How long to walk with a baby in the fall. Proper walks with your child: a pediatrician talks about the rules of proper pastime in the fresh air. How to walk with a newborn in winter

Winter walks with a child. What could be more pleasant for a new mother? During a walk, a woman can relax and unwind, while the baby usually sleeps peacefully in the stroller. However, parents often have a question: how long to walk with a newborn in winter? This is exactly what this article will answer. You will learn about the features of this process. You will also be able to find out how long after you can walk with your newborn in the winter after being discharged from the maternity hospital.

The benefits of walking for young children

In winter, many couples don’t even ask this question. They are sure that such walks are dangerous for the baby. That is why they prefer to stay at home until the baby reaches 3 months of age. By that time spring has already arrived. However, this tactic is wrong.

Experts say that children need walks at any time of the year. After all, kids breathe fresh air outside. In the frosty winter, it is especially useful, as it is devoid of any viruses and bacteria. Don't worry about your child getting sick. Just the opposite. With these walks you can boost your baby’s immunity. However, you always need to remember how and how much to walk with your newborn in winter. If this question worries you, be sure to ask your pediatrician. The doctor will dispel your doubts and give the necessary recommendations.

First walk

How long can you walk with a newborn in winter? If the baby was born in the cold season, then your first walk will take place upon discharge from the maternity hospital. Usually the baby does not stay outside for long. It will only take a couple of minutes before mommy gets to the car and goes into the house. This is quite enough for a week old baby.

This walk does not take air temperature into account. After all, no matter the weather, you need to somehow leave the hospital. That is why it is worth taking care of warm clothes for the baby. It should suit your climate. If winters are harsh and the temperature outside the window drops to -30 degrees, then you should not choose thin envelopes with ruffles. Prepare a thick blanket, a blanket and several flannelette diapers. Don't forget about socks and a hat for your baby.

When and for how long to leave the house?

How long after can you walk with a newborn baby in winter? Afterwards, doctors advise immediately starting walks, while gradually increasing their duration. The first trip outside can last from 5 to 10 minutes. After this, it is advisable to go indoors and not walk around again that day. Monitor your child's condition carefully. If everything went well, then the next day the time spent outside can be increased.

The next walk may be 10 minutes longer. In other words, you are allowed to walk for 15 to 20 minutes. This time it is advisable to take a stroller with you, because every mother so wants to push her baby in it as quickly as possible.

Premature babies and features of walking with them

How long should you walk with your newborn in winter if he was born with low weight? In this situation, things are somewhat different. Experts give other recommendations. It makes a big difference whether your baby was born premature or just underweight. Children weighing less than 3 kilograms are not recommended to go outside at temperatures below 5 degrees. If the baby is premature, then you should start walking only when the temperature is above zero. At the same time, the first time you just go out onto the balcony.

How do doctors explain such restrictions? The fact is that young children have poor thermoregulation. The less weight and fat layer a baby has, the easier it is for him to freeze. If you do not want hypothermia, then it is better to stay at home for several weeks until the baby becomes stronger.

Child's clothes for walking in the cold season

How long to walk with a newborn in winter? Much depends on how you dress your child. At temperatures from 0 to minus 5 degrees, it is recommended that the walk last no more than 60 minutes (taking into account the fact that this is not the first time you leave the house). In this case, it is worth dressing the child in warm flannel or flannelette fabrics. There must be a second layer of clothing on top - a warmer one. A windproof overall or blanket completes the set.

When the temperature outside is below 10 degrees, make sure that your baby does not stay outside for more than 30 minutes. His clothes should have 4 layers. First comes a light cotton fabric, then a warmer diaper (flannel or flannel). Next, a jumpsuit or envelope is put on, and a blanket completes the whole thing.

When it’s colder than minus 15 degrees outside, you shouldn’t go out with your baby at all. Stay at home and ventilate the room more often. If you have a glassed-in balcony, you can take the baby out there. Remember the relationship between clothing and air temperature.

Walking after vaccinations

How long can you walk with your newborn in winter if your child has been vaccinated? The first vaccination of babies is usually carried out at the age of one month. After vaccination, the baby's immunity is greatly reduced. This is why doctors sometimes do not recommend mothers to take their children outside.

If your child has been vaccinated, then on this day your walk should be limited to the road from the clinic home. It is not recommended to go out anymore. After vaccination, carefully monitor your baby's condition. If you feel unwell or have a fever, you should stay at home for another three days. Call a doctor if necessary. As soon as the effects of the vaccination are over, you can safely go outside. There is no need for a gradual increase in time. If you have already walked with your baby for up to one hour, then continue to do so. Consider temperature conditions.

