How long can you walk with a newborn baby? How to prevent him from hypothermia?

Why do you need daily walks with your newborn?

The baby, like the mother, needs fresh air. After walking in the fresh air, a newborn’s appetite increases, sleep becomes calmer and deeper, blood circulation improves, temperature changes help harden and train thermoregulation mechanisms. Thanks to sunlight, vitamin D, which is so necessary for a child, is produced, the lack of which leads to rickets.

We should not forget that a change of environment leads to new impressions for the child, which has a beneficial effect on his mental and emotional development. While walking, a child sees birds, clouds, treetops, and other people for the first time, and at this time his brain works hard and tries to analyze all these new things, to establish the first connections between them: dogs can bark and birds can fly.

The benefits of walking

Walking outside is very beneficial for a baby, no matter what time of year. Naturally, there is much more oxygen outside than in any room, and this is very important for the normal development of the baby. How long to walk with a newborn is another question, but no one disputes that it is necessary to do this.

Firstly, throughout the day the air in the apartment stagnates, it becomes difficult for the child to breathe, and this has a bad effect on his well-being. The baby becomes capricious, sleeps poorly, and loses his appetite. After childbirth, he needs strength for active development and growth.

Secondly, walking your baby outside helps strengthen his immune system. Those temperature changes when leaving the house, which seem dangerous to us, actually increase the resistance of the young body. During off-season periods this process occurs more intensively.

Early autumn can give your baby sunshine, and this is an excellent recharge with vitamin D. It helps strengthen the child’s skeletal system. Walking through the park at a leisurely pace with your newborn, know that at this time you are building his immunity.

Moms also benefit from walks. After giving birth, while walking, they better restore their health, breathe oxygen, relax, and simply enjoy life, because the everyday chores of caring for a baby negatively affect their well-being. You definitely need to disconnect from problems and let your body relax. On the street, mothers get to know each other, find common interests and sometimes become friends. Children in the future may go to one kindergarten and then to school.

Mistaken reasons not to walk with your child in winter

Some mothers make a huge mistake by not walking with their child in winter or by keeping such walks to a minimum. Let's dispel some of the myths associated with newborn winter walks.

Many mothers and especially grandmothers mistakenly believe that a child can get sick if he breathes cold air. This is wrong. Breathing cold air in itself will not lead to illness; a child gets sick when he is hypothermic, as well as from bacteria and viruses. At the same time, in the cold, many viruses and bacteria die, and those that are alive have virulent activity, i.e. the ability to become infected is greatly reduced. Therefore, outside in winter the chance of catching the virus is much less than at home. The main thing in order not to get sick on the street is to not get too cold. But we will talk about this in detail below.

Many young mothers do not like winter walks, because in winter it is boring, there is nothing to do, there is no book to read on a bench. Plus it takes a long time to dress the child, you have to dress warmly yourself, and the stroller is more difficult to manage in winter. But here you just need to overcome laziness and configure yourself that winter walks with a newborn are vital for him, which means you just need to get ready and go out.

It is also believed that it is impossible to walk with a child in winter, since he will definitely get hungry, and it will not be possible to feed him. In this case, you can feed the child before going outside, there in the air he will instantly fall into a deep sleep and sleep for at least 1-1.5 hours. This time will be enough for you to take a leisurely walk and return home.

Truly bad weather outside in winter is extremely rare. More often there is a slight frost and clear sun. Therefore, most winter days you can and should walk with your baby outside. And a walk on the balcony is not a complete replacement for a walk on the street. This is a temporary solution if mom is sick, has a lot to do, or there is really bad weather outside. You can walk on the balcony for a day or two, but then you must definitely go outside.

How to dress and what to take: tips

When the time to go outside with the baby has come and the weather is favorable, the mother has to solve a rather difficult task for inexperienced parents - how to dress a newborn for a walk and what might she need to take with her?

As for clothing, pediatricians used to advise sticking to the classic “plus one” formula, when a child wore one more layer of clothing than an adult. But thanks to the variety of styles of children's clothing and the modern materials from which they are made, equipment for your child should be selected strictly individually and taking into account weather conditions.

