Walking in winter with a newborn: where to start? How to dress a newborn for a walk in winter

• May 11, 2019
• Children under one year old
• Svetlana Funtova

Daily walks in the fresh air are of great importance for a baby. Regardless of the time of year, the child, although not for long, must stay outside. This promotes better physical and mental development, strengthens the immune system, ensures good sleep and normalizes the baby’s emotional state. In the article we will look at how and how long to walk with a newborn in winter, as well as the nuances of choosing clothes.

Getting to know the street

When young parents bring their baby home, a lot of questions arise about caring for him. One of the exciting moments is the question of when to start walking with a newborn in winter. You can go outside with your baby 2-3 weeks after birth. In winter, it is enough for the baby to spend 20-30 minutes outdoors every day, and this time can be increased little by little every week. On average, walking time should last 1.5-2 hours a day.

However, in cold weather, when the temperature exceeds 15 °C below zero, it is better to stay at home with the newborn. After 40 days, you can go out with a child if it is down to 10 °C below zero outside, and even older - down to -15 °C.

The first walk in winter with a newborn should be comfortable. You should not go outside if the wind speed is above 15 m per second. In such cases, you can take the child to get some fresh air on the balcony or outside to a place where you can shelter from strong gusts of wind. Under no circumstances should a child be left alone unattended. Be sure to wear a protective cape against wind and frost on the stroller. It is not recommended to walk near roads with active traffic; polluted air will only harm a fragile body.

When should you not walk with your child in winter?

And sometimes it’s still worth staying at home.

If it’s too frosty and windy outside, it’s better to take a walk on the balcony or in a ventilated room. The ideal room temperature is 22-23 degrees.

If weather conditions do not improve, then you can spend even a week at home without any consequences for the baby’s health.

It is very important to remember that you should only go outside with your child in winter if the baby is completely healthy

. A runny nose means it will be dangerous to go outside. The child should breathe cold air exclusively through the nose (where the air is heated and moistened), and not through the mouth.

Also, vaccination on the same day is a contraindication for walking in winter.

. It's better to play it safe and spend the day at home to avoid bad consequences. Any vaccine can cause fever, so you should be very vigilant and monitor your child.

How to dress at different temperatures

We found out how long to walk with a newborn in winter. It is worth starting with 30 minutes and gradually increasing this time. But how to dress a child?

When choosing clothes for winter walks with a newborn, it is important to take into account all factors: wind, precipitation, temperature, sun. To prevent your baby from having an allergic reaction, preference should be given to natural fabrics with a minimum amount of dyes. Thanks to the eco-friendly composition of the clothes, the baby's skin breathes freely. For the first six months of life, you need to make sure that as little bare parts of the body as possible are visible. When walking, it is best to wear a one-piece jumpsuit that protects your tummy and back from the wind.

When going for a walk, the mother gets dressed first, after which she dresses the child, otherwise he may sweat, and once outside, he may catch a cold. No need to take your baby while going shopping. In a hot room, he can overheat, and on the way home he can freeze and get sick. If there is no one to leave the baby with, you should put on a jumpsuit that you can quickly take off once you find yourself in a warm room. It is important to note that wrapping tightly is extremely undesirable, as it leads to overheating.

The end of winter and early spring are completely unpredictable times. Sometimes, when the air temperature is at zero degrees, it seems that it is warm enough, and mothers rush to switch the child to a lighter version of clothing. However, there is still no need to rush; just change your underwear to thinner ones.

At temperatures from 0 °C to -10 °C, infants should be dressed warmly:

• fresh dry diaper;
• thin underwear (jumpsuit or bodysuit with rompers);
• thin cap;
• socks;
• outer fleece or terry overalls;
• warm socks;
• top insulated envelope or overalls;
• warm hat and scarf;
• mittens.

Depending on weather conditions, wind or snow, you can additionally put a thin blanket in the stroller. If the temperature drops below 10 °C, it is better to postpone the walk with the newborn. When the child grows up, you can walk at temperatures down to -15 ° C, wear the same clothes, just replace the blanket with a warm blanket.

