How soon can you take a newborn out in public?
Moms should not be tricked into believing that their babies need to stay inside. This is a thing of the past. The fresh air and natural sunlight are good for both the mom and the baby, no matter how recently the baby was born. As a matter of fact, there is no medical reason that prevents a mom from taking her baby outside even the day after taking the baby home from the hospital. It is really a matter of personal preference and choice.
With that said, there are precautions that you need to take and certain restrictions that you need to implement in order to keep your baby healthy.
Some of these guidelines include:
1. Avoiding large crowds
It is quite okay to go to the park or out in the yard but it is definitely not okay to go to places where there are crowds especially for the first several weeks of your baby’s life. The younger the baby, the more immature their immune system and the more susceptibility to germs from people who sneeze, cough, etc. At 2 to 3 months, your baby’s immune system will be significantly mature and you will not need to be concerned as much.
Since babies are irresistible, everyone will want to hold them giving you less control over what they are exposed to. So don’t go to swimming pools and malls.
2. Dress your baby for the weather
Just before you head out to enjoy the outside, you might be very tempted to put layers upon layers of clothes on them or when its summertime, you might think that putting them in a stroller with just a diaper is okay. But this is not the case.
Dress your baby according to the weather, neither too hot nor too cold and add an additional layer.
Use your clothing as a guide. For example, if you are comfortable in a t-shirt then your baby is comfortable in a long-sleeved shirt. If you are wearing a sweatshirt, your baby should wear a light jacket. It is good to have a spare blanket at hand in case you may need an extra layer.
Your baby is not able to regulate their body temperature efficiently so you need to keep watch that they don’t get too hot or too cold. In either case, your baby will give you cues by crying.
3. Protect your baby from the elements
Have the right protection for every season. In winter, make sure they are bundled up properly. Be wary of cold temperatures because they increase the risk of hypothermia in babies.
Summer is time to protect your baby from the sun, excessive heat and mosquitoes so go for the outdoors in the mornings or late afternoons. Don’t use sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months. Generally, evaluate the weather before you leave the house and always make sure you are prepared for the worst.
When you get home, wash your newborn’s hands because they may be exposed to germs. There is nothing wrong with taking your baby out in the public at any age as long as you take care of the details mentioned above.
Related:
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT BABY REFLEXES PRESENT AT BIRTH?
HOW CAN I HELP MY TODDLER ADJUST TO A NEWBORN?
HOW MANY HOURS A DAY SHOULD A NEWBORN SLEEP?
