Too often I see parents rugged up on cold days wearing scarves, hats and boots; yet their baby’s heads are uncovered and their little toes are bare! At the sunny end of the spectrum are the uncovered bundles of joy, whose parents wear sunglasses and a hat to protect themselves.
I'd like to run up to these parents and carers with a razor and shave their heads and take their hats and sunnies, so they can experience the extremes of temperatures and get a taste of their own medicine. They remember to dress themselves according to weather conditions, why are they so ignorant when considering the needs of their baby?
I think babies should be wearing a hat more often than not, especially when they leave home:• If it’s sunny or glary; kind of obvious I thought; though observation seems to disprove this theory.
• When it's a cloudy day; usually this would mean there is likely to be a chill in the air, so at least take a hat with you.
• On a cold windy day; I am not seeing hats, perhaps there are ton of babies getting their hats blown off in gale force winds.
• On a cold windy day; I am not seeing hats, perhaps there are ton of babies getting their hats blown off in gale force winds.
• Inside shopping centres; the air conditioners are cold, babies don’t walk to keep warm, and contend with wind chill on the move.
• Bedtime; unless you have a hot room or excess bedding, which could be a SIDS issue in itself, most babies will lose heat while sleeping.
Babies have a small body mass, (I state the obvious, however some people obviously need it stated), they don’t maintain an even body temperature very well. It is up to their parent’s and carer’s to ensure they are dressed appropriately indoors and outdoors. Baby’s extremities lose heat quickly, so remember to carry something to cover their feet and hands as well.
Babies have a small body mass, (I state the obvious, however some people obviously need it stated), they don’t maintain an even body temperature very well. It is up to their parent’s and carer’s to ensure they are dressed appropriately indoors and outdoors. Baby’s extremities lose heat quickly, so remember to carry something to cover their feet and hands as well.
If you are a parent or carer who pops your baby in a stroller then covers it up with muslin or something similar that screens the baby from being seen by, or seeing the world at large whenever you leave home, this will not apply; however that is a whole new topic.
* Thanks to some lovely informative feedback from schmoo, I have been reminded that babies sleeping with hats on can be a contentious issue as they can over heat and it can be a SIDS risk. May I clarify that we usually sleep in a cool room with fresh air, so I do like to have a little hat that covers my baby's ears otherwise they get cold. We also have a sound and movement monitor that we check regularly and they now come with temperature monitors as well. Babies can't regulate their temperature and are apparently at risk of overheating is what the main reason seems to be. It is for that very reason that we generally do use a hat, because as a parent, I can and do moderate my baby's temperature.
schmoo has provided these links for further reading for anyone who is concerned about whether or not they should have a hat on their baby when sleeping.
Guideline NSW Health: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and safe sleeping for infants (2005)
Sids And Kids - Kids Safe Sleeping
SaveOurSleep - Tizzie Hall (The International Baby Whisperer)
Nationwide Children's Hospital - SIDS Reduction
SIDS Canada - Over Heating
Great reading so you can make an informed decision to suit your needs, I would also suggest discussing it with your local maternity ward and health or community nurses if you are concerned.
Don't put your baby down to sleep or leave your baby unattended with any hats, bibs or other clothing items that has ties or cords on it. To do so puts your baby at risk of strangulation and/or suffocation.
©Luisa Foliaki – Proud Mumma of MicroMe & MissyMe
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