How to dress a baby correctly: the principle of layering

Many parents are interested in how to dress their baby. This issue must be approached very carefully. This will prevent hypothermia and overheating of the baby. Before going for a walk, it is recommended to rinse your baby’s nose so that he can breathe freely fresh air. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of clothing. It is better to give preference to products made from natural materials. Before going outside, the baby is dressed last so that he does not sweat.

How to start walking with a newborn and what to dress him in: 1 First of all, put a new diaper on the baby . Then a slip and a cap made of cotton. Terry or woolen socks are worn over the slip. Clothes should be comfortable. Otherwise, the baby will behave restlessly. 2 The next layer of clothing consists of a closed overalls or terry slip. Instead, you can also wear a woolen or terry jacket and pants. Particular attention is paid to the feet - they are additionally insulated with booties. 3 The last layer consists of an envelope or closed snowsuit. The best option would be to wear sheepskin or holofiber. This will protect the baby from hypothermia. A hat with earflaps is put on the head. If necessary, you can use a scarf. The baby can be additionally wrapped in a blanket.

When dressing your baby for a walk in winter, you need to adhere to the principle of 3 layers of clothing.

The arrangement of the stroller is also important. Here you need to take into account some nuances:

• the stroller must be insulated and stable, and the wheels must be non-slip;
• due to the large amount of clothing, the child’s head will be slightly lower (this problem can be solved with the help of a pillow);
• Mom should have a spare pacifier, scarf, and raincoat in her bag (this may be needed in cases where it snows or there is strong wind).

How to teach a child to use a pacifier and why it is necessary, read here.

Walking in the cold should be taken very seriously. This applies to both the child’s clothing and the equipment of the stroller. This will resolve any unforeseen situations that may arise outside the home.

In addition, we suggest watching a video on how to dress a newborn in winter:

How many clothes do you need

Many mothers wonder what wardrobe items should be purchased for a child born in the cold season:

• 3 flannel or flannel diapers;
• 2-4 thin slips or bodysuits with long sleeves, 2 of each option;
• 2-4 thin shirts and rompers;
• 1-2 thick overalls or warm suits;
• mittens of different densities;
• 4 pairs of thin and warm socks;
• scarf;
• 2-4 caps;
• 2 warm hats;
• insulated overalls or envelope;
• woolen blanket

This set is more than enough for a newborn in the cold season. There will be plenty to choose from for your first winter walk with your newborn. After the baby is ready for a walk, you need to touch his neck. If it is wet and hot, it means that the child is dressed too warmly, and it is better to remove one layer of clothes.

How to dress a newborn outside in winter?

A newborn baby should be dressed in winter according to the following principle:

• diaper
• bodysuit with long sleeves,
• shoulder snap rompers
• warm socks
• fleece overalls,
• cotton cap,
• warm knitted hat made of natural thread.

A newborn sleeps motionless during a walk, so he should be dressed warmly. Instead of overalls, a comfortable down envelope with closed legs is better suited. It is better to walk with your baby in a stroller-cradle specially designed for this purpose.

It retains heat and does not allow cold wind to pass through. For insulation, you can additionally put a wool blanket, a down scarf or a special sheepskin liner in it. It is better to save sleds for older children.

A cap and whether you need to cover your face

A very important item in a child's wardrobe is a hat. It is a must for a newborn to wear for a walk in the winter, since the head freezes in a matter of minutes while being outside. You should definitely wear a light cap under a warm hat. This will avoid irritation and itching of your baby's sensitive skin. When choosing a hat, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

• It is necessary to have ties so that when you move your head it does not slip, opening the ears.
• You should not buy a hat to grow.
• If the cap is too large and does not fit well, your head will inevitably freeze.
• It’s good if the hat covers the baby’s ears, neck and forehead.

When walking with a newborn, you should not cover his face. Insufficiently developed nasal passages, in addition covered with dense tissue, make it difficult for the baby to breathe. Modern strollers are equipped with everything necessary to protect the child from snow, wind and drafts. Choose a stroller with a deep canopy to protect your baby.

After illness

How long should you walk with your newborn in the winter if the baby has suffered from ARVI? During periods of illness, you should completely avoid walking. When it comes to a common runny nose without additional symptoms, then you can go out. However, the air temperature should not be minus.

If a child has a fever, cough and other symptoms, then you should stay home until complete recovery. After eliminating all signs of illness, do without walking for a few more days. After this, the newborn can be taken outside with a gradual increase in time, as described above.

