child?
We also feel it is important to keep all of our dolls dressed warmly, too. :)
Here’s to warmth for all!
Shelley is a mama, knitter, crafter and blogger. she has been involved in waldorf education and the waldorf community for many years and shares snippets of her life as a waldorf mama at waldorfmama.com.