Often young mothers do not know what the weather is like to walk with their newborn after the hospital and do not take him out into the fresh air for the first few days. But, pediatricians recommend that walks be included in the daily routine. It will not harm the baby, if you follow the principle of gradualness and dress him properly.
Walking for the first time
The question of which day you can walk with your baby after the hospital, can not give an unambiguous answer.It depends on factors such as:
The well-being of the mother;
time of year;
weather conditions;
region;
baby’s health.
Back in the 20th century, pediatricians recommended taking a newborn outside on day 40-60 of life. Now the experts don’t put strict limits on this issue. Some new parents begin their walks as early as day 3 to 5 after they are discharged from the hospital. Renowned pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky does not recommend that the first walk be put off. But, it’s recommended that you stay home for the first few days after discharge. A newborn needs time to adapt, and parents should observe the child, discuss the issue with the pediatrician. It’s best to start walking on day 10 after you’ve been home.
Important! If the baby is premature, we leave the walks until he or she has gained the necessary body weight.
How much to walk for the first time
How many walks for the first time with a newborn baby will prompt the pediatrician, knowing the characteristics of the infant. If the baby is born at the due date and is healthy, the length of walk depends on the time of year and weather conditions.The optimal time for the “first outing”:
In winter – 5-10 minutes;
In spring – 10-15 minutes;
in the summer – 15-20 minutes;
In the fall – 10-15 minutes.
We advise to increase the time of your baby’s stay outside for 5 minutes with each subsequent walk, gradually bringing up to 1.5 hours by the age of one month. The amount of time you spend out of the house in the fall and winter is less than on warmer days.
Weather conditions
Often parents don’t take their newborn out for a walk if the weather outside is unpleasant, it’s chilly or raining. These concerns are unnecessary if the infant is adequately dressed and healthy. Evgeny Komarovsky offers parents to be guided by a simple rule: “It is possible to go for a walk in any weather, if it is minus 5 degrees for every month of the infant, but not below minus 15 degrees”.
However paradoxical it may sound, but winter walks are more useful than summer ones. Of course, on sunless days, the infant gets less vitamin D, but at this time the risk of overheating and flu infection is reduced. It is not rain, snow or even wind that is dangerous, but improperly chosen clothing. Walking outside builds a strong, infection-resistant immune system.
Walking on a balcony
If the apartment has a balcony, no one needs the heroic efforts of Mom to pull the stroller outdoors, then drag it back to the 5th floor. This would be no fun for the baby, let alone a young mother. Yes, and rolling a baby carriage from one place to another will not increase a baby’s health. Of course, if there are no helpers, and you need to go to the store, a dairy kitchen, it is already a necessity.
If you have a balcony or patio, this is the ideal place for a baby walk. It will not fly at him dirt from under the wheels, there are no large crowds of people, no one sneezes on the infant. And the mother can do the necessary things, such as laundry, ironing, cooking, and spend time with her husband in the evening, taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the home. In the first months of life, the baby sleeps all the time on the walk, so you can take advantage of this and arrange a space for him to walk. This will not work with older children.
But not every balcony is suitable for baby walks.It is important to consider the following features:
The balcony must be glazed, so that debris from the upper floors cannot accidentally fall onto it. Dust, loud noises, draughts negatively affect the health of the infant.
A balcony on the 4th or 5th floor is ideal. Exhaust fumes get on the first floors, a ball can fly in.
You should dress your baby in the same way as for a walk outside.
Don’t leave your newborn on the balcony unattended for long periods, check on him more often.
If the baby was born in the summer
It is wrong to think that if a baby is born in the summer, you can go for a walk right after discharge, and without limiting the time he stays outdoors at all. On hot summer days, there is a risk of a newborn getting heat stroke. It especially increases in the middle of the day. This is dangerous, babies under 3 months of age have not yet formed a heat exchange system.In connection with this feature of a child’s body, it is necessary to take summer walks seriously and adhere to the following recommendations:
Start walking for 15-20 minutes, then gradually increase the amount of time you spend outdoors;
Do not walk between 12-16 hours, at this time the sun is most active;
If the temperature outside reaches 30 degrees, then move the walk to the morning and evening hours;
Choose clothing made only of natural, well-breathing fabrics;
Put a mattress in the stroller made of natural material;
Keep your baby out of direct sunlight;
wear a breathable cap on your head;
Walk several times a day.
Long walks are not necessary, they are not comfortable. It is better to walk several times a day, focusing on the infant’s feeding and sleeping schedule.
If the baby is born in the spring and fall
It’s important to remember that the weather is very changeable in the off-season. The sun seemed to shine, but the wind is already blowing and the rain is starting to drip. This is a time to be especially attentive. Long walks are not necessary as an infant, and the mother who has not yet recovered from childbirth. Even a little cough or runny nose is dangerous for a newborn.We advise adhering to simple rules:
Do not go for a walk in rainy weather;
Choose appropriate clothing;
If the sun is hot, don’t rush to undress the infant;
Use breathable overalls that keep your baby warm;
On a sunny day, the first walk may be extended to 15 minutes;
Gradually increase the length of the walk to 1.5 hours.
