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When Can Newborns Go Outside? Safety and More

Hello, fresh air and sunshine! Exiting the hospital with your new baby can be a magical moment. Unfortunately, it may also leave you with a sense of panic as you realize that your little one is now entering into the real world.

You may have heard from a friend or family member that newborns shouldn’t be outside for the first couple of months of their lives. Is this true? Should you really keep your baby inside for the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth?

If your anxiety is rising just thinking about this, don’t worry!

We understand that being a new parent can be overwhelming, so we’ve gone through the research to help answer all your questions about taking your newborn out and about for the first time.

Most pediatric health experts agree that babies can head outside right away, as long as you use basic safety precautions. (More on those to come, so keep calm and read on!)

Generally speaking, there’s no need to stay inside with your little one for the first 1 or 2 months of baby’s life if you both feel up to getting out. In fact, some fresh air and sunshine can benefit you both, thanks to vitamin D and mood-boosting benefits.

One exception to keep in mind, though, is that some doctors prefer you wait a bit before taking your little one into crowded spaces where they may be exposed to high levels of germs — especially during COVID-19 surges.

It is true that your newborn’s immune system is still developing and may struggle to fight off infections.

There are precautions you can take, though — like hand washing and physical distancing — to minimize the chance of your little one developing an illness.

For most infants, taking typical safety precautions while outside is sufficient to keep them safe.

In rare cases where your child has a health condition that makes their immune system particularly susceptible to germs, your doctor may advise you to take extra precautions. These can include staying at home during periods of specific concern.

If you’re ready to take your little one outside, you’ll want to make sure to follow appropriate safety measures. These include:

Dress them in weather-appropriate clothing

Double-check baby’s outfit to make sure it’s weather appropriate. You’ll probably also want to have a spare outfit or blanket packed, in case of an emergency change or if extra layers are needed.

A general rule of thumb is to dress your baby for the weather and then add one extra layer. You’ll want to check to make sure they’re comfortable throughout the outing as well.

Have a sun-protection plan

A little sunshine can be nice, but baby skin burns easier, so you’ll want to make sure that it’s covered with clothing and a sun hat or hidden in the shade.

Because infants are at a greater risk of sunscreen side effects, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend keeping infants in the shade and out of direct sunlight. However, in a pinch it may be OK to apply small amounts of sunscreen to exposed skin. Just consult with your pediatrician first if your baby is younger than 6 months old.

Avoid crowds

Crowded places like malls, airplanes, or pools mean that there’s more chances for germs to spread.

Especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many experts encourage parents to avoid these places with their newborns.

If possible, it’s also best to avoid places like the grocery store and indoor restaurants where ventilation may be poor and you might have trouble physical distancing from other people.

Wash your hands — and make sure others do, too

Ensure that anyone who touches your baby has washed their hands. No one showing any symptoms of illness should come in contact with your newborn.

You may even wish to teach young siblings to touch only baby’s toes or back and not their hands or face. This may help reduce the risk of spreading germs.

Limit visitors

It might be hard to say no when well-meaning family and friends want to visit baby, but it’s good to limit who is allowed around your newborn.

Again, because of COVID-19, many experts are suggesting restricting visitors around you and your newborn until the pandemic improves.

Use a baby carrier

Babies can be irresistible! But wearing baby in a baby carrier rather than using a stroller can keep your little one close and help prevent other people from touching (or kissing!) them.

There are some times when you’ll want to think twice before loading baby into their car seat or stroller. You may wish to stay inside your home if:

• Extreme weather conditions are occurring. Mail carriers may brave wind, snow, sleet, and hail, but your newborn should avoid extreme temperatures and being outside in bad air quality whenever possible.
• Your child has a medical condition. If your newborn has special medical needs that leave them particularly susceptible to germs, you’ll want to consult with their doctor before taking them out and about.
• It’s peak sunlight hours. The middle of the day can be an especially hard time to find shade and protect your baby’s skin. For this reason, you may wish to avoid excessive time outside when the sun is at its strongest.

If you do need to go outside with baby for any reason, especially in warmer weather and for longer periods of time, be sure to bring plenty of breast milk or formula to keep them hydrated.

Most doctors agree that there’s no need to wait until your baby is 1 or 2 months old to take them out and about. However, you also shouldn’t feel pressure to do it before you’re ready.

