With the birth of a child, the life of parents is divided into stages. Walking with your baby is one of the main components in building a baby’s strong immunity. A lot of questions immediately arise in this regard. How much time can you spend walking? How to dress a newborn on the street so that he is comfortable?
You can start walking with short 10-minute walks outside, and gradually increase this time every day. When the baby’s body gets used to it, the minimum time spent in the fresh air should be 30 minutes. It is recommended to walk for one to two hours a day, at any time of the day (to make the newborn comfortable and the mother comfortable). The main thing is to go outside every day.
In this article we will talk about the benefits of walks in the fresh air, as well as how to dress a newborn for a walk at any time of the year.
Wardrobe for a newborn
In fact, a small child does not need many things at once. A newborn's wardrobe is assembled gradually, from season to season and as it grows. The main thing is to adhere to general criteria when choosing clothes:
- Material . All clothes, especially underwear, should be made from natural materials. Cotton is rightfully considered the best, with natural knitwear and wool taking second place. The main thing is that the material is of high quality, pleasant to the body and does not cause unpleasant sensations in the baby.
- Quality of tailoring and cut . This is very important, as rough or crooked seams will put pressure and rub on the baby. Underwear for the little ones should be made with external seams. Seams familiar to an adult are relevant for outerwear. In addition, all fabric joints must be tight, and clothing must be comfortable, taking into account the anatomy of the newborn.
- Color . So far, the baby’s vision is very blurry; he will develop color perception by 4-5 months. But now it is important to understand that too bright colors will irritate the baby. Therefore, it is better to choose wardrobe items in pastel shades.
- Practicality . The baby doesn’t need extra ruffles and stripes; they will only put pressure and get in the way. All things should be washed well and easily ironed, because you will have to do more washing and ironing than you think. Fastenings on sweaters and overalls, first of all, should be comfortable for you - it is the mother who has to dress the child several times a day.
- Safety . Buy clothes only from certified stores. Fabric is dyed in different ways; it is important to make sure that the child will not be allergic to the dye. In addition, you should not take clothes that have a lot of rhinestones and sequins that come off easily - sooner or later they will definitely end up in the little one’s mouth or nose.
In addition, when choosing a basic wardrobe, you can focus on the main categories of clothing:
- Wearable . This is what you will put on your newborn's naked body. These clothes should be of the most natural and high quality, as they come into direct contact with the baby’s skin.
- Warm . We are talking about more or less warm blouses with long sleeves and pants. It is worn over a body kit, so there is a wider choice of fabric.
- Upper . These are all kinds of overalls. Warm jackets and pants are not yet relevant - in them the baby will blow out at the junction of the floors of the jacket and the waistband of the pants. In this regard, overalls for newborns win. It is better to choose options with a lining, sewn legs and a hood, especially for the winter.
- Hats, mittens, socks . This goodness should also be oriented according to the season - from light caps to woolen hats, from thin mittens and socks, to woolen options.
- Shoes . This happiness is of no use to a newborn yet, especially if you have overalls with legs. Now the best shoes for toddlers will also be warm booties made of wool or soft suede.
Summer heat
It seems that it could be easier than dressing a newborn in the summer. A light vest and diaper, cotton socks for the feet, a Panama hat, scarf or light cap for the head to protect the baby from overheating. This is all true, but there are a couple of nuances. Not paying attention to the fact that the thermometer shows +40°, young mothers take their newborn children outside, trying to take away all the sun. Parents believe that this is very useful, because we know for sure that “the sun, air and water are our best friends.” It turns out not always. It is best to walk with your child in the summer before 11 am, and you can go outside at least at 5 am, as long as it is not hot. Then it is advisable for the baby to wear light onesies and a long-sleeved vest or cover him with a cotton diaper.
An evening walk should begin no earlier than 16-00 and last as long as is convenient for the mother. When going outside after lunch, you need to take a light blouse with you: suddenly a cool wind blows
Basic rules for walking
The most important rule of walking is that it should be, in principle, twice a day. Exceptions:
- when the air temperature is equal to or more than +30 and less than -8;
- when it's pouring rain outside;
- strong gusty wind in any weather.
The rest of the time you can and should go for a walk. The main thing is to follow the basic truths of the children's promenade:
- In the warm season, the total time outside should be up to 4-5 hours, in the cold season - up to 2 hours.