After illness

How long should you walk with your newborn in the winter if the baby has suffered from ARVI? During periods of illness, you should completely avoid walking. When it comes to a common runny nose without additional symptoms, then you can go out. However, the air temperature should not be minus.

If a child has a fever, cough and other symptoms, then you should stay home until complete recovery. After eliminating all signs of illness, do without walking for a few more days. After this, the newborn can be taken outside with a gradual increase in time, as described above.

What do doctors say?

How long should you walk with your newborn in winter, according to neonatologists and experienced pediatricians? Doctors say that walks are very beneficial for the baby and contribute to its proper development. After going outside, the baby's appetite increases, his mood improves, and his sleep normalizes. During exposure to the sun, vitamin D is actively produced, which helps to fully absorb calcium. This substance also prevents the occurrence of rickets.

Doctors advise starting walks with your newborn baby immediately after discharge from the maternity hospital (provided that there are no restrictions and the baby feels well). If the temperature outside is above zero, then in just a few days you can increase your stay with your baby in the fresh air to two hours. Divide this time into several parts or take one big walk.

Experts recommend keeping an eye on more than just your baby while walking. A nursing mother also needs special attention. In winter, it is worth hiding your chest very well. Otherwise, you may catch a cold. If mastitis has developed, then it is better for mom and baby to stay at home. After the woman has fully recovered, she can continue walking as usual.

We replenish the need for oxygen. Outdoors, the oxygen content is much higher than in a room. In winter, batteries and heaters additionally dry the air and reduce the content of precious gas.
Fresh air. The indoor air contains a large number of bacteria, dust, allergens, and household chemicals.
We stimulate the immune system. Walking is one of the ways to harden the body. The difference between the temperature in the room and outside stimulates the defense mechanisms of the baby's immune system.
We prevent the development of rickets. Vitamin D is produced in the baby's skin when exposed to ultraviolet light. Even if the day is not entirely clear, a half-hour walk will significantly increase the level of vitamin D and help strengthen the musculoskeletal system.
Walking is educational. On the street, the baby explores the world around him. The newborn receives new sensations, visual and sound images. An older child finds friends and learns to interact in society.
Benefit for mom. Physical activity helps to regain shape after childbirth and adjust weight. Walking is an opportunity to find new friends and share parenting secrets. Communication and support among women reduces rates of postpartum depression.
Interesting pastime. Walking is another opportunity for mother and baby to spend time together.

First walk

The long-awaited moment comes - the day the baby is discharged from the maternity hospital. For a baby, being discharged is a significant event, because it is the first time outside, the first walk.

At home, the baby finds himself in a completely new room with its own bacterial composition of the air. Give your baby a little time to get used to the new conditions and start going for walks regularly.

When can you start walking with your newborn?

It all depends on the time of year when the child was born. If the baby was born in the summer or spring, it is enough to wait 5 - 7 days and begin the first travels. In the cold season you will have to wait for 2 weeks.

You should not go outside if the air temperature drops below minus 10 degrees or rises above 30.

The first walk should not last more than 10 minutes. Place the baby in an envelope and take it in your arms. The first exit can be made on the balcony, especially if taking out the stroller is problematic. Gradually increase the duration of the walk by 5 - 10 minutes, and by 3 months the baby can spend 2 - 3 hours in the air.

The time spent outside is selected individually and depends on the well-being of the little one and weather conditions. On a warm sunny day you can walk all your free time. If the weather is not pleasant, in severe frosts or snowfalls, shorten the walking time.

The newborn spends most of the walk sleeping. Only a couple of months will pass, and the baby will be interested in everything that happens around him. Waking periods will become longer, and brightly colored rattles will need to be attached to the stroller.

What is the best time to take a walk with your baby?

The baby behaves well outside if he is fed and healthy. After feeding, the baby will be calmer, fall asleep easily and will be able to adapt well to the cold.

The time of the walk should be planned taking into account the interests of the mother. A young family always has a lot of troubles. Mom will feel calmer if important things have already been done and she can devote herself entirely to the baby.

Walking with a newborn in autumn

When can I start?

After being discharged from the hospital, give the child 7-10 days to adapt. If the baby feels well, start walking.

What to dress your baby in in the fall?

During the autumn period, parents need to be vigilant, the weather changes quickly. The temperature on the thermometer may be well above zero, but the wind becomes cold.