Jumpsuit and socks

When choosing a jumpsuit, you should not purchase a size smaller than 60. Even if it is initially large, the child will grow larger by winter, and given that it is still cold in early spring, the smaller size may become small.

Winter overalls come in several types:

• lined with fleece;
• lined with camel or sheep wool;
• filled with down or feathers;
• with holofiber, padding polyester or other synthetic filler.

To walk in the winter with a newborn in a stroller, it is better to buy overalls made of sheep or camel wool. And the fleece lining is more suitable for autumn and spring.

Even if the overalls are warm, the newborn must wear socks. Socks made from natural wool work well.

What to take with you on a walk

Swaddling a newborn - algorithm of actions and best methods

If a baby sleeps in a stroller in winter not on the balcony, but while rolling down the street with mom or dad’s help, you should think about the fact that the baby, unlike the accompanying person, is protected from the wind by the cradle and stroller, but the adult pushing him is not. Therefore, there is no need to be shy about taking care of yourself while walking your children: prepare a thermos with aromatic tea that will allow you to walk for more than 30 minutes.

No special equipment is required for the baby. He will sleep, wrapped warmly in the cradle. It is imperative to worry about open areas of his face in advance. Today in stores you can find a wide selection of protection against wind and low temperatures.

Attention! You can apply such cosmetics to your skin no later than 20 minutes before going out. The cream should have time to be absorbed.

Baby in winter

If a 10-11 month old baby can already walk and is actively exploring the snowy street, you should always have replacement gloves with you in case the ones you put on your hands get wet.

How to organize a walk

An important part of a baby's daily routine is outdoor walks. But for them to be beneficial, it is important to follow a number of recommendations:

1. Don't spend too much time outside in cold weather. Of course, the decision on how long to walk with the baby is made only by the parents, but it is better to limit it to 25 minutes.
2. Before going outside, the child’s skin is treated with a protective agent depending on weather conditions: ultraviolet radiation, wind, frost.
3. To prevent cold gusts of air, snow or rain from entering the stroller, be sure to cover it with a protective cover or scarf. When walking, you need to cover the baby with a blanket or blanket.
4. Be sure to have essentials with you.

How to dress your baby correctly

In order for a newborn to enjoy fresh air to the fullest and not get sick, it is necessary to properly prepare him for going outside. You need to dress your baby according to the weather. Dampness and wind are much worse tolerated. If it is moderately frosty and calm outside, you should not wrap your child up too much.

The best way to keep warm is to use the principle of multi-layering. The newborn is dressed in rompers, undershirts, and then sweaters, blouses and outerwear come on top. This not only keeps you warmer than just a thick onesie, but also allows you to undress your baby a little if necessary.

To keep your baby warm during a walk during the cold season, use the layering principle.

Since precipitation is possible, it is best to walk in a stroller with a covered top. A warm blanket is placed in the cradle. It is important to insulate the child not only from above, but also from below. To protect from wind, snow or rain, use a special film with a fastener or fix the gauze on the visor.

When you are getting ready to go outside, you should first dress yourself and only then put on overalls and boots for your child. This will prevent it from overheating in the room. Use clothes made from quality materials. There are special fabrics that allow you to regulate the temperature exchange of newborns.

What to take in the stroller

For walks in the winter, it is better to give preference to a stroller, since the baby will feel comfortable in it: the protective cover and high sides protect well from the vagaries of the weather. It is better to leave the carriers for spring and summer. Modern manufacturers, when developing stroller designs, take into account the smallest details so that it is comfortable for the mother to use it and for the baby to be in it.

In winter, a blanket or thin mattress is placed in it. It is important to remember that newborns tolerate overheating much worse than hypothermia.

Mom should also take the following things: a bottle with formula or water, wet wipes, a handkerchief, a diaper, a flannel diaper.

Reviews from parents about winter walks for newborn children

How many minutes to walk with a newborn in winter? What do experienced mothers and fathers say about this? Parents have different opinions on this issue. As you know, some relatives of the baby do not want to go out with him in the first months of his life out of a desire to protect him. Other mothers and fathers do not agree with this point of view.

Most parents report that they went outside with their baby in winter within a week after being discharged from the maternity hospital. At the same time, the baby felt great and slept soundly in the fresh frosty air. Such walks could take several hours, despite doctors' recommendations.