- You can start walking on the 7-8th day of a newborn’s life, starting with 15 minutes at a time, adding 5 minutes to each walk.
- It is best to take a walk in the park, away from road exhaust fumes and large crowds of people (especially during cold and flu season).
- You need to have a “minimum set” with you: a drink, a diaper, dry clothes, a blanket or blanket, and a phone.
- It is necessary to regularly check the baby's temperature. The neck should always be warm, as should the nose. Cold nose and neck - the child is cold. There is sweat on the nose - the child is hot.
In general, walking with a newborn is a responsible undertaking, but at the same time, great pleasure. The main thing is to dress the baby correctly.
Clothes for a 7 year old child
In general, a child of 7 years old can be dressed in the same way as a child of 5-6 years old. It is worth taking into account his great independence and desire to express himself.
When a younger family member starts going to school, you should make sure that he is comfortable not only on the way, but also in class. Be sure to have spare shoes ready; A lightweight cardigan with buttons can be worn over thin shirts and blouses under warm street clothes. If a girl goes to school in a uniform skirt or dress, it is important to choose tights or leggings that suit her temperature.
The outfit should be such that you do not worry about your child’s health, and he feels as good as possible in it.
Winter walks
Winter is the coldest time of the year. But if it is warmer outside than -8, you can walk with your newborn from 8-10 days of life. Even if it snows, the stroller has a hood for this. What the nurse will certainly remind you of during patronage of newborns.
You can dress your little one for a winter walk in much the same way as you dress yourself, adding another layer of clothing. The basic set of things is:
- underwear (cotton overalls or vest and pants with sewn legs made of the same material);
- a warm knitted jacket and the same pants with legs;
- another layer of knitwear or wool;
- thin cotton hat + warm winter hat with ties;
- winter overalls with hood;
- warm socks + booties (if the overalls do not have sewn legs).
If you bought a high-quality jumpsuit and it keeps warm well, you can discard the second layer of jersey. Now there are children's overalls with silicone filling; they are thin, light, but in terms of heat resistance they are significantly superior to bulky cotton “constructions”.
Stroller, sled or handles
If the weather is good and you are going outside with your child, then you need to dress him correctly. It depends on the age of the baby and where he will be during the walk: in a stroller, on a sled or in his arms.
We recommend reading: How to dress a baby at home
Until the age of 8 months, it is best to take the baby for a walk in a stroller.
You need to put a mattress in it (if the stroller is recumbent), cover it with a warm sheet - terry or flannelette, and put a flat pillow.
Be sure to take a warm blanket with you (preferably wool or down, since cotton wool is too heavy).
It is best to cover the bottom of a sit-on stroller with a thin blanket.
It is recommended to seat a child in a sled after he turns one year old. Children who are too young slide down the seat, fall on their side and generally do not perceive too much visibility, and may begin to worry and cry, feeling unprotected. If there are large snowdrifts on the street, and you need to quickly rush with your child to the clinic or the nearest store, then it is still more convenient to put the child (one year old and older!) in a sled. In this case, they need to be covered with a warm blanket, and the child should be wrapped in a blanket, tucking it in on all sides.
If you are planning a short walk, you can simply take the baby in your arms. This will protect him from wind, cold and provide emotional uplift (mother’s closeness is very important for a baby)
First walks with a newborn in spring and autumn
If your baby was born in spring or autumn, you can go for walks as early as 6-7 days of the newborn’s life. If, of course, the weather permits, it is very unpredictable in the demi-season. A calm day turns into a windy one, a sunny day turns into a rainy one. And the temperature is deceptive - with the bright warm sun it can be quite cool, and vice versa. All this is important to consider in a set of clothes:
- the body kit remains the same;
- then follows a warm knitted or woolen layer, watch the temperature;
- in cold weather, a light but not windy autumn jumpsuit will not hurt;
- the cap is also determined by the air temperature;
- knitted woolen booties or warm socks will complete the set.
It is important to pay attention to headwear during the demi-season. A cold wind is quite capable of inflating a toddler’s ears. It is clear that there is a difference in how to dress a newborn for a walk in May and September, and how in March and November. For warm weather, a simple thick hat is enough. For cold and windy weather, it is better to wear a thin cotton cap underneath.