Summer

At first it may seem that on warm days you can walk with your baby for as long as you like; summer weather can be fraught with many dangers for the baby: extreme heat can lead to overheating, and a sudden rise in wind or heavy rain can lead to hypothermia and a cold. That is why you need to prepare very carefully for the first walk with a newborn in the summer. The following tips may be helpful:

1. The optimal set of walking clothes for a baby can consist of a vest and rompers, a slip (thin overalls with long sleeves), a dress or bodysuit with short sleeves, shorts and socks. However, a hat is desirable in any case, even if the baby is in a stroller.
2. The only possible material for infant clothing is pure cotton, which breathes well, does not cause allergies and maintains heat transfer comfortable for the child.
3. The best colors for a baby's summer clothes are white, blue, soft pink, cream, but it is better to choose a snow-white hat or panama hat: the reflective properties of the color will prevent overheating and heat stroke.
4. Blouses and rompers for summer walks should be sewn very well, without rough seams or appliqués that can rub and cause discomfort to the baby.
5. If the newborn's first walk in the summer is planned in a sling, then you need to dress the baby lightly: high air temperature and the warmth of the mother's body can cause overheating. The baby will be quite comfortable in a sling even with just a hat and a diaper, but a sleeveless bodysuit or a thin T-shirt is still worth wearing. It is advisable to take a sleepsuit or onesie with you on a walk in case you need to take your baby out of the sling. As for the color of the sling, it should only be light: dark fabric that absorbs the sun will create a very difficult atmosphere for the baby.
6. You can check how correctly the baby is dressed by touching his neck: it should only be warm, a hot neck fold indicates an increase in temperature or overheating, and a cold one indicates that the baby is cold.

A summer walk with a newborn is not complete without a pair of diapers, a spare diaper and a long-sleeved blouse, as well as a warm blanket that will help protect the baby in case of a sudden change in weather.

It should be remembered that the most comfortable air temperature for a newborn is + 23–25 degrees. At temperatures above +30, it is recommended to postpone the walk until cooler weather sets in.

Autumn-spring period

For mothers of babies born in spring or autumn, it is not easy to choose clothes for walking, because the weather at this time is so changeable. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of any unforeseen situations. The following tips will help you get your “autumn” or “spring” baby ready for a walk:

1. On warm May or September days, you should not bundle up your baby: if the temperature is not lower than +10, he will be comfortable in a bodysuit with a long sleeve vest or thin blouse, thin autumn overalls and one warm hat.
2. If it gets cold outside to +5 and below, you need to add a thin hat to your baby’s outdoor outfit, which is worn under a warm one, and change the autumn overalls to winter ones.
3. For walks in a sling, it is not necessary to “insulate” the baby much: he will be warmed by his mother’s warmth. At the beginning of autumn or at the end of spring, a thick summer walking overall over a bodysuit and a blouse or slip will be enough for him, and in the cold - an autumn overall and one hat.
4. Warmth for a child should be provided by a multi-layered outfit, and not by the thickness of one overall: it is better to take off an extra blouse from the baby than to make him sweat in hot winter outerwear.
5. For a walk, it is recommended to take a thin blanket or blanket to cover your baby in strong winds.

A great option for the off-season is a transforming jumpsuit with a detachable warm lining. During warmer weather, it can be removed, and the ability to turn the clothes into an envelope for walking with a newborn will help protect the baby from hypothermia.

Winter

Walking in winter is not always pleasant for the mother, but it is very useful for the baby. For those who want to make walking with a newborn comfortable and safe, the following tips will be useful:

1. In winter, it is recommended to dress your baby in 3 layers of clothing: a sleepsuit or bodysuit with long sleeves, a fleece overall and a warm envelope or overalls with a sheepskin lining.
2. You will need two hats for your baby: a thin cap and an insulated winter one.
3. The best materials for children's winter clothing are cotton, fleece, wool, and for overalls - modern fabrics based on membrane technologies.
4. A warm blanket should be in the stroller throughout the winter season: it can protect the baby from wind and snowstorms.
5. Mothers who have chosen a sling to carry their babies should carefully consider the selection of overalls: the most suitable would be a set of a jacket and pants with straps, which are best worn over the jacket: in this case, the clothes will not ride up and the baby will not get cold.
6. During a walk, you should carefully monitor the condition of the newborn, periodically feeling the neck and forehead: if the child is sweating and flushed, he is hot, and a cold nose and hiccups indicate not hypothermia and the need to urgently go home.

Also, don’t forget about mom’s clothes: high heels, tight outfits, long coats and fur coats are not a very comfortable option for walking with a baby. Comfortable, light and warm clothes in casual or sports style, stable heels or shoes without them, as well as gloves and a hat in cold weather (even if the mother preferred not to wear them before), will make walks equally enjoyable for both mother and baby, and will give both healthy and in good spirits.