Parents say that the main thing is to dress the baby well. The child should not be cold or hot. When hypothermia occurs, the newborn's nose turns red and becomes cold. If you overheat your baby, you can tell by his wet back. It is necessary to select clothes for the baby strictly in accordance with the air temperature. Otherwise, the walk will not do any good, but will only cause harm. After all, thermoregulation in newborns still does not work well.

How to tell if your baby is cold

A baby who is cold begins to actively move his arms and legs, instinctively trying to warm up. His skin is pale, his cheeks, nose, feet and toes are cold to the touch. In this case, the baby should be covered with a warm diaper or woolen blanket.

If the child is hot, his skin becomes pinkish, and beads of sweat may appear here and there.

How can you tell if a child is cold or hot?

The first walk is short because it allows parents to understand whether they have dressed the baby correctly and whether he feels comfortable.

After returning home, you need to undress the baby and examine him.

• If he is sweating and there are areas of redness, then the child is overheated. Next time at the same temperature you need to dress him lighter.
• If a child is hot outside, this will help to recognize a symptom such as thirst. At the same time, his face, as well as his neck and back will be warm.
• Pediatricians advise determining whether a child is cold by looking at his nose. If the nose is cold, it means he was cold. However, this is incorrect. In this case, it is necessary to focus on the temperature of the baby’s extremities.
• Cold hands and feet are a reason to wear warmer socks and mittens the next time you go for a walk.
• The face of a child who is comfortable on a walk should turn pink from the frost. If your complexion is pale and your lips take on a bluish tint, it’s time to rush home.
• You need to take into account air humidity and wind speed. When the weather is windy and humid, the temperature feels lower.

Under no circumstances should you wrap your baby in a way that would hinder his movements. This is a direct path to hypothermia, regardless of what clothes he is wearing.

Be sure to leave the spout and neck open in cold weather. By inhaling cold air, the baby trains his upper respiratory tract, in which the air is warmed, which is a good prevention of ENT diseases in the future.

When is it better to go for a walk and when not to?

When can you start walking with your newborn in winter:

1. Walking in winter is allowed no earlier than the child is 2-3 weeks old. You can go out before this date only if the air temperature outside is above zero.
2. It is not recommended to go outside with your newborn if the temperature is below -15 °C.
3. The best time for walking is considered to be the break between feedings, approximately 30 minutes after eating. A well-fed child is usually calmer, and after eating the body is always warmer.
4. It’s good if walks are taken in the first half of the day, while it’s warm outside, and possibly sunny. The afternoon becomes cooler as air temperatures drop.

You should not go out for a walk with your newborn in the following cases:

1. On the first day after discharge. The child needs time to get used to new conditions.
2. When the air temperature drops below -15 °C. In this case, the risk of hypothermia and illness of a fragile body increases significantly.
3. In severe frosts, gusty winds, snowfall. Such conditions may not have the best effect on the baby’s condition.
4. If the child does not feel well, is weak, there is an increase in body temperature. During illness, the baby may sweat, which leads to hypothermia. Moreover, this can aggravate the patient's condition. You can resume walking only after the baby has fully recovered.

Walking at home

If the child is sleeping, you can simply put the stroller on the balcony.
Then mom will have the opportunity to take time for herself or just relax. Sometimes it happens that it is not possible to go outside with the baby. This may be due to maternal illness or other reasons. But don't worry. The baby will not be left without fresh air, especially when the house has a balcony.

The balcony is the best alternative to street partying. You can put a stroller with a baby on it. If the apartment does not have a balcony, then the child can be left in a room with open windows.

In any case, you need to dress a newborn in the same way as when a walk is planned on the street. But it’s worth considering from what day you can walk with your newborn and for how long. After a breath of fresh air, the child will fall asleep soundly. Unlike a stroller, at home you can put him to sleep on his stomach, as many newborns like to do.

Is it possible to walk in severe frost, Dr. Komarovsky will tell you in the video below:

How long to walk?

Provided the weather is good with an air temperature of at least 5 °C below zero, the duration of a walk with a newborn in winter should be 15-20 minutes. At temperatures down to -15 °C, you should limit yourself to a 10-minute walk. Every day, the time spent in the fresh air is increased by 5-10 minutes.

