How babies’ first walks should be

From a very young age, the baby benefits from small walks and activities in parks and fields. You just need to be careful when choosing and the duration of the program so as not to disrupt the routine of the little one. Check out the top tips!

Best destinations
Until the third month, not all tours are released. “At this stage, the baby has not yet taken the main vaccines and it is better to avoid closed places with agglomerations, such as supermarkets, malls, restaurants and churches”, advises pediatrician Anete Colucci, from the Federal University of São Paulo.

Respiratory diseases are the biggest threats of the period. “In a newborn, any flu transmitted by an adult is easily complicated and can quickly evolve into pneumonia”, warns pediatrician Maria Esther Ceccon, head of the neonatal ICU at the Instituto da Criança in São Paulo.

Parks and the home of close relatives end up being good choices for these first outings. Gradually, from the third month onwards, you can expand the range of options, including a trip to a cultural center or a friend’s house and so on. By the sixth month, your puppy will already be accompanying the family on most programs and on short trips.

bag stuffed
Unless you go to the square on the corner of your house, on all walks it is important to carry a kit with the essentials for feeding the baby and cleaning him. To avoid unforeseen events, make sure that the tour bag contains:

– portable changing table;
– disposable diapers;
– wet wipes;
– ointment for diaper rash;
– a complete change of clothes;
– bottle (if not breastfeeding);
– bib;
– cotton diapers;
– one or two of the child’s favorite toys.

guaranteed comfort
Whenever possible, choose to go out during periods of the day when the temperature is mild and make sure that the child does not get cold. “The guideline is to wear one more piece than what adults are wearing. But, if the baby’s hands or feet are cold, it is necessary to reinforce the coat”, teaches the doctor. On low temperature days, cover it with a blanket or sheet.

On walks outside, avoid direct sunlight hitting the child and, if the stroller is reversible, turn the baby so that he can look at it. Already between 4 and 7 months, the ideal is to alternate positions, allowing her to explore the environment and simultaneously reassure herself of the proximity of her parents. From the eighth month onwards, prefer to leave the stroller facing outwards so that your little explorer can better observe the surrounding landscape.

Short term

Rides of 15 or 20 minutes are the option to entertain parents and children from the child’s second week onwards. There is a reason for parsimony: newborns need 16 to 20 hours of sleep a day, in a calm and silent environment. These rest periods are key to ensuring his development.

Gradually, the duration of the tours can be extended. But always taking care not to establish constant breaks in the child’s routine. Even after 2 months, when spending more than two hours away from home, parents end up changing the times they eat, play and sleep, which for a baby has a great impact. “If this happens all the time, the child will be irritable and overstimulated”, says Esther.

During the first semester, visits to close relatives, in which the child’s usual routine can be reasonably preserved, make it possible to reconcile fun and care. “Just ask everyone to wash their hands before touching the baby. It’s simple, but effective in preventing disease transmission,” continues the doctor.

Safe shipping
From the moment you leave the maternity ward, it is essential for your child’s safety that he only travels in a car accommodated in a baby seat, installed in the back seat, facing the driver. “The lap offers a false sense of security. In an accident at 50 kilometers per hour, for example, the baby’s weight is multiplied by 50, making it almost impossible to hold it. The car seat increases the child’s chances of survival by up to 71% in the event of a collision,” says Luiza de Sá Leitão, coordinator of public policies at the NGO Criança Segura.

When choosing a car seat, make sure it is approved by Inmetro and is in accordance with the size and weight of the child. To install it, follow the instructions in the manual and check the result.