Tip: Use raincoats in the stroller to get home quickly if it suddenly starts raining hard. At other times, they have a negative impact on the health of the infant, because they create a greenhouse effect.
If the baby is born in winter
Young parents have the most doubts about going out during the cold season. But, you still need to take a walk, you can’t leave your baby without fresh air for a long time.In the winter months it will help not to get sick on a walk knowing the elementary rules:
arrange to go out for the first time no sooner than 14 days after you leave the hospital;
if the air temperature is minus 5 degrees, start the walk with 15 minutes;
If the temperature dropped below minus 15 degrees, then the infant is enough and 10 minutes of being outside;
Do not take your newborn baby outside in extreme cold and wind, no matter how you wrap him/her, his/her nose and cheeks may still get frozen;
Replace the walk outside with a walk on the balcony;
Go out for a walk twice a day during the winter months.
Pay special attention to the baby’s clothes, it is better to buy a newborn overalls-transformer. It allows you to change an infant almost instantly without disturbing her sleep.
When not to walk
Despite all the benefits of walking, in some cases it can be harmful to the newborn. If an infant is ill, you must stay at home in all weather conditions, while constantly ventilating the baby’s room. Otherwise the situation will only worsen, and the recovery process will be delayed. After the treatment it is necessary to restore the walks, fresh air promotes recovery. This is especially true for upper respiratory tract illnesses.
The first walks of a newborn should not be carried out at temperatures above plus 30 degrees and below minus 15 degrees. Also it is necessary to postpone the first visit to the street, if it is windy or raining. In other cases, walks will benefit the infant and his mother.
Getting ready for a walk
If this is your baby’s first walk, the important question of how to properly dress an infant, and what to take with you. Before dressing your newborn, change the diaper. The mother should be dressed first, then the baby can be dressed. Otherwise, he will sweat, which will cause the risk of illness. In cold weather, warm the stroller with a warm blanket.
If you go out for a walk in hot weather, you can wear a baby’s onesie and T-shirt. In warm weather it is better to wear a jacket with long sleeves instead of a T-shirt. A cap is a must, which will protect your baby’s head from heat and his ears from a little wind.
In the off-season, the weather is treacherous and inclined to change rapidly. Therefore, it is better to dress the newborn in several layers. If he gets hot, one layer can easily be removed and tucked in if the baby gets cold.
If the temperature is between 2 and 8 degrees, the best choice would be a cotton jumpsuit, a fleece jumpsuit and another warm jumpsuit. You should wear a warm hat on your head, in addition to the cap.
At a temperature of plus 8 to 13 degrees can be limited to a cotton slip, a warm coverall, a cap and a warm hat.
At a temperature of plus 13 to 17 degrees will be enough a cotton jumpsuit, velour jumpsuit, warm hat.
You can tell if your baby is comfortable by touching his neck. If your baby’s neck is hot and humid, he or she is wearing a lot of clothes. It is better to unwrap him. To understand that the baby is cold will help his nose. If the nose is cold and red, it is a sign that the baby is getting cold. To understand that the baby is feeling well help ruddy, but not red cheeks, a slightly warm nose, cool hands.
What to take with you
The number of things to take with you on a walk, depending directly on its duration. If you are planning a short walk, no more than 15 minutes, then apart from wet wipes do not need to take anything. When visiting the streets for a long time, it is better to be fully armed. Mommy should definitely take:
clean diapers;
wet wipes;
a diaper;
pacifier;
A bottle of water for the baby to drink;
A light blanket in case the weather is changeable;
toy.
Mom can take her favorite magazine or a book to sit on a bench in the park.
General rules
If the weather conditions are favorable, and the mother with a newborn out for a walk, it is worth adhering to the following rules:
Go for a walk outside after breastfeeding.A full child sleeps better in the fresh air and does not cry. So feed it beforehand.
Do not put the baby carriage in direct sunlight. Otherwise the risk of heat stroke increases.
Do not leave the baby carriage with your baby in the shade for too long. The best option is considered mild sunlight.
Walk in public gardens with coniferous trees.Avoid crowded, noisy places.
Optimal time for walking is before 11 am and after 4 pm. During this period, there is a high intensity of ultraviolet light, which affects the production of vitamin D. This reduces the influence of infrared rays, thanks to which the baby overheats in the sun.
If you go out for a walk in winter, then 20 minutes before leaving the house, lubricate the baby’s face with a special baby cream, Which protects baby’s skin from frost. Do an allergy test beforehand. Apply a small amount of cream on the wrist of the baby. If after 20 minutes there is no redness, itching, then the cosmetic can be used. It will not harm the baby.
An important point is that the infant should not scream outside, which can lead to hypothermia of the upper respiratory tract. A pacifier will help to solve this issue.
Fresh air is necessary for a newborn baby and his mother. Regular walks outdoors strengthens the baby’s immunity. For him to grow up healthy, go out with him for a walk at least twice a day, provided that the weather does not prevent it.
