First Trips with a Newborn

Learning to travel with your newborn will take practice and patience. How do you decide when to go out and where to go? How far can you travel with a newborn baby? Not only does going out depend on how your baby feels, it also depends on how you feel.

Your infant is probably more ready to go out and about than you are. Not only do new mothers need time to adjust from labor and delivery, new fathers also need time to adjust to this new lifestyle. As soon as you get approval from your child's pediatrician, you can take your baby out. Keep in mind though, that the weather should be above freezing and below 80 degrees. It is important to dress your baby properly and comfortably. There is no need to overdress your baby. She probably needs one light extra layer than what you are wearing. Limit the amount of sun exposure your newborn receives-her skin is much to fragile for direct sunlight. Use a hat and stay in the shade as much as you can. New parents often worry about exposing their baby to germs when they go out. To lessen the amount of germs that your newborn is exposed to, do not allow strangers to handle your infant and keep her away from friends and family that are sick. Remind friends and family to wash their hands thoroughly before handling your baby.

Your newborn will be able to experience alot, even though she is so young. As soon as your baby is born, she can distinguish light from dark, rough from smooth and familiar voices over non familiar ones. Your baby is born with her sense of touch, smell and taste fully developed. Sight and hearing will develop during the first two years of life. Expose your baby to interesting sights and sounds to create permanent neural connections in her brain that are needed for development. Take your baby out into the world with you and watch how she notices a new sound or unfamiliar scent. Everything is new to your baby and it is your responsibility to help her develop and learn.