How to dress a newborn for a walk in winter?

Young parents often perceive the cold as their baby's worst enemy. It's a delusion. In fact, if you make friends with frost, it can bring a lot of benefits to both the child and you. Moreover, cool air is part of the therapy for various diseases, and pediatricians even recommend taking babies who are unwell outside. Naturally, after the acute phase of the disease has passed.

Walk, can't be at home

Walking in winter with a newborn should not be perceived by adults as something dangerous and supernatural. It is clear that you are trying to protect your baby from any risks. And in the cold, when you would like to sit under the blanket yourself, you want to hug the baby as tightly as possible and warm, warm, warm... But what really harms the child is constantly being in an apartment where the air is dried out by heating communications. But frost, if taken correctly, stimulates the development of systems and organs and is a prevention of viral diseases. Why else are walks with babies recommended in winter?

More oxygen. Frosty air contains 30% more oxygen than warm air.
Fewer viruses. At the same time, the content of viruses and bacteria in it decreases, and some harmful organisms die or lose their ability to reproduce. That is why it is recommended to ventilate rooms in winter, and lovers of frosty walks are less likely to suffer from seasonal diseases transmitted by airborne droplets.
Healing properties. Cold air strengthens the nervous system, normalizes metabolism and hormonal levels. Frost can burn cholesterol, improving the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.

Frost promotes cell renewal, improves skin, increases hemoglobin, relieves fatigue and helps cope with stress. Isn't this what a young mother needs? And if you consider that in the cold the production of the happiness hormone increases, then it is even more impossible to refuse such walks.

Guess the weather: how to properly dress a newborn

It is worth noting that the trend of how to dress a newborn at 20 degrees differs significantly from a similar question in sub-zero weather. The main thing is, do not hesitate to always carry complementary elements with you (blanket, mittens, jackets, hats) - on their own, they are not very effective, but they will come in handy as a spare wardrobe for the dilemma of how to dress a child.

"Fur coat" for a baby

Even the most skeptical parents will eventually agree that it is necessary for the baby to be in the cold. But a number of related questions immediately arise. And the main one is: “How to dress a newborn for a walk in winter?”

Of course, the baby should be warm. But not too hot, otherwise he might sweat and become hypothermic. Please note that winter clothes for newborns should be natural - synthetics will have a “glass” effect in the cold. The mother gets dressed first, and only then dresses up the baby. If you change the sequence, the child will rebuke.

So, let's get the baby ready for the yard. First of all, look at the thermometer. If the thermometer drops below −10-15°C, then it is better to wait to go out for now. If the temperature allows walking, then we insulate the baby using the puff principle:

first layer. Fresh diapers, slips and caps made of cotton fabric, as well as socks made of terry or wool. Socks are worn over the slip;
second layer. Closed overalls or slip made of terry, fleece. An alternative option is pants and a jacket made of similar materials or wool. It is recommended to wear booties on top, since infants are not allowed to wear shoes, and their feet require additional insulation;
third layer. Warm windproof envelope or closed winter overalls for a newborn and a hat. It's best if these things are on sheepskin. The hat should have ties and resemble Pechkin’s headdress: earflaps protect the head well from wind and frost. You can tie a scarf over the overalls;
spare layer. If the walk is planned at temperatures below −10 °C, then it is recommended to additionally swaddle the baby in a fleece blanket folded into a rectangle. But the experience of experienced mothers says that an additional blanket may be needed even in slight frost. The weather in winter is changeable, so when going outside, always take a blanket with you. Such a spare layer will never be superfluous.

The stroller must be appropriate for the season: an insulated body and stable, non-slip wheels. Additionally, you should insulate the cradle by placing a blanket inside. Plus, you need a pillow, because due to the large amount of clothing, lying in the stroller, the baby’s head is lower than the body. Don't forget the little things. Place a box of sterilized pacifiers and a handkerchief in mom's bag. A raincoat will come in handy if wet snow decides to “diversify” your walk.

What should a child's clothing be like?