It is important not to overheat or overcool the baby, all this provokes the development of diseases. Therefore, it is worth walking in good warm weather. In cloudy, humid weather, the duration of the walk should be shortened, but it should not be removed at all.

All clothing for a child should be made from natural, body-friendly materials that allow the skin to breathe. Don't forget about a warm hat if it's cold outside. You definitely need to wear a diaper, even if you go out for a minute, for example, to the store.

Demi-season overalls are ideal for walking. Made from special materials, they retain heat perfectly and can protect the baby from the cold autumn wind.

What to do if it rains?

Modern strollers are very roomy; they can contain everything a baby needs on the street. Various accessories are often included with the stroller: umbrellas, raincoats, mosquito nets.

Long walks in a stroller with a raincoat attached are not the most useful pastime. After all, a raincoat prevents the passage of air to the child, creating a kind of greenhouse effect. But if precipitation catches you unexpectedly on the road, a raincoat will be indispensable.

How long can you walk with your newborn in the fall?

If the little one is well-fed and sleeps peacefully outside, the walk can be extended until the next feeding. The average duration of an autumn walk is 1.5 hours. In good, warm weather, it’s worth taking a walk twice.

A spring walk follows the same rules as an autumn walk. The weather during these seasons is similar and prone to change.

Summer walks with a newborn

When should you start?

The first trip outside with a healthy baby can be made within 5-7 days after discharge. There is no need to take a long walk with your baby for the first time, even if the weather permits. 10 minutes is enough for your first acquaintance with the street. Gradually increase your walking time with each subsequent outing.

On good summer days, you can allow your child to sleep and play in the yard all day. They bring the fidget home only for eating.

What if it's hot?

If the air temperature exceeds 30 degrees, walking with a newborn is strictly prohibited. The child's thermoregulation mechanisms are not sufficiently developed; the baby can easily overheat. It is better to postpone your walk until the morning or evening hours.

If the thermometer scale reaches 25 degrees Celsius, you need to follow some rules.

choose light, thin clothes of good quality for your child;
to avoid overheating, do not swaddle your baby;
to prevent the baby’s back from sweating, the mattress should not contain artificial materials;
It is worth taking a spare diaper with you so that the baby is not wet;
do not deny your child water. Remember that breast milk replaces food and drink for the baby.

Possible troubles

Overheat

If simple rules are not followed, long summer trips can result in unpleasant situations for the baby. Often the baby overheats, and the first manifestations are diaper rash and heat rash.

The rash caused by prickly heat causes anxiety to the baby and may interfere with sleep and the general condition of the child. The baby becomes capricious and irritated. With diaper rash, there is pain, loss of appetite and the child’s well-being.

To avoid this, you need to carefully monitor the child’s behavior while walking. When overheated, the baby becomes restless, begins to breathe quickly, and a blush appears on the face. The baby more often asks for breastfeeding or water. If you take your temperature at this time, it will be elevated.

Heatstroke, sunstroke

Sunstroke in infants occurs when the baby is under the scorching sun. The child's body is not able to properly regulate temperature, so it overheats very quickly. Heatstroke occurs in children who were under the influence, for example, tightly wrapped in a stroller.

In case of severe overheating, the child’s temperature rises to 38 degrees. The baby’s well-being is disturbed, the child screams or, conversely, becomes lethargic and apathetic. In serious cases, vomiting and loss of consciousness may occur.

In case of heat and sunstroke, you must urgently call an ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, you need to move the child to the shade, undress, and wash his face with water.

Walking with a newborn in winter

Should you take your newborn outside in winter? Definitely yes. By observing certain conditions, you can protect your baby from hypothermia and stimulate the immune system.

The transforming overalls can be used for both a newborn (as an envelope) and an older baby. Thanks to the zipper system, the envelope turns into warm outerwear.

The transformable winter overalls have a special fur lining sewn into them, which will reliably protect the child from the cold. There are also demi-season and universal overalls.

In universal transformable overalls, the lining is detachable. Mom herself can regulate which version of overalls to dress the baby in, taking into account the weather outside the window. Transformable overalls are very practical and comfortable to wear.

When and how long to walk?

The time and duration of the walk depends on the weather outside and the baby’s well-being. You should be careful if the temperature outside drops below 10 degrees to avoid hypothermia of the child.

How to understand that a child is cold?

If the baby is cold, he begins to move more actively, worry, and cry. The most common way to check whether a child is warm is to feel his nose, but this is not always an adequate indicator. But pale cheeks and redness of the nose, anxiety indicate that the baby is cooling.