Newborn babies can seem so delicate, you might want to put them inside a bubble of protection (or at least never let them see sunlight).

The truth is some sun protection, weather-appropriate clothing, and distance from crowds will probably be enough to keep them safe.

If you have any questions about taking your newborn outside or if your infant has special medical circumstances to consider, you should never hesitate to speak with your child’s pediatrician.

Let's go for a walk! - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

WHY SHOULD YOU WALK?

Purely theoretically, all parents understand that walking is fresh air and health, but let's look at what gives us the exit from a warm apartment or house. By and large, any walk is a contact with nature (unless, of course, walking not along busy streets, but at least in a park) and an attempt to get away from the harmful factors of civilization. What does it mean? Each city apartment (and a country house too) accumulates a huge amount of harmful substances. First of all, it is dust and a variety of allergens (particles of household chemicals, varnishes, paints), which are always found in furniture, books, carpets and, in general, in any items of our house. Plus all that street rubbish that flies through the windows if it's a city apartment. But there is no or very little fresh air in our homes, because in winter it is difficult to keep the windows open and constantly ventilate the room. There is no sunlight in our homes - useful UV radiation, which is necessary for the growth of all living things. And finally, sitting at home, we sharply limit our motor activity. Therefore, it is clear that everyone, including children, needs to go out into the fresh air and walk. Of course, walking in summer is more pleasant than in winter: it's warm, the birds are singing, the grass is green, the flowers are blooming, it somehow becomes immediately clear that walking is both pleasant and useful. What about in winter? Cold, snow, monotonous landscape - all this is uncomfortable, so what is the use of winter walks? nine0005

WHAT A WINTER WALK WILL GIVE A CHILD:

1. Health. In cold weather, the air becomes cleaner and more oxygenated, and all the dust is trapped in the snow. Fresh air will cleanse the lungs of everything that the baby inhales in the apartment, the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract will begin to work better, and the blood and, accordingly, all organs will be enriched with oxygen. Walking, the child will grow better and physically develop.

2. Hardening. The air temperature during a walk in winter is significantly different from the air temperature in the room - all this will harden the baby's body. nine0005

3. Vitamin D. In winter there is very little sun and a walk is the only opportunity for a child to get a "portion" of ultraviolet radiation. Namely, under its influence, our body produces vitamin D, which is necessary for the prevention of rickets. Of course, in order to prevent rickets, it will be necessary not only to walk, but still it is worth taking advantage of this simple and natural “medicine”.

4. Physical activity. Walking in winter, when we are wearing a lot of clothes, especially if we move actively, we spend more effort and energy. The baby also spends it, even if he just moves his legs along the road, digs snow, rolls over a snowdrift or rolls down a hill with his parents. So a winter walk willy-nilly gives us physical activity, and it in turn stimulates the work of the cardiovascular and immune systems. It turns out that again there are health benefits. nine0005

5. Development and socialization. On the street, the world is completely different than in an apartment or house familiar to a child. It is full of all sorts of amazing things for children: it is snowing or the sun is shining, a dog is running, a crow is croaking, a car is passing by. Moreover, all this changes very quickly: the baby sees a new picture all the time and receives new information, studies the properties of different objects. While walking, children learn to establish different connections: the dog barks, the bird flies, and the snow is white and beautiful. Plus communication with other children and new contacts. Well, yes, in the warm season there are more street entertainments, but do not sit in the apartment until the snow melts! nine0005

Of course, not all of these factors will work on every walk: the sun does not always shine, and as for infants, they often sleep outside and they do not have any movement and special acquaintance with the outside world. But winter walks give health and hardening for sure, unless, of course, walking in the fresh air, and not along gassed streets or shops full of people.

WHY THEY DO NOT WALK

True, no matter how much they talk about the benefits of winter walks, anyway, at this time of the year, many mothers and fathers with their children do not go for walks or walk rarely or for a short time. Adults understand that this is wrong, but the reasons for staying at home seem convincing to them. What Parents Assure Themselves:

The child will get sick in the cold. This is a typical horror story, which is especially loved by mothers and grandmothers: they say that the child will inhale the air in the cold and he will start coughing, runny nose or sore throat . But cold air does not cause illness - this is a myth.