Recommendations from a specialist on what a baby’s first walks should be like.

We recommend reading: Recommendations for mothers of twins: choose one or two cribs for two babies

Author

Editorial staff of the portal Mama66.ru

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How long to walk with a child

It is advisable that the first walk with the child last no more than 10-15 minutes. Every day the walking time should be increased by 10 minutes. If it’s cold outside (temperature below minus 15C), then the first walk must be canceled completely, and if it’s warm (temperature above +15C), then the first walk can be increased to 30-40 minutes. In summer, a one-month-old baby can be outside almost all day, but in winter, the total duration of a daily walk should be at least 1.5 hours, and it is better to break it up into several shorter walks of 30-40 minutes. You should not increase the duration of walks too quickly, because... The child’s adaptation to new things should occur gradually.

We're hanging out for the first time

The question of what day can you take a walk with your newborn after the maternity hospital cannot be given a definite answer. This depends on factors such as:

1. mother's well-being;
2. season;
3. weather conditions;
4. region;
5. child's health.

Back in the 20th century, pediatricians recommended taking a newborn outside on the 40-60th day of his life. Now experts do not set strict limits on this issue. Some young parents begin walking already 3-5 days after being discharged from the hospital. Well-known pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky does not recommend putting off your first walk. But, he recommends staying at home for the first days after discharge. A newborn needs time to adapt, and parents should watch the child and discuss this issue with the pediatrician. It is better to start walking on the 10th day after staying at home.

Important! If the baby is premature, then we leave the walks until he gains the required body weight.

How to properly dress a newborn for a walk

So, we have learned how long to walk with a child, now let's talk about how to dress a child for a walk so that both the baby and the mother enjoy it. There is a basic rule: first the mother dresses, then she dresses the baby. If it’s the other way around, the child will sweat and freeze outside. It must be remembered that both hypothermia and overheating can be dangerous for the baby. Previously, mothers were advised to monitor the child’s condition by the color of the skin on the face: if they are pale, it means the child is cold, if they are red, the child is overheated. They also said that it is necessary to feel the child under clothes from time to time. But these “grandmother’s” methods are, firstly, inconvenient, secondly, not accurate, and thirdly, dangerous for the child, because by slightly opening a wet child, you can catch a cold.

Fortunately, today there is a more modern and technologically advanced way to monitor the baby’s condition during a walk, namely, use a RELSIB WT52 thermometer or a RELSIB WH52 thermohygrometer. These devices must be placed in the baby’s clothes near the legs. The device will transmit temperature or temperature and humidity readings to your smartphone. But you don’t have to look at your smartphone screen all the time; you can set the correct and lower limits for temperature and humidity, and the smartphone itself will notify you using a sound alarm. If the humidity alarm goes off, it means the child peed himself and you need to return home or, if it is summer, change clothes for dry ones on the spot. The devices are very small, only 33 mm in diameter, and therefore will not cause discomfort to the baby; his sleep in a warm and dry environment will, on the contrary, be deeper and more peaceful. The RELSIB WT52 thermometer and the RELSIB WH52 thermohygrometer are made of medical plastic and are absolutely safe for the baby.

What clothes should I choose for my child?

Autumn is a changeable season, characterized by frequent changes in air temperature, rain and strong winds. This is where her cunning lies; this is not a reason to deprive the baby of fresh air.

By choosing the right clothes and adequately assessing the weather conditions, a walk will bring positive emotions to your family. The most comfortable clothing for infants is one-piece membrane overalls that retain heat well. Under the overalls you should choose clothes made from natural materials. Stick to the layering principle. Air is trapped between layers of clothing (cotton bodysuit, thermal underwear, fleece or woolen underwear), and heat is retained due to this air gap. Children should not be wrapped tightly. Remember, just because you're cold doesn't mean your baby is cold. But you can always easily determine whether your treasure is cold or not: touch the nose, if it’s cold, it means you need to additionally insulate the baby.

Some tips for first walks with a newborn

1. Make sure your baby has had one or two trips to the toilet before going for a walk.
2. The first walk must be taken with the baby in your arms. In the mother's arms, the child will feel safe and comfortable and will not be nervous.
3. Feed your baby before your walk. When well-fed, he will quickly fall asleep on the street in a deep, peaceful sleep.
4. The temperature range for walking with your baby is from -15C to +30C. The weather should be dry and windless.
5. The optimal time for walking with a newborn is before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
6. It is necessary to walk in low-noise places (parks, squares).