You can more reliably determine whether a child is cold at home by undressing and feeling the baby’s legs and arms. Pale, cold palms and feet are a sign that the child is cold.

Before a winter walk, you definitely need to feed your baby. A well-fed baby will be able to maintain his temperature better and sleep more soundly.

Walking when sick

If a child has a cold and suffers from nasal congestion and cough, and the weather is beautiful outside, short walks will benefit the child. Fresh air helps recovery and improves the child’s overall well-being.

If a child has a high fever and severe weakness, walking can aggravate the condition.

In what cases should you not go for a walk with your child?

In the acute period of illness.
When a doctor prescribes strict bed rest.
If the disease is contagious to others.

Is it possible to go for a walk if children have chickenpox?

Chickenpox is an infectious disease predominantly of childhood. It manifests itself as an increase in temperature and the development of a typical rash with itching.

Chickenpox is transmitted by airborne droplets. The peculiarity of this infection is its high contagiousness. There is a very high risk of contracting chickenpox when meeting a sick person.

This is why the entire group of children can get chickenpox, even if just one child catches the virus. You can also become infected with chickenpox on the street, because the virus is very volatile, although it is not stable in the external environment.

A child with chickenpox can go for a walk if there is no fever or severe weakness. In this case, walking is not harmful for a sick child, but he remains contagious to other children.

How many days is a child contagious with chickenpox?

1 - 2 days before the rash appears;
the entire period of rash, usually 2 - 9 days;
5 days after the last bubble appears.

Thus, the baby remains contagious for a long time. But fresh air and a little physical activity, which the child gets while walking, will speed up recovery.

How to walk properly when you have chickenpox?

During a walk, the baby should not communicate with other children, so a private yard or balcony becomes an ideal place for games. Here the child will receive the necessary amount of fresh air and feel better.

Let's sum it up

Walking is vital for a child; its benefits are enormous. Guided by simple rules and tips, you can safely walk even with a newborn baby.

There are practically no cases when walking is prohibited. After all, on the street the baby strengthens the immune system, develops physically and learns to interact with other children, actively developing. Spare no effort on walks with your baby, this is a wonderful and unforgettable pastime.

Every mother understands that walking is beneficial for her baby at any age. But is there any benefit for newborn babies in the first month of their life? In autumn and winter the weather is not always pleasant and it is interesting to know how long you can walk with your newborn in November. Also, most parents wonder what should be purchased in advance and carried with them, and how to dress the baby. It is useful to obtain information about the schedule and rules of walks at different times of the year, what weather you can walk in and what to do if you are sick.

Now let's look at this in more detail.

The benefits of walking for a newborn

In the past, people spent a lot of time outside, so the need for walks remains today. Experts recommend that adults spend 4-5 hours a day outdoors. The same advice can be given to children of any age.

Newborns also need more walks. Many doctors believe that excessively dry indoor air harms the mucous membranes of infants, which causes bronchitis, acute respiratory infections and other lung diseases.
Most children's problems are treated with walks and bathing, so there is never too much of the first and second. , we already wrote in the previous section.

Of course, the first time after birth, the immunity of toddlers is still weak, and long walks will do more harm than good. On the question of how many days after you can walk with a newborn, experts are not unanimous. Some recommend taking them out for walks only after a month, others argue that early walks are safe if they are short-term.

Pros of walking:

appetite increases;
sleep becomes stronger and healthier;
immunity is strengthened;
the ability to adapt increases;
The baby develops faster physically and mentally.

Walking instills immunity to walking. Therefore, going out late is much worse than going out too early.

You can increase the benefits of exercise with the help of nature. It is better to walk with your newborn in parks, squares and near ponds. The benefits will be greater when walking near natural bodies of water (rivers, sea, lakes) and in the forest, rather than near artificial ponds and in the park. Of course, you cannot walk with your toddler near parking lots and along highways.

When can you go out for a walk in the first month?

Immediately after discharge from the maternity hospital, it is better to hold off on walking. It is advisable to go outside for the first time after 3-5 days. But some pediatricians say that you can wait 3-4 weeks after discharge, since the baby still has enough new space and microbes in the apartment. In the summer, you can take out the toddler almost immediately; the first walks with the newborn in the winter are best postponed for several weeks.