When buying clothes for a newborn, pay attention to the material from which it is made. Preference should be given to natural materials, which not only retain heat better, but also absorb moisture well. In such clothes, the baby will not sweat, and his skin will be able to breathe.

We recommend reading: Tincture of dead bees and alcohol: how to prepare and use

When purchasing an envelope for a newborn, choose one that has a clasp near the face. This way you will protect the child’s neck from the wind without using a scarf, which is very inconvenient to use for babies.

The baby's hat should fit snugly to the head, it should have ties and ears. You should not choose a hat made of synthetics. In such clothing, the child’s head will quickly sweat, and he may catch a cold.

Many mothers, when getting their child ready for a walk, first dress him, and only then dress themselves. But this cannot be done in winter. Just think how long your baby will wait for you in full gear and how much he will snore. And after going outside, the baby will not only feel uncomfortable and begin to be capricious, but also risks catching a cold.

Age makes the weather

Another important question concerns how long you can walk with your baby in winter. It all depends on the age of the baby and weather conditions.

Safe time

If your child was born in winter and this will be his first walk, then it is recommended to take him out into the air no earlier than 5-10 days after discharge from the hospital. It’s better to choose a day when the frost is no stronger than −5°C.

The first time outside should not last longer than 5-10 minutes, so the baby can be carried in your arms, without a stroller. Then increase your walking period by about 10 minutes each day.

In general, it is useful for a healthy child to spend 1.5-2 hours a day in the fresh air. This time can be divided into parts. In winter, the main walk should take place in the middle of the day: between 10:00 and 14:00.

During periods of severe frost or in regions with harsh winters, it is better to consult a pediatrician about your walking regimen. They may have to be temporarily postponed or replaced with a “homemade” option.

Walking...at home

Indeed, there are factors that make it difficult for the baby to go outside. Perhaps my mother got sick. Or there are strong drifts on the street. Another problem: the family lives on the top floor, and the woman cannot lower the stroller herself, and dad is late from work...

But the baby will still not be left without fresh air. Here a balcony will come to the rescue, where you can put a stroller with a newborn. If there is no such area, then you can open the windows in any other room and “walk” the baby. Just eliminate drafts.

You dress your child on the balcony in the same way as on the street. The duration of the “home” walk can be increased at the discretion of the mother. Children often fall asleep on the balcony. Mom doesn’t need to be nearby all the time, but it is necessary to constantly check how the baby is doing.

To keep your nose from freezing

There are factors that help determine whether a child is comfortable in certain weather conditions. Your complexion will say a lot. In the cold it may turn pink and this is normal. But redness indicates that the baby is hot. Pale skin is a sign that you are frozen.

Also, constantly touch your nose. If it's warm, it's ok. A cold nose indicates the need to return to the house and dress the child warmer next time.

How to dress a newborn for a walk: consider the main points

When thinking about what you need to stock up on first, it is important to anticipate all the nuances in advance. As experienced mothers say, there are no unnecessary things - sooner or later you will need every detail of your wardrobe. In particular, a rough plan for how to dress a newborn for a walk in the summer may include:

sliders
envelope
jumpsuit (bodysuit, jersey and insulated)
vest
cap
cap

Important!
When thinking about how to dress a newborn for a walk in the fall, you shouldn’t forget about the additions. Formally, blankets, diapers and other accessories are not included in the list of the set, but they will certainly come in handy and help the baby feel good.

If most parents do not understand how to dress a newborn in the summer, then the hot season raises even more questions, because excessive sweating is also fraught: a rash and irritation appear on the skin. In winter, it is also important to achieve warmth with such a balance that the baby does not start to get wet. Ultimately, the decision on how to dress a child for a walk should respond extremely subtly to temperature changes and guarantee the most comfortable wardrobe

Three rules for mom

Parents sometimes worry because they don’t know how to walk with their newborn in winter. In fact, if adults have dressed the baby correctly and chosen the right moment for a walk, nothing complicated is required from them anymore. Here are three basic rules to follow.