Actually. A person gets sick from bacteria or viruses, not from cold. On the contrary, many viruses die in the cold, so walking in sub-zero temperatures is safer than in positive ones. Another thing is that hypothermia (frozen feet, for example) can contribute to the fact that a virus or microbe that has entered the body begins to develop. Well, it (hypothermia) simply should not be allowed. nine0005

Only infections in the street . Now, when a flood of various negative information has hit us, in particular about all sorts of viruses and diseases, many anxious mothers are generally afraid to go outside with a small child once again. Especially in the first weeks and even months after childbirth if the child was born in autumn and winter. It is believed that a baby can be sneezed on the street, or a virus will remain in the entrance after a sick person, and the child will pick it up. The endless media horror stories about new and horrific strains of the flu, the daily news about severe complications from illness, and other horror stories only add fuel to the fire. So mothers with a child sit at home all winter and walk only on the balcony. nine0005

Actually. An apartment will not protect against illnesses - dad, grandmother, mother herself can bring a virus into the house: a family does not live in complete isolation from the world. But a walk in the fresh air, on the contrary, will strengthen health and immunity.

Walking in winter is so difficult and boring. In winter, you have to dress for a long time: first by yourself, and then dress the child in several layers of clothing. And you need to dress according to the weather, otherwise you will quickly freeze and have to return. The question is: why did they leave at all? And you also have to not forget anything (the same mittens), otherwise, again, you have to return home, and this is always inconvenient with a small child. In addition, many babies do not tolerate the dressing process well: they scream so much that it is easier to spit on a walk and stay at home. It’s cold in winter, you can’t sit on a bench with a stroller, you can’t read a book, you have to walk all the time. Plus, many parents are generally bored with walking with a stroller or by the hand with a child, even if the weather is good and the baby is calm. nine0005

Actually. These are all excuses and banal laziness. Today, there are so many high-tech and comfortable clothes (for both adults and children) that you can dress for a walk easily and comfortably. Children very quickly get used to the process of dressing or simply put up with it. If you try a little, then even in a walk with a stroller you can find something interesting (listen to audio books, music, communicate in the company of the same mothers).

The child will freeze or overheat . In winter, you need to put a lot of clothes on the baby, and it’s difficult to understand exactly whether the legs are cold or, on the contrary, whether the baby has mated. nine0005

Actually . Usually, parents dress the child so warmly that he definitely does not freeze. Even if the baby is in the stroller, you can always feel his arms and legs and determine if they are cold. Much more often, a child is hot on a walk, and you can find out about this by his appearance and behavior. The baby's face turns red, he begins to worry (naughty or crying), asks for water. Then you need to put your hand behind the baby's collar and feel his back (whether she was sweating).

The child will want to eat, but in winter you will not breastfeed . Therefore, it is better not to go out for a walk, especially since if you go out, you still won’t leave for a long time.

Actually . The child can be fed before the walk. Then you are guaranteed to have 1–1.5 hours to go outside and get some fresh air. And this is quite enough for a winter walk. In general, on the street in winter, children quickly fall asleep and then sleep for a very long time. So there is usually enough time to walk between feedings.

Bad weather in winter - if not a blizzard, then ice, if not frost, then slush.

Actually. Bad weather in winter, if a person does not really live in difficult climatic conditions, still happens infrequently. Blizzards do not sweep all winter, and severe colds are replaced by a light and pleasant frost, so most often the same parental laziness is hidden under the words “bad weather”. Or the lack of habits of a healthy lifestyle and walks in particular. Plus, at home we are anchored by the usual benefits: a soft sofa, TV, computer. nine0005

It turns out that there are no particularly serious reasons not to walk in the winter with a child. But here, too, it is necessary to observe the measure. You don’t have to perform feats and walk for the sake of the baby’s health if you don’t have the strength, the food for yourself or your husband is not ready, the weather is bad outside, or something just went wrong today. Nothing bad will happen if the child stays at home for one or even a couple of days. But as soon as the weather improves and strength appears, we must go outside. But what about the balcony? To be honest, everyone understands that a walk on a balcony is not the same as a walk in a park or forest. This is a way out for those who live in a house without an elevator, who don’t even have a public garden nearby, if it’s very cold and bad weather outside, their mother feels unwell or is very busy with household chores or work. nine0005

