Can you take a newborn for a walk in this weather?

[Sunshine1996]

Spent a lot of my pregnancy in lockdown and the one thing that kept me sane was going for daily walks. Just before Christmas our beautiful daughter arrived. It is cold at the moment where we live, not really going above 3 degrees. My partner says it’s too cold to be taking her for walks. I do have a snowsuit for her and would put blankets in the pram too. But is it too cold really to take a very young baby out? I normally walk for at least an hour.

Definitely go for a walk, plenty of layers and go get some fresh air it'll do you both wonders. One more layer for her than you

I assume so? 🤷‍♀️ Otherwise babies in cold climate countries would be housebound for nine months of the year!

I didn't use a pram with either of my boys, they were always in a sling. I had an Ergo, a Manduca and various stretchy wraps and used to walk for miles when they were tiny.

It's definitely not too cold.

Well we didn't have houses when we first got here

I've been taking my 6 week out daily and he is fine, never feels cold.

Lots of layers in the pram, or use a sling as they will get your body heat - I think mine was a bit too warm in his yesterday!

My DS was born late December. We definitely took him out in January, even when it had snowed, but not for an hour, more like 20 mins max. Lots of layers and I just kept checking him or my husband carried him in a sling with his coat round him.

An hour feels definitely too long, sorry.

Plus yes its brilliant for your mental health, and the fresh air is good for them. Allegedly makes them sleep better!!

Of course it's fine. Wrap them up warm (or use a sling) and off you go.

My ds was born in January and when he was tiny, I used to walk 4 miles a day, a mile each way, to do the school run. Just wrap them up and get out for a walk. Your DP is being too precious about his newborn.

I’m pretty sure babies in cold countries go out.

Of course it’s fine, one of mine was born in February and we definitely went out, pram suit, hat. Or use a a sling and put your coat around.

Its never too cold! Wrap her up warm in pram with raincover or in sling. Getting out will do you all the world of good. Having a newborn is tough enough without being confined to the house!

Congratulations on your lovely little Christmas baby.

An hour is NOT too long fgs. How do you think babies in Scandi countries survive?!

it's fine :)
you can use a warm hot water bottle in the pram.
a fluffy towel on top of the matress keeps it warmer from below. fluffy towels are great as blankets as well.

when dc were little we spent some time in northern europe and it often was -10 or lower. we always took dc out.

enjoy the walk.

DS1 was born in December and we went out for long walks every day, at least an hour but usually more.

Definitely! In this weather I would dress a newborn in vest, sleepsuit, pramsuit and a hat, plus a warm knitted blanket or 2 on top (or if in the sling maybe a cardi underneath pramsuit instead of the blanket). My DD was born in a hot summer and I worry so much more about walks in the heat as it's easier to bundle them up warm than to keep them cool. Enjoy your walk with your lovely newborn 😊

Definitely not if you feel up to it and wrap up warm. Like others say, babies born in much colder countries don’t stay indoors all the time! I had a January baby and the weather was crap and stormy for the first few days home, I was going stir crazy. Finally got outside in decent (cold) weather on about the 6th day and it really helped my mood. Do it, just take it easy if you’re still recovering from the birth.

In Denmark they leave their babies outside in cold weather, it's fine.

Go for your walks
When mine were babies, the nursery they went to used to have about a dozen of those huge old fashioned silver cross prams. Babies napped outside in them every day, regardless of the weather. Fresh air will do you all the world of good.

Layers is the way to go but please don't use a hot water bottle as suggested above.

Thank you for all the replies! So glad other people agree too, walking is one of my favourite things to do and with the way things are at the moment it really helps my mental health. I think my partner worries more as she was quite small at birth, 5 pounds 15. She has gained weight now and is 6 pounds 10 but he still overthinks some things I think.

@ThisIsMeOrIsIt

My DS was born late December. We definitely took him out in January, even when it had snowed, but not for an hour, more like 20 mins max. Lots of layers and I just kept checking him or my husband carried him in a sling with his coat round him.

An hour feels definitely too long, sorry.

Why does an hour feel too long?

Never too cold! Otherwise pity the poor babies and mums in Scandinavia.

DD was born in 2013, during a freezing cold snap at the end of Feb. Snow and ice on the ground for weeks. She came with me in the sling with jusy babygro, cardigan and a shawl over her and the sling. She was snuggly. Although she's always been a hot little pot, just like her dad.

As long as baby is suitably dressed, you can go out for as long as you like! I used to use my sling a lot (mostly out of necessity due to terrain unsuitable for prams, but it was also useful because I could act as a "human hot water bottle"), however a pram would be fine as long as there are enough layers.

Trust your gut instinct and remember the phrase... "no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing"!

when I was born in the late nineties it was the start of winter and my mum said she was like you...petrified and wrapped me up in ten different layers, until my auntie saw her out with me in the town one day and proceeded to strip me of my several snow suits and cardigans and tell her I was actually overheating, LOL! I wouldn't worry too much just make sure she has blankets and decent snowsuit's etc. and you can only learn by trial and error really.