Choose a safe place. There should be no busy roads or hazardous industries nearby. Avoid places where stray animals gather. The best option is a park with a children's playground, strewn with trees.
Don't go far from home. At any moment the baby will demand to return to the apartment. He may get hungry, and in winter you won’t be able to offer him a breast or a bottle on the street. You may also need to change your diaper. Even the usual crying of a mother who is just learning how to walk with her baby in winter can frighten her and make her rush home.
Make good use of your time. Most often, babies fall asleep while walking. Mom better take care not to get bored during this time. Meet other girls with strollers. Alternatively, take a player on the road. A notepad and pen can be useful to make a list of purchases or necessary things to do. If the frost is not severe, then you can use a mobile phone with an Internet connection: when else will you find time to read the news or “sit” on a forum for young mothers? The main thing is not to be too distracted and watch the baby.

And if you’re worried about what to dress your newborn for a walk in winter, don’t forget to warm yourself. You should have comfortable, waterproof and warm shoes. Also, special attention should be paid to your hands, which constantly get cold on the stroller handrail.

Winter clothes for a newborn: observing the temperature regime

Whatever the weather outside in winter, a certain temperature regime must be provided in the room where the newborn will be.

The thing is that until the age of three, the sweat glands in boys and girls simply do not function. This means that excess heat will remain in the body, which can adversely affect health.

At the same time, the layer of subcutaneous fat in infants also cannot serve as a reliable protection against hypothermia, which means that this issue needs to be regulated with the help of thoughtfully selected winter clothing for a newborn.

Ideally, the room should be 18-25°C. You can control how warm the room is with an ordinary thermometer, which will tell you how to dress your newborn at home at a given temperature.

The lower temperature limit is suitable for sleep or quiet rest, and the upper one is designed for the period when your baby wants to be active.

Separately, I would like to say about the requirements for a wardrobe during the cold season:

All things that come into contact with delicate baby skin should be made only from natural materials. And here the palm is held by Komsomol knitwear - a fabric tested over the years and the experience of many Ukrainian mothers.
All seams must be on the outside of the product. This way you don’t have to worry about irritation appearing on your body.
New clothes should be comfortable to wear and not interfere with the baby’s exploration of the world around him.
Babies need to be changed quite often, so choose products that are easy and simple to remove so as not to disturb the baby.

We recommend reading: How to wean your child off the computer

Children's wardrobe rules - how to dress a newborn?

In addition, parents should worry not only about how to dress a newborn according to the temperature of the season according to the standards, but also take care of other little things, in particular, so that the baby:

didn't rub
didn't press
didn't subside
didn't block the view
didn't scratch

To understand how to dress a newborn at 10°C, you need to take a rational approach to buying things and not save too much. As practice shows, it is clothes that are too cheap, which are made of irritating synthetics and do not allow air to pass through, that bring a lot of inconvenience to the child. Therefore, a discussion of how to dress a newborn at 17 degrees should be based on only one thing - the child’s well-being.

Initially, the idea of how to dress a newborn in the fall at 25 °C started with underwear, gradually “overgrowing” with shirts, sweaters, pants and jackets. Professionals have repeatedly insisted on the idea that it is not quantity that is important, but quality. So don’t save in vain: it’s better to buy an expensive item that will 100% protect your child and last for more than one season in the wash.

Now, in order to understand how to properly dress a newborn at 20 °C, you can already do it after 2-3 walks. After carefully observing the baby’s reaction, it will be easy to read the degree of comfort from his behavior.

Advice!

Do not think that the child’s whims can play against you - he relies only on his feelings from the chosen outfit, therefore he is the most plausible commentator on the approved wardrobe. Laconic ideas on how to dress a one-month-old baby at 9 degrees should always take into account the model itself.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes sometimes: it is the trial method that will allow you to come up with the ideal pattern specifically for your heir and understand how to dress a newborn at different temperatures. It’s just important not to go to extremes and not lead to a cold with your sense of style.