It is advisable that the first walk last no more than 10-15 minutes; it is better to walk with the baby without a stroller, carry him in your arms. Every day you should increase the walking time by 10 minutes, so increase the exercise time to 2 hours, 2 times a day, for a total of 4 hours. At temperatures below -15°C, it is better to cancel the first walk; in weather warmer than +15°C, the first walk can be immediately increased to 30-40 minutes.

A few rules for your first walks:

You need to walk your baby after he has gone through the small and big, the diapers must be dry. This is especially important in winter and autumn.
For the first time, it is preferable to walk with the baby in your arms. His mother's hug will give him confidence and calm. It will be very useful.
You can walk with your baby when he is full. After feeding, he will quickly fall asleep outside.
You can walk at a temperature not lower than -15°C and not higher than +30°C, in calm, dry weather.
Before 11 and after 16 o'clock in the afternoon is the optimal time for a walk. At this time, the intensity of ultraviolet rays is still high, due to which vitamin D is produced. At the same time, the level of infrared rays decreases, which is why the baby does not overheat in the sun.

You cannot walk with your toddler near parking lots and along highways.

Walks according to the seasons: when to start, what to wear

Let's find out how long you can walk with a newborn in the fall, summer and winter, what the rules and recommendations are, based on the time of year and weather.

In summer

How much you can walk with a newborn in the summer should be decided by the pediatrician, based on the baby’s health level. You cannot go outside immediately after discharge. It is necessary to wait at least 3-5 days, and preferably 7-10 days. The time of the first walk can be increased to 30-40 minutes.

Remember that the ability of a child’s body to thermoregulate is much lower than that of an adult. You need to increase the time gradually, adding 10 minutes daily. Your baby can easily overheat or get heatstroke. Therefore, when walking in summer, you need to monitor your child’s condition as carefully as in winter.

When walking in the summer you need to follow a few rules:

Clothing should consist of natural cotton breathable fabrics. The same requirement applies to caps, mattresses and any other fabrics that the baby comes into contact with during a summer walk.
You need to walk your baby before 11-12 noon and after 16-17 pm. During the day, you should avoid being outside, as direct sunlight burns the baby’s skin and can cause heat stroke.
Due to the bright sun, you can only walk with your child in the shade of trees and buildings. When going out into the open, place your baby in the stroller and put on a sun shade.
When bottle-feeding, be sure to take a bottle of water with you.
When bottle-feeding, take all nutritional formulas for your baby in dry form. Before feeding, dissolve them in water, which should be stored separately in a thermos.
If you are a nursing mother, then take care of comfortable clothes. How to choose nursing underwear.

In summer, the optimal temperature for walking is 20-25°C. At a temperature of 15-20°C, you can put on warmer clothes for your baby; at 25-30°C, you can wear lighter clothes and walk in the shade. In summer, when temperatures are below 15°C or above 30°C, avoid walking.

The ability of a child's body to thermoregulate is much lower than that of an adult.

Autumn and spring

The basic rules remain the same: you need to wait 5-6 days after being discharged from the hospital and the first walk must be short. The optimal time for the “first time” is 15-20 minutes. You also need to increase it by 10 minutes a day. Don't be tempted by the bright sun. In sunny weather there is often a strong cold wind, so you need to dress warmly.

The first walk with a newborn in the fall has a couple of individual rules:

The most comfortable type of clothing is a jumpsuit; it allows air to circulate throughout the body. Natural cotton items are worn under the overalls.
You should avoid walking in the rain. You cannot rely on a raincoat, since the main problem is not the drops falling from above, but the high humidity and low temperature. Humid air “takes away” heat much faster, and as a result, the baby can catch a cold.

in winter

How much you can walk with a newborn in winter often depends on the temperature and wind speed. You can ignore snowfall; it does not affect air humidity. The first walk in winter should be no more than 10 minutes; its time should be increased gradually, adding 10 minutes every day.

Winter conditions also create several special rules for walking:

The ideal form of clothing is a transformable jumpsuit. It provides access to the baby's back, making swaddling much easier.
It is better to postpone the time of the first walk until the toddler is 2 weeks old.
The demands on a dry butt in winter are greater than ever. Due to wet diapers, heat transfer increases tenfold, resulting in an immediate cold.
In winter, a walk with a child under 2 years old should be no more than an hour.

The minimum permissible temperature for winter walks is -10°C. It should be taken into account that strong wind increases heat transfer, as a result the weather becomes subjectively colder. When the wind is above 7-10 meters per second, it is also better to postpone walking.

