to ask how long you can have a tiny baby outside for

[lottetta]

In really cold weather?

I live rurally and have a small (12lb) 3 month old. I've read so much about keeping them warm that I'm scared to go out

How does everyone else manage? Would a 45 minute walk be too long even if they're wrapped up?

I'm not being precious I genuinely just don't know what is and isn't okay :(

DD was born in mid November while we were living in Anchorage, Alaska.

She had a 'down' snow suit (purchased on eBay). Proper 'down' was warmer and less bulky than the 'high street brands' (Next, etc). She also had a set of proper baby Patagonia thermals, and 'smart wool' wool socks. Wool socks are much much warmer than cotton ones. I also found her some sheepskin booties on Amazon, from Tibet of all places, but seriously warm. Wool mittens were also essential, plus a hat. When cross country skiing (she would be in a buggy on skis, basically like a bike trailer), I would check her 'core' temperature every 30 mins or so. Basically put a hand inside her clothes next to her chest.

That was all for about -10 to -15 degrees C.

In UK, I would look for a good quality second hand snow suit (on eBay), and have gloves, socks and a hat - either fleece or wool. Cotton is too cold. Remember to take off layers when back in the car or indoors.

My grandchild is 6 weeks old and has been for a walk in their pram every day since they were a week old. They sleep really well in the pram, we walk for an hour each day.

Mine is nearly 4 weeks old and is out for at least 45 mins every morning and again in the afternoon for the school and pre school run, and we’re usuallt out somewhere in between too. As long as they’re dressed appropriately for the weather it’s absolutely fine.

I take my 9 week old out twice a day for an hour a time to walk the dog, I put her in a snow suit and blanket and hat with another blanket under her. She sleeps the whole time. We go out to town etc as well, I don't have a car so that's walking again. She's nice and cosy.

wrap up warm. blankets (or towels). possibly a tepid hot water bottle.
when dc was little there was a cold spell of -10 for a few days.
life continues and needs must

I have a photo of DD2 when she was 2 months old, outside in 4°, all wrapped up with bright rosy cheeks. He/she'll be fine.

Layered up they'll be fine, it's more making sure they don't get too hot i’d be worried about. Are they in the Basinet still? If so id go for long sleeved vest, grow, snowsuit with booties, some scratch mits, hat (next have some woolly ones with a cotton lining it the mo), hood up on snow suit and a nice fleece blanket up to arm pits. You might want a bit of nipple balm on their cheeks to protect them from the wind and keep the hood up on the pram.

If they’re in the buggy get a footmuff and liner in one and zip it up to their chest. Probably don’t need the long sleeved vest here and obvs won’t need a blanket.

A sling is ideal but you shouldn’t have them in a snowsuit as the risk of overheating is really high. In this weather I’ve been putting my Lo in a long sleeved vest then a hooded sweatshirt fabric onesies from H&M, socks, some little ugg style bootie things, mitts and a balaclava also from H&M, then there's obviously the sling and my body heat.

Skiing in a front carrier, Anniehm? What if you fall over?!

I lived in NYC with my young children, and when DS1 was around that age I would put him in the Beco carrier in fleece layers, gloves, hat, and then I bought a down-filled blanket that clipped around the carrier. He was always so snug, and while he slept we would go for lovely long walks around Central Park.

I never really considered this until now?

I had a January and a November baby and just kept them out as long as we liked.

All day in some cases if my eldest had a football/rugby tournament. Babies are very good at letting us know when they've had enough.

A bigger worry was the heating inside shops, or getting stuck in a really long bank queue and them overheating in their coats/hats etc.

DM and her DB we’re both born in the 1940s in January. They had all their naps outside, in their prom, until the temperature dropped below 0. Below 0 they slept in the greenhouse.

If dressed appropriately and protected from wind they will be fine. In really cold weather we only did essential journies on foot. Mine have never slept outside even in warm weather though really unless I was out with them.