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.

Of course it's fine. How does he think people in cold countries or with other children cope? You just wrap them up warm and get on with it.

Treat your first as you would your second! Second baby has to go out regardless, school or nursery run etc.

@Cruddles

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

I've been to Iceland in winter. People leave babies in prams parked up outside the cafés.

People living in very cold countries tend to use slings when walking wih babies- as others have said the parent acts as a human hot water bottle- and in those very cold countries a pram is pretty useless anyway as wheels would get stuck in ruts of snow and ice.
OP your baby is still tiny, my first baby was a similar weight, and he wasn;t great at keeping up his temperature for the first few months.
Even with piles of bedding he would still feel cold, we eneded up co sleeping for that reason.
He was a winter baby too, I always felt much happier out in cold days with him in a sling, I could keep an eye on his temperature.

The scandinavians put their babies in prams outside to sleep during their winter!
Please don't use a sling while there's snow and ice around.

A sling could be a reassuring because you’re so close to her that you can feel how she’s doing. Remember that you count as a layer of clothing and so does the sling so you wouldn’t need a snowsuit too, especially if you also wrap your cardigan/ coat around her. You could borrow one of your partners coats if they’re bigger so that you both fit in, or wear a maternity jumper over both of you. Just make sure that her airways are clear and you can see her face at all times.

It’s popular in lots of countries for babies to take naps outside in the cold when the temp is in the minus! As long as they are wrapped up warm

Echoing pretty much everyone else, yes, of course it is fine!

If your partner is nervous, can you ask the midwife or HV to speak to him?

Don’t use the hot water bottle though, terrible idea, you’ll injure your baby. Talk to your midwife if you don’t understand why.

Absolutely fine. I was walking the school run at 8am on days that were minus 1 sometimes last year. My son loves being outside, and the cold and daylight does seem to promote sleep, I'd go so far as to say he slept better outside and often I would let him doze off in his pram and finish the nap outside at the front door (I have an enclosed front garden so im able to do that and keep an eye in him without anyone calling SS!)

Please don't use a hot water bottle, that is not great advice . I was always adviced to add only one extra layer and a blanket for a new born baby . Make sure he/she doesn't overheat in the snow suits. They are incredibly warm . But walk and for as long as you are happy too . As pp have said previously, in Scandinavia they have babies out in - temps all the time

I have Norwegian family. They go out as normal with babies well wrapped in prams no matter what the weather. If they had to stay in until babies were older they would never go anywhere. It often gets down to minus 20c, but they still go out.

Only one extra layer to what you are wearing to clarify

Yes, just wrap up very warm. I wouldn't use a sling when it's really icy, too easy to slip over and hurt them.

I had a Finnish friend who hung a cradle in a tree in the garden for her baby to sleep in during the day. All weathers. He turned out very healthy!

If you decide to use a sling as many are suggesting, please make sure you check the minimum weight for the sling you have.

DD was a small baby (very long and skinny) and didn’t reach the safe weight for the Close Caboo until she was 3 months. I only thought to check this info when I realised that DD didn't seem quite right one day out on a walk.

Where I am in the North of England at the moment the pavements and non-gritted country roads are sheet ice in many places. In these conditions I'd choose to use the pram over the sling anyway as you do not want to slip on ice with baby strapped to you.

@stonecoldhippo

I had a Finnish friend who hung a cradle in a tree in the garden for her baby to sleep in during the day. All weathers. He turned out very healthy!

I’m due soon and am planning on doing this too!

Definitely no hot water bottle!
Other than that - yes take her out. She'll be nice and cosy in her snow suit.
If you're worried check how warm her chest is regularly. I'm not sure you'll need lots of blankets. These snowsuits are pretty good.

Pop the rain cover over the park if it’s bitter and you’re going out for a long walk, to avoid chapped cheeks. But otherwise, so long as LO has layers, they should be fine.

@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.

An hour is NOT too long.

Or do you think everyone in cold countries just stays inside for half the year?

Also, I could be way off the mark here, but this “man wants woman with baby to stay at home” is raising a tiny little red flag with me.

OP, stay alert to what else he might not want you doing. I hope I’m wrong, but this feels like the start of a slippery slope.

Yes - DD was a winter baby and spent lots of time outside, including sleeping in garden in pram and on walks. If you want to use a sling and it’s icy, consider using a walking pole as well.

I always used stretchy slings for my newborns as they're really warm and snuggly and can be used from birth. You need to make sure you're using it properly though, there are good videos on YouTube if you're not confident. I walked around for hours with tiny babies inside my oversized coat with just a little head poking out. It was the only thing that kept me sane.

To be honest, I'd be more worried about overheating than getting too cold! There is a definite tendency in this country to overdress babies for cold weather - I've been guilty of this too and ended up with a baby dripping with sweat!

Getting out during the day will help with their circadian rhythm and sleep. Layer up! Hats, gloves, vest, onesie, pram suit etc. But not too warm obviously. Cheeks will feel chilly but it’s okay. Walking will help you feel better and be good for baby, we do a walk everyday no matter the weather.

It's been below freezing here in the mornings and I've been taking my 1 month old out. Just make sure they're well wrapped up.