Preparing for the walk

When taking a newborn for the first time in the fall, how to dress and what to take become the main questions. Before your walk, feed your baby, wait until he relieves himself, and then change the diaper. To prevent your child from sweating while waiting for you, first dress yourself and then dress your baby. In cold weather, insulate the stroller with a warm blanket.

In summer, the toddler can be dressed in trousers, a T-shirt or a blouse (depending on the weather), be sure to wear a cap to protect from the sun. In the fall, the best option would be overalls, a hat with ties and gloves. In winter, wear warmer clothes; a fur envelope or transformable overalls will do. Everything you need is in the previous article.

If you go out for 10-15 minutes, then you can take napkins with you and limit yourself to that. For long walks, be fully prepared; be sure to take:

wet wipes,
feeding bottle,
clean diapers.

You need to be especially careful when choosing a stroller for a newborn:

Regardless of functionality and configuration, the stroller must be durable, light enough, and the handle must be suitable for your height or adjustable;
You should buy a cradle for a newborn, not a stroller, since the baby should lie down and not sit in it;
It is desirable that the stroller be compact, since you will have to take it up the elevator and store it somewhere;
choose a stroller with large wheels with shock absorbers;
the stroller should have an easily retractable canopy;
It is advisable that the stroller already has a branded mattress that is ideal in size.

We wrote more about this in a previous publication.

Summarize

You can take your child outside after at least 3-5 days, but it is better to wait a week. Walking a newborn in the first month is acceptable if the baby is in good health. Make sure your baby is dressed appropriately for the weather and do not take him out in the rain or in extremely cold or hot temperatures.

Additional information about when and how long you can walk with your baby and what to wear in the video:

Take wet wipes with you, be sure to change diapers before going for a walk so that your baby’s skin is dry. Then walks will be really useful for the child.

If we take into account those factors that will bring maximum benefit to the baby during a walk, it becomes clear that Do not cover your child's face while walking, tie a scarf over his nose, because in this way we deprive him of what we took him for a walk for - fresh air.

At the slightest opportunity, you should generally open your face so that the sun's rays fall on it (preferably not direct, but diffused), and in warm weather, generally try to keep the newborn naked.

It is unlikely that a newborn will benefit from walking with his mother in a sling, because in it the baby is completely enclosed and turned to face his mother.

The sling is indispensable during “business” trips, for example, to the clinic; it will be very convenient and safe for the baby to explore the world around him, but it is still better for the baby to walk in a stroller.

Since the newborn's first walks are very short, there is unlikely to be a risk of serious hypothermia. Much more often the baby is wrapped up too much.

Find out if the baby is hot you can by undressing him. If after a walk your newborn's skin is red and his body is clearly hot, just dress him a little lighter next time.

About the fact that the child is cold, usually recognized by touching his nose. For a frozen baby, it is cold (not cool, this is just normal, but noticeably cold!). In such cases, it is worth having an extra thin blanket with you.

You should be especially careful with your newborn's clothing in hot weather, because overheating is much worse for a baby than hypothermia.

Therefore, if the air temperature exceeds 25 degrees, a light vest or shirt and diaper are enough, and you can cover the top with a thin diaper. The mosquito net will protect from insects and direct sunlight.

When is walking contraindicated?

It’s hardly worth going out with a newborn at all if there strong wind or temperature below minus 15 degrees. And it’s generally better to start walking at temperatures not lower than minus 5.

Walking is also contraindicated in extreme heat when the thermometer rises above 29 degrees. If the house is no less hot, you can take the baby to a shady corner of the garden or grove.

Naturally, they don’t go for walks with a newborn, if he is sick.

Walks with a premature baby It is better to start only with the permission of the doctor observing him.

Instead of a conclusion

Thus, Walking is undoubtedly beneficial for a newborn- this includes fresh air, hardening, and sunbathing.

In addition, walks are often a great pleasure for mom, dad, and grandparents. I really want to “show off” about the new family member, meet friends and acquaintances, and hear their congratulations.

Restless babies often sleep soundly only when walking, allowing parents to calmly walk or even sit on a bench and read a book.

But the need for walks for newborns is often greatly exaggerated. In the first months of life a balcony or even a well-ventilated room is a complete substitute for a walk along the city streets.

Only the parents themselves decide whether it is possible and necessary to walk with their newborn child.

Welcome to Elena Zhabinskaya’s blog, dear readers! I remember now myself with my first child - how many questions and doubts arose then, and also this constant fear of doing something wrong.

One of these moments about which I really want to find a correct, reasonable and well-founded answer is when you can walk with your newborn after the maternity hospital.

