Taking a newborn out in winter

[Rnm62]

Hi,

Due with my second this November.

It will be his brothers 1st birthday a few days later and we were thinking of going for a day out to Chester Zoo and would like to take his little brother with us as a nice family of 4 day out.

Would it be a problem to be out for a whole day in the cold weather? We’d obviously make sure the babies wrapped up warm.

We didn’t go out much last winter with our first with covid, strict lockdown in our area etc. Just wondering what the general recommendations are.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I think Chester zoo a few days after giving birth would be very hard on your body to be honest. Maybe something like a safari park would be easier as your in the car and can control temp?

Absolutely fine for baby. Fresh air will do them good.

Agree with PP that it may be a bit much for you.

I wouldn't be wandering around a zoo a few days after giving birth. I could barely walk when I had mine, took a few weeks to be able to stride properly.was a kind of shuffle.

Your DS will only be 1, he'll get very little from the zoo.

You'll have newborn which to be fair, will be fairly easy to cart about.

But... why bother putting yourself through that?

Do you really want to drag your aching backside around a Zoo in the freezing cold a few days after having a baby??
I think that's madness. Neither of your kids will even remember the day nor indeed may not even be awake!
Stay in the warm and have a nice day at home or have a lunch out somewhere close to home.

I wouldn’t OP, no. Babies are so vulnerable to infection in those early days, and it won’t be good for your body either.

Baby should be ok, assuming no other conditions, but a 1 year old isn't going to get a great deal out of a zoo trip and I certainly couldn't have don't that so soon post birth xx

Yes of course it’s fine! But I wouldn’t bother taking a 1 year old the zoo with a newborn. Waste of money!

Chester zoo is pretty big (not sure if you've been before?) and I also wouldn't have fancied wandering around a few days post birth (appreciate with a one year old you have a much more recent birth experience than me!) What about a day out at a nice farm? Less walking for you (and more of a chance to sit nearby in a nice cafe to feed baby/have a cuppa if you do feel you need a rest), your older one will get to feed animals etc...

I get the point, I’m mad I suppose a 1st birthday is more for the parents enjoyment than the baby as he won’t remember it at all, and like a pp said, that’s if he’s even awake! I guess I just wanted the 4 of us to do a little something on the day as a family and take some nice pictures to look back on whether it’s an aquarium/zoo etc.

@Blueberryblueberry

Chester zoo is pretty big (not sure if you've been before?) and I also wouldn't have fancied wandering around a few days post birth (appreciate with a one year old you have a much more recent birth experience than me!) What about a day out at a nice farm? Less walking for you (and more of a chance to sit nearby in a nice cafe to feed baby/have a cuppa if you do feel you need a rest), your older one will get to feed animals etc...

That sounds like a nice idea x

This is the last thing I'd want to do only days post-birth, with a tiny new born, and a young toddler who may well be confused or upset by the new baby's recent arrival.

And actually, very young babies (few days' old) do get cold quite easily and I don't think it would be wise to take one out for a whole day in the middle of winter. Once they're a few weeks old and have accumulated a bit of fat they are much better insulated

@Blueberryblueberry

Chester zoo is pretty big (not sure if you've been before?) and I also wouldn't have fancied wandering around a few days post birth (appreciate with a one year old you have a much more recent birth experience than me!) What about a day out at a nice farm? Less walking for you (and more of a chance to sit nearby in a nice cafe to feed baby/have a cuppa if you do feel you need a rest), your older one will get to feed animals etc...

And yeah I’ve been there before, but a long time ago, it’s only half an hour drive from my house x

Rnm62

Why not walk to a nice local coffee shop, sit in the warm for a bit and take a picture of your 1 year old with a birthday cupcake

Yes you're mad but you know it!
What if the baby is overdue?

Honestly do something very easy on yourself and the little ones, stopping for feeds, nappy changes etc could all be challenging.

I'd do something magical at home or nearby. Create a toys picnic or safari for your 1 year old, you can take pictures of that and use props if you want.

As you're close to the zoo save it for when they're a bit bigger and will actually enjoy it (and not in the winter!).

Find a nice little farm park instead. We went to a lovely one for DDs first. Took less than 2hrs to look around and that was more than enough for her and would be fine for a newborn. We did the zoo for her second.

I found it easier to take babies out in the winter than the summer.
Wrap them up, including the all-in-one coat (we've always called them snowsuits?)
Hat and hood and gloves.
Tuck them up in pram/pushchair with blankets.

It's summer which is a problem, keeping them cool and out of the sun!