There is no need to go for a long walk right away. The baby's body must get used to and adapt to temperature changes. For an infant, the maximum walking time in the winter should not exceed 1.5 hours. Neither mother nor baby should be overcooled, so this time is enough to breathe fresh air and not get sick. If the temperature is above zero, mother and baby feel good and are not freezing, you can take a longer walk.

Rules for walking in winter

• First the mother gets dressed, then the child gets dressed. Otherwise, the child will sweat at home and freeze outside.
• If it is not always possible to go out into the fresh air, then you can use a balcony or loggia for these purposes..

• However, it is necessary to secure the space for the child to sleep: ventilate the balcony or loggia in advance; wipe dust remove dangerous objects; close the windows and dress the baby appropriately.

General rules

In addition to the principles mentioned, pediatricians advise paying attention to the following rules:

1. Before getting ready for a walk, you should make sure that there is no snowstorm, snowfall, strong wind, and the air temperature has not dropped below -15 °C.
2. Clothing that comes into contact with the newborn's skin should be made from natural fabrics.
3. It is better to give preference to light-colored wardrobe items that use less dyes. To avoid friction, the seams should be facing outwards.
4. Your wardrobe must have undershirts that cover your fingers, or separate “scratches”. Warm mittens are put on over them when going outside.
5. Clothes should not be tight or too loose, so that the child feels comfortable and does not get cold.
6. In case the baby starts crying, take a bottle or pacifier for a walk. This way, frosty air will not get into the baby’s respiratory tract.
7. If your baby has a habit of falling asleep outside, you should make sure that he is warm and comfortable in the stroller.

By following all the recommendations, daily walks with your baby will be a joy, and not just a necessity.

Child's clothes for walking in the cold season

How long to walk with a newborn in winter? Much depends on how you dress your child. At temperatures from 0 to minus 5 degrees, it is recommended that the walk last no more than 60 minutes (taking into account the fact that this is not the first time you leave the house). In this case, it is worth dressing the child in warm flannel or flannelette fabrics. There must be a second layer of clothing on top - a warmer one. A windproof overall or blanket completes the set.

When the temperature outside is below 10 degrees, make sure that your baby does not stay outside for more than 30 minutes. His clothes should have 4 layers. First comes a light cotton fabric, then a warmer diaper (flannel or flannel). Next, a jumpsuit or envelope is put on, and a blanket completes the whole thing.

When it’s colder than minus 15 degrees outside, you shouldn’t go out with your baby at all. Stay at home and ventilate the room more often. If you have a glassed-in balcony, you can take the baby out there. Remember the relationship between clothing and air temperature.

What are the benefits of walking?

The benefits of being outdoors for kids are often taken for granted, but knowledge is power, and it’s good to understand why certain things are good for a growing body. And here are the reasons:

1. There is less dust in winter. In summer, especially when it’s dry, dust rises into the air—dried dirt, pollen, and harmful particles from car exhaust. In winter, all this nails the snow to the ground. Walks in snowy and forested parks are especially good, where the air is cleaner and the highways are further away.
2. Saturation with vitamin D. This vitamin is produced in the body only during contact with ultraviolet radiation. The sun is a strange thing: too much UV rays are harmful, but not enough of them is no less harmful. Walking is the most natural way to get the right amounts of vitamin D.
3. Hardening. You can't keep children in a sterile cocoon all the time. Cleanliness is the key to health, and this is true, but if a child does not encounter germs, allergens, bacteria and viruses, then he does not develop immunity. Children without immunity grow up sick.
4. Physical activity. Even in a stroller, the baby twists his arms and legs and turns his head. As he grows up, he begins to play in the snow, ride down the slides, and tries to sculpt snowmen. This is physical activity that is absolutely necessary for people of any age. And babies too!
5. Development. The street is full of new and unusual things - smells, pictures, people. This is how the baby gets to know the world outside the apartment, which is important for proper psychological development. Growing up, he begins to play with other children. In other words: socialize and learn to build contact.

Parents usually have objections, but they are easy to debunk. Some mothers and fathers are afraid that the child will get sick, but people get sick not because of the cold, but because of viruses. However, a walk in the fresh air only strengthens the immune system - and a baby who does not leave the apartment at all is much more likely to get sick.