GOING OUTSIDE

When to start. If a child was born in winter or cold spring or autumn, then in the first days after birth, he does not need to walk. And not only because it's cold outside, it's just that the baby needs to first adapt to the outside world, and he and his mother need to enter a new rhythm of life. In general, the opinions of pediatricians about when to start walking with a newborn differ. Some doctors believe that a healthy child can be taken outside in winter already a week after birth, others recommend walking from the 10-14th day of life, and others generally advise waiting up to three to four weeks. Here it will be necessary to look at everything: the weight of the child (underweight children are advised to start walking later in winter), his condition, the weather, the possibilities of the family (mother may not have the strength, dad works, and there are no grandmothers nearby). nine0005

At what temperature and how long to walk. Here, too, you need to focus on the weather. Doctors recommend taking a newborn out for the first walk if the temperature outside the window is not lower than minus 5 ºС. At first, you can not even go outside, but “walk” with a dressed baby in a room with a wide open window or sit on the balcony. Then go out with the baby from the house holding him in his arms, and then walk in the stroller.

Every day the walk is increased by about 5–10 minutes, and it turns out that after going outside for an average of 10 days, by a month a child can already walk for an hour, and then 1.5–2 hours. But here again it is necessary to look at the climate. It can be 0 ºС or even plus on the street, but a strong north wind will blow - walking in such weather is unpleasant and not necessary. Or maybe the frost is below minus 15 ºС, and the day will be sunny, the weather will be mild - then the numbers on the thermometer will not interfere with taking a walk in the fresh air. nine0005

How to dress a child . As mentioned earlier, with clothes now everything is simple. Woolen leggings that still need to be pulled on, numerous handkerchiefs under a hat, heavy children's fur coats, one socks, and on top of the second socks, scarves so as not to blow, and other grandmother's tricks for warmth are a thing of the past. It's simple: a child walks in a stroller - cotton overalls (slip) to the body, fleece on top, and then overalls or an envelope with insulation. A cotton helmet is put on the head, on top of it - a woolen or the same fleece (or you can put on a “2 in 1” helmet). On the feet - socks, on the hands - mittens. Who is very scared - take a blanket (just in case). If the child is already walking, everything is the same, but instead of an envelope there will already be overalls and plus winter children's shoes. And no extra buttons, ties and everything that irritates both mother and child. Sleepsuits with comfortable buttons, jumpsuits (envelopes) with zippers, instead of a stuffy scarf, a hat-helmet will cover your neck, prickly wool is replaced by soft and pleasant fleece - you can get ready for a walk in such comfortable clothes, like in the army, in a few minutes! Before you go for a walk, you must first collect all the necessary things (napkins, nipples, toys), then get dressed yourself, and last but not least, dress the child (otherwise he will quickly become hot). nine0005

As you can see, walking in winter is easy and even very useful. So dress properly and go – towards nature and health!

How to walk with a newborn in winter, how much time and how to dress a baby for a winter walk

Surrounding the baby with daily care and love, we change our plans and daily routine. One of the regimen aspects is walks.

How to walk with a newborn in winter? How many times a day? What to dress the child in? Is it possible not to leave the house at all if it is cold outside or the baby is in a bad mood? nine0005

Let's start with heat transfer

The physiological processes involved in maintaining the optimal body temperature of a newborn baby immediately after birth are not perfect. In a full-term baby, after birth, the temperature decreases by about 1.5–2.0 ° C, and then rises again to 37 ° C. Such a temperature difference is considered normal during the first days of life and is called transient hypothermia of newborns.

In immature, premature babies, the temperature most often drops below, and therefore, immediately after birth, they are placed under additional sources of heat, in incubators, until the processes of thermoregulation improve. nine0005

Also, the features of heat transfer in a newborn are: a tendency to hypothermia due to insufficient development of the subcutaneous fat layer, a tendency to overheat due to limited sweating and imperfection of thermoregulation mechanisms.

