Sadly, summer is over and autumn has already crept up on us. We are likely to encounter some very blustery days in the upcoming months, therefore when it comes to taking your newborn baby outside in these conditions, it’s important that you dress them up right so that they are comfortable for the entire trip. Let’s look at some of the top tips to make sure your little one is kept warm in the blustery conditions:
Myth: Wind causes ear infections
Let’s start by getting a common myth out the way – having a baby out in the wind will not result in them getting an ear infection.
The location of an ear infection is found behind the ear drum and way back in the inner ear. Therefore, external exposure like wind or even water will not affect this area.
Alternatively, the risk factors to bear in mind is their age (ear infections are prominent in children aged between six months and two years old), family history, exposure to smoke and to a small effect, the use of a dummy.
Your baby will be colder than you
While it’s totally fine to head outside with your baby right away, many paediatricians advise that you keep newborns away from crowded places due to germs being prevalent in such locations. It’s best to delay that trip to a shopping centre, supermarket or a restaurant with your baby by a few months then!
Moreover, Ed Glasser, M.D., F.A.A.P., clinical associate professor of paediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, has pointed out to Fit Pregnancy And Baby: “Infants lose about 50 per cent of their heat from their heads.”
It is also important to remember that babies will cool down a lot quicker than adults. It is also harder for them to generate heat once they have lost it, therefore the need to protect them when it’s cold outside is very important.
Dress your baby in one more layer than you’re going to be wearing when venturing outside. Ensure they are wearing both thermal and waterproof layers to protect them from the weather elements, and checking that their fingers, toes, ears, nose and chin are all covered but that they can still
breathe easily. As most baby pushchairs have extra space, it is a good idea to take a blanket out with you during the colder season, just for extra protection.
Only stay outside for short periods of time with your baby when it’s cold and windy, as well as heading inside as soon as your newborn looks uncomfortable and you’re unable to shield them from the blustery conditions.
Windy weather on a baby’s skin
Unfortunately, the windy weather can cause issues to your baby’s tender skin, as the conditions run the risk of sapping precious moisture and leaving their rosy cheeks feeling leathery and wind- burned.
Always protect hands and feet, as they are prime target areas when there’s a chill in the air. You could use a snug pair of mittens and ensure their hands and feet are nice and warm.
Always keep a fresh pair of mittens or socks, just in case an original pair get wet. This will avoid skin becoming irritated and applying some baby moisturising cream as soon as you spot any of your baby’s skin which looks or feels dry.
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