Taking newborns out in winter

[Amyjay19]

I’m after some advice about taking a newborn out in winter, I’m currently pregnant due at the end of November and not very clued up on everything yet as this is my first baby!
im single and going to be doing it all alone the only thing concerning me is I have a big dog who needs walking at least 2/3 times a day as we live in a flat and no one to really help me obviously I can’t just not walk him but I’m worried about taking the baby out in cold weather! Obviously I’d wrap them up warm and wouldn’t be out longer than necessary, I just wanted to know if it was okay and how to make the experience as easy and safe as possible for baby! Thankyou 😊

Sling and baby wearing coat. If you have a c section or birth injuries you will need to make alternative arrangements for dog walking.

DD was a nice member baby - just wrap them up for warmth, no exposed hands and they usually slept well!

Not sure how you juggle the pram and dog, with stairs, but you’ll work it out. Maybe a sling to start with have a look at the sling coats you can consequently the baby in.

Hi I had the same issue. A well fitting sling & waterproof fleece lined snow suit meant we could go out in any weather. When my son was older he went in a baby carrier on my back.

What they said!

I have a November baby too, everyone raved about the star wraps but I just found them annoying for the newborn stage - waaaaay too big. I did have a really good car seat blanket which was brilliant but not really what you’re asking!

I would just sling and make sure you have a big coat you can do up around the baby for a dog walk!

I have November and December babies. Put them in a sling. Tucked them inside my coat and put a hat in them. Always toasty

I'd go for a sling, and a very big coat that fits round both of you, then a little hat on cold days. Your body heat keeps baby toasty, and no lugging pram up and down stairs.

congratulations OP!

My DS was January- we did go out every day after the first couple of weeks of newborn chaos, wrap them up warm and they will be fine. My friend used to put her DDs outside in the pram to sleep for their afternoon nap in winter which apparently is common in Scandinavia !

But just one thing though OP if you have a dog you might want to ask someone to walk him for the first few days after you come home with your newborn, just because you don’t know how you will be feeling and to be honest some days you won’t get the time! ( I know that sounds weird)
could you save up and pay a local dog walker maybe? Or a trusted neighbour’s teenager who might want to earn a few pounds?

Also here to recommend a sling!

Even in the depths of winter, we got on fine with baby in: indoor clothes, cardi/jumper, warm booties, in a sling, inside your coat (a specialist one might be worth it, or an oversized fleece, a zip us in panel, or a sling cover), and a warm hat for baby. As a bonus, you keep lovely and warm yourself!

Mine are December and January. Completely agree about babywearing. A big coat was the answer for us. I had 2 c-sections so wasn’t up to carrying until about 6 weeks, but actually in the winter it’s nice not to have to go out some days. We have three dogs and there were a few days when they didn’t go for walks but we have a good sized garden. If you have a big dog in a flat I would seriously recommend finding a good dog walker now, partly in case you have a c-section and partly because it can be really difficult to coordinate getting out in those first few weeks and it would be good to have a backup plan. And congratulations!

Definitely get a sling, and one of those leads that goes round your waist, that's good for when you've got the pram.

Follow Athena Mellor or Instagram, you will see it is all possible and how to do it/how to layer up your baby etc - very useful.

I would 100% get a dog walker for the first two weeks because you just don't know how you will feel after and you don't want to be scrambling for help if you do need it.

I'm sure you'll be fine though ☺️

I had a Jan baby, my coat wasn't big enough to go round sling but I loved this little sleeping bag thing I got off Amazon that zipped over baby. Was super and snug.

This type thing

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/SONARIN-Seasons-Weather-Windproof-Waterproof/dp/B07LBLHJR9/ref=mpssa1112?crid=1ZGQKNB4WW2YP&keywords=baby+cover+sling&qid=1659291518&sprefix=baby+cover+sling+%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-12

It's totally fine. If they are in a sling under your coat then they won't need a coat of their own just a cardigan and a hat. If they will be in a carrycot pushchair, then an all in one pramsuit, hat and blanket (spare one underneath to add if needed).

Dressed properly there is no issue. Both my children were born in February when the temps were around -20c and I was out and about with them as soon as out of the hospital, youngest was napping outside from two weeks old.

Dress in layers and pay attention to feet, hands and head. Make sure they are properly covered, hat that covers ears (we used a baby balaclava), woolly socks and mittens. A sleeping bag/pram liner.