After the 5th day, body temperature remains very sensitive to fluctuations in ambient temperature. Body temperature changes slightly when feeding children, when swaddling, bathing and walking. If the baby is cold, supercooled, then the fastest way to warm him up is to ensure close bodily contact with his mother and attach to his chest. nine0005

The process of heat transfer and thermoregulation returns to normal only after 1 year, and sometimes after 1 year and 6 months. Therefore, the room may be warm, but your baby's hands and feet may still be cool and damp. This is not out of the norm. And if you are worried about the baby, then you can additionally put on warm socks made of natural materials - cotton, wool.

Considering the process of heat transfer, it is worth paying attention to the fact that overheating a child is no less dangerous than hypothermia. Many parents, fearing hypothermia of the child, begin to wrap it up unnecessarily and thereby increase the risk of developing dehydration, which can lead to heat stroke or malfunction of the central nervous system, heart, and breathing. nine0005

When going for a walk with a baby, one should try to follow the rules and maintain an optimal temperature regime.

How and how long can you walk with a newborn in winter

A lot of conflicting information about walking can be a source of stress for new parents. In fact, you can walk with a baby at any air temperature, but there are subjective numbers of temperature and humidity at which a walk should be canceled. nine0005

Main rules:

1. Each parent is guided by himself when he is going to walk. For example, on the street it is pouring rain or a crackling 30-degree frost. It is not necessary to go for a walk with a child in such weather. It is better to enjoy the warmth and comfort of home.

2. If you are cold or tired from walking, then go home. Even if we walked for 20 minutes instead of the planned 2 hours. A child needs healthy and happy parents. nine0005

3. Pediatricians recommend starting to go outside with a child from the 3rd-10th day of his life. For the first time, you should walk for 10-15 minutes. Usually the first walk is a solemn discharge from the hospital.

4. In winter, with a child of the 1st month of life, it is recommended to start walking if the air temperature is not lower than minus 10 ° C. You can use the rule of pediatricians: for each month of a child's life - minus 5 degrees, but not lower than 15 degrees for any baby. nine0005

5. When planning the duration of the walk, you should focus on the breaks between feeding the baby.

6. For winter walks with your baby, do not forget about skin protection products. Use only high-quality baby creams and apply them to the baby's skin 15-20 minutes before leaving the house.

7. Always dress yourself first, then the child. The baby may overheat while waiting for you to be ready. Gather everything you need with you in advance - a diaper change, toys, a snack. nine0005

The benefits of walking for a child in winter

Walking for a baby and a baby over a year old in winter is not only physical health, but also the development of cognitive interest, communication skills and physical activity.

Winter air is more saturated with oxygen, therefore, thanks to winter walks, brain function is stimulated, physical activity of the baby increases and his sleep improves. Also, walking in the fresh air helps to increase appetite and better functioning of the respiratory system. Walking in any weather, and especially in the winter season, is the simplest and easiest way to harden a baby, which has a beneficial effect on his health. nine0005

Fresh air and sunlight can be fully obtained only on the street, do not forget about walking in the cold season to maintain normal vitamin D and phosphorus-calcium metabolism in the body. This is true for different regions, even for those where, according to statistics, there are few sunny days in winter.

How to dress a newborn outside in winter

When dressing a child for a walk, be guided by your feelings - dress the baby in the way that seems comfortable to you personally. nine0005

Babies under 1 year old should wear one more layer of clothing than themselves. Children of this age on the street sleep more often than they are awake, so it is better to dress the baby a little warmer. If your child is already making attempts to explore the world around him while walking, then choose clothes that will allow him to actively move. Take an extra blanket in case the child decides to sleep in the frosty air.

Walking for a long time, check if you have dressed the baby too warmly. The palms and nose of a child under 1 year of age are not very informative in determining whether the baby is warm. It is better to check the child's neck and the back of the head with your warm hand. If the neck and back of the head are wet, then the baby is hot. nine0005

Comfort during winter walks is provided by a good stroller with large wheels, which can easily overcome any bumps and snowdrifts.

How long to walk with a child older than 1 year in the cold season?

With a baby over the age of 1 year, the duration of walks will depend on the daily routine and the time of the walk.

If the walk is planned for the time of the daytime sleep of the baby, then it is better to dress him a little warmer. He will be able to sleep longer in comfort and warmth in the fresh frosty air. If your child is already actively exploring the world during winter walks, then provide him with the opportunity to actively move in winter clothes. Clothing made from modern and natural fabrics allows you to enjoy a walk for a longer time.

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