Clothes for a 3 year old child
When it comes to the question of how to dress a three-year-old child according to the weather, the table can no longer serve as universal good advice. After all, the baby is beginning to realize for himself which outfit he is most comfortable in. For cool weather, it is best to stick to the layering principle:
• bottom layer – natural linen, wool or wool with cotton added is good;
• medium – warm sweatshirt or cardigan;
• outerwear – trousers and jacket/raincoat/overalls/windbreaker depending on the weather.
As a basis for a summer outfit, you can take what you dressed your baby in when he was 1-2 years old, taking into account the personal wishes of the baby himself.
First walks with a newborn in summer
If the child is a year old, he is incredibly lucky - he can go for a walk on the second day after being discharged from the hospital, taking sunbathing and enriching the body with vitamin D. And a minimum of clothing is needed; a body kit, a light light sun cap and thin socks are often enough.
The main thing here is not to overheat the newborn. It is also important that it does not burn under the generous summer sun and does not bake the head. Therefore, either do not walk in the sun, preferring morning and evening hours, or dress your baby in thin, but closed clothes in the lightest colors.
Summer clothes
How to properly put drops into the nose of a child under one year old
In summer, your baby will be comfortable in a short bodysuit with open arms and legs. You can put thin socks on your feet when the baby is brought from the sun into the shade. In the shade, the baby's legs begin to cool quickly.
To protect from direct sunlight, a thin cap is placed on the child’s head. You can’t overheat your baby in the summer by putting warm clothes on him. A baby dressed this way runs the risk of heatstroke.
Recommendations for mothers
Walking is definitely beneficial for the baby and mother. Also, they are very important for the growth and development of the toddler, forming an important part of the care of newborns in the first months of life. But only if the weather is acceptable and the mother can properly dress the baby on the boardwalk.
Here are some basic recommendations to ensure that any walk is beneficial and not harmful:
- Before dressing your newborn, look outside, at least from a window. Forecasts are forecasts, it is important for you to know the actual climate in your yard.
- Always take an extra layer of clothing with you. If it gets colder, you can wear it. You will always have time to remove it too. It’s sadder when a newborn is frozen ten minutes into the promenade, and there’s nothing to warm himself with.
- For the same purposes, take a blanket in the summer, a blanket in the mid-season, and a blanket in the winter. At least this will protect the child from the wind.
- If you have a rain cover for your stroller, always take it with you. The weather can be deceiving; there is always room for unplanned and sudden rain.
- If you are used to walking quickly, dress warmly - walking with a baby is a slow task, and you will freeze in your usual and light clothes.
- A separate point about the stroller - it should be comfortable not only for the newborn, but also for you, and be sure to have a hood. This is protection from light rain, wind and snow.
- If the wind is blowing, try to go against or along it - this way it will not blow to the baby.
- Enjoy the boardwalk. This is your chance to escape from household chores and be a little alone with yourself - newborn babies sleep even more soundly on walks than at home.
How to dress a child according to the weather - video
In this video, the pediatrician explains in detail general information on clothing for walking in different weather conditions. Information is given on how to dress a newborn at +25, 20, 15, 10, 5, -2, -10 degrees for a walk. It is described in detail what and in what order to wear to maintain the normal body temperature of a baby, in order to avoid overheating and hypothermia.
It is simply impossible to make a clear and correct list of things for a newborn in advance. The time of year and weather conditions still dictate their own rules. Dressing your baby correctly for a walk is not that difficult. Count your layers of clothing and add one more for your baby. Over time, you will select the right set of clothes automatically, it's just a matter of experience. The most important thing is to check the baby’s temperature during the promenade, and learn to dress it exactly as required by today’s climate.
Have you already walked with your newborn? What time of year was he born? What did you wear for your very first trips out of the house? Did the baby feel comfortable? Share your experience and impressions of the first outings with your baby, this will guide less experienced mothers in matters of children's wardrobe. Have a healthy newborn and enjoy your promenade!
What to look for when choosing clothes
The physiology of a young child provides for rapid loss of heat and overheating. Therefore, clothing must be able to maintain the baby’s body temperature and allow air to pass through. Also, it should not hinder the baby’s movements.
Preference is given to clothing items that do not need to be worn over the head. These are baby vests, various types of bodysuits with buttons, slip-on overalls with fasteners on the legs and tummy. There should be a set of clothes for different seasons.
