Young mothers, whose children were born in the winter, especially are anxious concerning walks. Many are convinced that it is safer to be for the child at home until on the street becomes warmer. But fresh air is useful and necessary for health of the baby. If to follow some rules of winter walks, they will not do harm.
When to begin walks and how many to walk with the kid?
The newborn has no settled thermal control yet, and temperature differences in the room and on the street will subject its organism to a stress. Therefore after discharge from maternity hospital the doctors do not recommend to take out the baby on the street in winter time the first 10 days, and 2 weeks are better. Consultants for breastfeeding are convinced that for the child will better stay at home the first 5-6 weeks.
Duration of walk depends on air temperature. At a temperature not below minus 5 °C duration of the first walk can be about 15 minutes. Daily the time spent of the child in the fresh air can be increased for 10 minutes. If the thermometer shows air temperature on the street to minus 15 °C, then the first walk has to last no more than 10 minutes and further not exceed 30 minutes.
After a while duration of walk will depend on your desire and on how the kid behaves on the street. If weather allows, and both of you like to be on the street, then it is possible to walk 2-3 hours. You should not walk with the baby if strong wind or a blizzard. And if on the street there is more than 15 degrees of frost, then walk should be postponed. Until the frost weakens, regular airing of the room in which there lives a newborn will be sufficient.
How to dress the child for walk?
The child needs to be dressed so that he did not freeze, but also did not overheat. Optimum will be to dress the kid in 3 layers. At first put on a baby's undershirt, a romper suit, a cap, warm socks. The overalls with the closed legs and handles will be the second layer. And the last layer is winter overalls, a warm cap and a scarf. Select such clothes for walk which it is possible as fast as possible and it is easy to dress and remove that the child did not overheat to an exit to the street. Slips, tights, overalls instead of baby's undershirts, sliders, jackets and panties are very convenient for such cases. It is important to warm a carriage also. Surely lift a peak to protect the kid from wind. Lay a warm blanket on a bottom. It is possible to use a cover. But do not close completely the child in a carriage. If brought the child to walk – let breathes fresh air. Temperature on the thermometer can be outside the window not absolutely indicative. On the street there can be an about 0th °C, but damp and cold. Therefore rely on the feelings. If you are warmly dressed, and froze in five minutes of walk, so and is cold to your child. It is in that case better to go home. Remember that walk has to bring pleasure. Under such condition it will be useful.