The information is contradictory everywhere, and most importantly, not very convincing in my opinion, so today we will look for the truth in this matter.

Fortunately, no one doubts that being in the fresh air is incredibly beneficial for babies. But just in case, we will list the main advantages:

A large amount of oxygen enters the body, which is distributed to all organs, including the brain, as a result of which their functioning improves.
The lungs open and cleanse, getting rid of home and hospital dust.
The mucous membranes of the nose are moisturized, and dried crusts that impede breathing disappear.
The risk of contracting ARVI is significantly reduced, because it is almost impossible to do this on the street, which cannot be said about staying indoors (including at home, where relatives themselves can act as sources).
Thanks to sunlight, the body produces vitamin D, which is needed for proper absorption of calcium and bone growth.
The baby's vision and other senses are trained, because on the street the picture of the world around him is completely different.

We also especially note that the presence of a human child on the street is natural by nature itself, because since ancient times people as a biological species lived and spent most of their time on the street from birth.

Constant stay indoors, as a tribute to civilization, takes place relatively recently (on the scale of history). Consequently, we must treat the street as a child’s natural habitat, in which the child is comfortable and genetically familiar.

Some domestic pediatricians recommend starting to walk with your child when he is 14 days old, not earlier. Allegedly, after birth, the child needs some kind of adaptation to the world around him. It is not explained why this adaptation should take place exclusively in conditions of house dust.

Who determined this period, and why exactly 14, and not 10 or 16? What terrible thing will happen to a child if you start breathing fresh air immediately after birth, while dressing appropriately for the weather? There is no answer, so I am skeptical about the recommendation not to go outside until 2 weeks of age, both of my children started going outside immediately after returning home from the hospital.

It is worth noting that Western doctors are not so critical, there is no question at what age you can go for walks there, and children begin to spend time outside literally on the second or third day after birth, that is, immediately after leaving the hospital.

By the way, even in our country, the baby’s first walk, whether you like it or not, will take place on the day of discharge from the maternity hospital, so the question after how long and at what age can you walk with a newborn is rather rhetorical.

The same path from the hospital doors to the car and from the car to the entrance doors is the first walk lasting 5-10 minutes.

There is no need to be afraid of this short walk, because we have already figured out that it is natural for a child to be in the fresh air. Thus, answering the question of when can you start walking with a newborn, let’s say: already on the day of discharge and the day after it.

All that is required is to increase the duration of stay on the street gradually and so that he does not sweat or freeze.

Since the first walk has already taken place and lasted 5-10 minutes, the next day you can double its duration, for example, twice a day for 10-20 minutes.

Every other day, 2 times for 20-40 minutes, and so on according to the rules of geometric progression. The time of year does not matter; these recommendations are the same for walks in winter, spring, summer and autumn.

When and how long can you walk with your newborn in winter?

Usually it is winter that raises the most questions for young mothers. Namely, they worry that the cold is dangerous for the newborn, and that the baby may catch a cold and get sick. How can we be here? Should I wait a couple of months or go out for a breath immediately after returning from the hospital?

Let's just say that all fears are in vain if the child is dressed correctly and warmly. Moreover, in winter it is much more convenient and easier to walk with a baby, because dressing warmly is the only problem and task of parents, which, as a rule, is not difficult to solve.

Advantages of walking in winter for a newborn:

You can go outside at any time of the day (there is no heat and stuffiness like in summer);
It is almost impossible to overheat a child, because he can lose all excess heat through breathing (inhales cold air, exhales warm air).
There are no insects from which the baby needs to be saved.

You may ask, at what temperature can you walk with a newborn? On the Internet you can find a huge number of options for answering this question. Everyone fantasizes as much as they like, to the extent of their thermophilic nature. They even go so far as to answer the question of when you can start walking with a newborn in the winter, but they do not recommend doing this if the thermometer shows below zero degrees and the child is under 2 months old. Naturally, this is complete absurdity.

Fresh air is important for children of any age, and especially for newborns! And no amount of ventilation can replace a full stay on the street or balcony. Western doctors have long been convinced that a child is comfortable outside in winter, even at fairly low temperatures, provided that he is warmly dressed.

To answer the question of how long you can walk with a newborn in winter, let’s turn to the official document - SanPin for preschool institutions dated May 15, 2013. According to this document, daily walks lasting 3-4 hours are recommended for children. If the air temperature is below minus 15 degrees, and the wind speed is stronger than 7 m per second, it is recommended to reduce walks (but not cancel them completely).