How do you think people with babies do school run etc? It’s fine to take a baby out in winter normal to go out several times a day with a baby

Baby wearing coats are fab, but I used a large mans coat just fine. Having plans for kennaling the dog for the first couple of weeks post partum.

What they ^all said.
Sling, big jacket, or the cover that a pp has posted, hat, gloves socks on baby and off you go. Plus try to get a dog Walker for a couple of weeks because you just might not feel like traipsing out, but sort the dog Walker sooner, they will have to meet your dog, make sure they get on and you like them and trust them before you will just let them out with your dog.
Plus they get booked up.
congratulations.

The cinnamon trust is a charity that helps people with pets if they cannot mange them for a while. They have volunteers all over and may be able to help you with walking for a while if you cant.

Hi Thankyou all for your responses you have helped put my mind at ease, I understand the comments about dog walkers/kennels but he’s never been in kennels before and I know it sounds silly but the dog was my baby first and I don’t trust anyone else to take care of him and I think it’s cruel to take him away from his home and then come back to a new baby being there.. I’d like to make the transition as easy as possible for everyone.
it’s a shame I don’t have a garden for him but with the current housing situation this flat was the best I could do without us all ending up homeless so I have to make the best of the situation I’ve been given.
I’ll definitely look into someone helping me with walking him but there isn’t any dog walkers I trust round here, I don’t have much family but I’m sure I will sort it all out, as long as baby will be safe and happy that’s my main concern.

Not about the temperature but I have never walked so much as I did when my babies were tiny (under 3 months). Neither really napped unless I was walking with them in the sling so I just walked and walked and walked. It was lovely actually. Your dog may have the best few months of his little life!! :-)

I had a sling but it wasn't great (DD is now 16, they have improved vastly since then!) - I used to use that mostly in the house. DD was a December baby.

We were out and about daily with DD in the pram and me walking. I used to walk down to the town, have a coffee and feed her, and depending on the weather/my tiredness/her crankiness, either walk back up the hill or get the bus. I actually wore out 2 sets of tyres on that buggy (Quinny Buzz) as the main walking buggy, (and we had a Quinny Zapp from about 8 months as an easily foldable one for travelling). Replaced them once, and gave it to another family member for their own imminent arrival needing tyre replacement (DH did, and FM was very happy to replace tyres in return for good multi-system including car seat).

Things I found really useful were a good snowsuit as an outer layer, lots of hats and gloves, and backpack style changing bag. And blanket for the pram that you could use if really cold but leave aside if warmer and snowsuit is sufficient.

Also, some form of cover in case of rain. I don't know about the coats, how good they are, if you are using a sling. But a decent cover for the pram and a proper raincoat for you are invaluable in being able to get out daily for fresh air and a change from the same 4 walls in those early weeks/months. And decent shoes for yourself as well that don't leak.

Thankyou for your advice!
Definitely I think it will do us all good to be out an about an active especially being alone I want to reduce my risk of developing PND I think a sling is going to be my best option for dog walking and obviously the pram when we go out alone, I’m sure he will love his life when we’re out all the time too it’s only short term until I find another suitable accommodation with a garden but for now it will have to do :(

It’s nice to hear so many people with positive experiences who enjoyed being out a lot with the babies as I know so many people end up staying home and never going out once they have a baby, obviously everyone has their own ways of dealing with motherhood but I think it is best to keep active

I always put my baby in normal clothes with a cardigan, hat and an additional pair of socks. I then used a stretchy wrap (3 additional layers) and put my winter coat around both of us. They were toasty!

Sling and if you can, invest in a good baby wearing coat. They are great and help stop you overheating as well as keeping baby snug. You'll be fine. We've got 2 dogs and my husband works long days. I walked ours twice a day every day from when she was about a week old with no issue other than being tired (but you are anyway and it's good to be out). I also trained them to walk well with the buggy so that was an option too. We were out for hours every day.

It would be worth getting a dog walker in for the first week as even if everything goes smoothly you will likely be tired/emotional and not having to worry about dog walks would be a great help while you adjust. You've also then got that as back up in case it ends up taking you longer to recover from the birth than you hope. Hope for the best but plan for the worst!

Our dogs were my saviour when I was on mat leave. I found it really hard but their routine kept me sane.

@MGee123 thankyou so much for your advice it’s so encouraging to hear other people have managed taking care of a new baby but not forgetting about our babies that came first.. I’m going to do some research on the best slings and look into the coats too!
I can finally relax and look forward to this new journey