Another objection is bad weather. But what is bad weather in winter? This is a blizzard, blizzard, ice. A light snowfall in a calm season will not cause any problems. What can we say about a real miracle of nature - a frosty sunny day!

Some people think that getting ready for a walk in winter takes hours of trouble. It all depends on the chosen outerwear for children. Modern transformable overalls for babies are designed in such a way that you can put your baby in them, fasten them and immediately go for a walk. It's a matter of a couple of minutes. Winter suits for older children are lined with silky polyester in the sleeves and legs, so that the arms and legs slide inside. They are easy and pleasant to handle.

Where is the best place to go for a walk with a newborn?

With a small child, it is better to walk in places where there are no crowds of passers-by. It is healthier to breathe fresh air away from cars and roads. The ideal place for a walk with a baby is considered to be a forest, a park, or reservoirs, where there is less gas pollution and more clean air.

One more point must be taken into account when choosing a place for walks: not all children sleep peacefully on the street; some are frightened by various noises and flinch from sudden sounds. Such children should be taught to walk first in sparsely populated places, then move on to noisier streets.

For walks with a baby, it is better to choose a park with clean air.

How often are walks required?

Often parents are afraid that in the fresh air the baby is exposed to negative factors: noise, wind, frost. However, pediatricians say that this is beneficial for the child, since the immune system should gradually adapt to new conditions. Therefore, from daily walks the health and psyche of the baby will only be stronger.

When asked how long to walk with a baby in winter, most children's specialists advise adhering to the following rule: the amount of time a baby spends outside should be at least 4 hours by the age of one year. It is better if this time is divided into walks in the morning and evening so that the baby does not get tired.

If you follow all the rules and recommendations of experts, then walks will bring benefits to the child and a lot of pleasure to the parents in any season.

General rules for winter walks

Walking with your newborn before or after feeding - when to start

Some parents are wondering whether to take their babies for walks in winter because they are afraid of catching a cold. Any specialist will tell you that a walk in any weather will only benefit a small child. However, before you go out for a walk with your newborn, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules of walking for the winter:

• It is important to dress your infant correctly. The ideal clothing formula is: before a year +1, after a year -1, that is, the rule about the number of layers of clothing. If an adult has two layers, then the baby is insulated by one layer more; for an older and actively moving baby, the clothes are reduced by one layer.

An important rule for winter walks is to dress your newborn correctly.

• No less important is the rule about the duration of the walk. The very first way out is up to ten minutes at minus 5 degrees. In subsequent months, the time gradually increases to 1-2 hours. If the thermometer drops to minus 15 degrees, instead of one long walk, you can go outside for a short time in the morning and evening.
• Mothers do not always take care of protecting the baby’s face and lips. Due to the fact that the face is not covered with warm clothing, it requires protection from frosty air and wind. The cream is applied to the baby’s cheeks and nose half an hour before going outside, and the mouth is treated with a hygiene product right before the walk.

How to dress a baby for walks in a stroller

Pediatricians recommend distributing the three mandatory protective layers of clothing on infants as follows:

• first layer – diaper, slip, cap, socks;
• the second layer is a light overalls with closed handles or a blouse and panties;
• third layer – warm windproof overalls with closed arms and legs, winter hat, scarf.

For your information. According to experienced mothers, the most comfortable clothing for a baby on a winter walk is a transformable jumpsuit, which retains heat well and protects the back. In addition, the overalls can easily be converted into a baby envelope.

Mothers often wonder whether their baby should wear a hat. Pediatricians advise wearing a thin hat in the warm season, and a warm hat and a light cap in cold weather.

To keep the stroller warm, use an extra blanket. A topponcino (soft mattress) will be a good help, since its function is to maintain a constant temperature of the surface with which the child comes into contact.

The ideal clothing for walking in winter is a transformable jumpsuit

How to tell if your baby is cold or hot

The main thing when walking with a baby in winter is to check if he is cold. To do this, it is customary to touch the baby’s nose, but it has already been proven that this method of checking is unreliable. To find out if the baby is not cold or sweating, the mother warms her hands and touches the back of the head just below the neck. Cooling can also be determined by the child’s restless behavior or pale cheeks and redness of the nose.