As a rule, for children under 4 years of age, walks are canceled if the air temperature is below minus 15 degrees, and at the same time the wind speed is stronger than 15 meters per second. And this happens very rarely.

So how long can you walk with a newborn in winter at different temperatures? Let’s collect all the information received in a table for clarity.

When answering the question whether it is possible to walk with a newborn in severe frost, it is worth first understanding whether this temperature for your area is truly anomalous (for example, minus 30 degrees in central Russia or the Urals), or standard, at which you will spend the next few days. 4-5 winter months (Siberia, Northern regions).

If the first option, then it is wiser not to be a hero and wait out the frost at home, ensuring comfortable conditions in the room where the child is, and regularly ventilating it.

And if you have to live at such temperatures, and they are not something out of the ordinary for you, then it is wiser to walk, at least a little and dress very warmly.

In addition, purchase in advance a special baby cream to protect your cheeks and nose from frost - it will protect delicate skin from chapping and frostbite.

When and how long can you walk with your newborn in spring and autumn?

Spring and autumn are the most favorable times of the year when you can start walking with a newborn baby, since they do not have the disadvantages of too cold winters and too hot summers.

The more time the child spends outdoors, the better. Ideally, by the end of the first week of a baby’s life, he can spend all the time outside between feedings and a break for a night’s sleep.

To do this, if possible, you should find a suitable place where you can take the stroller with the baby. This could be a balcony, loggia, your own courtyard in a private house, or a terrace.

Of course, the baby should be clearly visible, and if possible, it is worth installing a radio or video nanny so that you can hear if the child wakes up.

If you do not have such an opportunity, it is worth considering whether you can call on one of your relatives to help you as assistants for this task. First of all, of course, grandparents come to mind, but in different families these may be different options.

If there is no balcony, and there are no relatives, then nothing can be done - all that remains is to walk with the newborn in the stroller on your own.

When and how long can you walk with a newborn in the summer?

If the weather allows (moderately warm and not hot), then the duration of walks should be as long as possible. At best, from feeding to feeding with a break for a night's sleep in the room.

However, if it’s a standard hot summer, then you don’t need to exclude walks altogether, but adjust their mode and duration to the weather outside the window. Namely, go out for a walk early in the morning and late in the evening, when there is no heat. And in the sunshine, relax peacefully at home, under air conditioning or with open windows, eat and do the necessary household chores.

We have repeatedly repeated that overheating is much more dangerous than hypothermia, so any mother should know and be able to recognize the signs of overheating in time.

In addition, in the summer there is such a misfortune as insects, which oh how they love the delicate skin of children. Therefore, a mosquito net for a stroller is something without which you, in principle, should not leave the house during your first walk in the summer.

Never leave your baby in the open sun, as baby skin burns instantly. And any burn is an extremely strong blow to the immune system.

Be sure to protect your baby from direct sunlight and use special sunscreens for little ones.

When not to walk with a newborn

So, we have already understood that it is better for a newborn to be outside for as long as possible. However, are there exceptions to this rule? Sure, let's look at them.

Severe frost (less than minus 15 degrees with wind more than 15 m/s or minus 25 without wind, if this is not typical for your region).
Intense heat (above 30 degrees).
Rain, snowstorm, snowfall and other extreme weather conditions that make walking difficult or impossible.
If the baby is sick and his general condition is impaired.
If the baby is at the recovery stage, but nasal breathing is impaired, and it’s negative outside. That is, you cannot breathe cold air through your mouth.

In advance, convenient and suitable for you.
Dress yourself and your child appropriately for the weather.
Choose comfortable shoes for long walks.
Take with you a clean (pre-washed with soap and rinsed with boiling water) pacifier with a cap. Even if you are in doubt, have her with you on your first walk just in case. Especially if this is your first child, and you can easily panic if he suddenly breaks down away from home, and you will not have the opportunity to breastfeed him (for example, during the cold season, or you are formula feeding).

Choose quiet places for walks without crowds of vehicles and people. Ideally, parks, squares, embankments, quiet courtyards. I’m sure there’s no need to explain that walking along the highway does more harm than good.
First, take a walk near your house so that, if necessary, you can quickly return. Gradually, you can increase the length and distance from home of your walks as your confidence as a mother and predictability of your baby's behavior increases.

At first glance, everything is complicated, but this is just at first glance. It’s worth a try, and you will definitely succeed! Save the article to your wall on social networks so as not to lose it, and also subscribe to blog updates! Love the kids and be healthy, Lena Zhabinskaya was with you, bye-bye!