Is getting out in the fresh air also very important in cold weather?

When it's cold we mustn't let ourselves be discouraged or lazy or even worse, block ourselves at home for fear of "catching the flu"... So green light for daily outings with a pram or stroller, provided you choose the right times, places and clothes to be outdoors.

Autumn is a great season for taking walks in the park if there is one near the house, or for spending a few hours in the gardens; nature is all an explosion of color, from yellows to reds, to greens in many wonderful shades. The sun warms less but it is always lively and if you walk in the late afternoon and the weather is good it is still possible to witness spectacular sunsets. Even winter gives us beautiful sunny days from time to time, even if for a few limited hours during the day because it gets dark early, but we can still enjoy the benefits of the most beautiful natural light.

a Going out into the open air allows the child to discover lights, colours, noises and stimulate his learning, as well as breathe fresh air; the sun's ultraviolet rays also stimulate the body's production of vitamin D, also called antirachitic, which is essential for the absorption of calcium and proper bone development.

In addition to this, breathing pure air helps the child to strengthen the immune system, promoting better resistance to common colds during the winter months.

It is important to choose places with little traffic so that the air is more oxygen-charged, while the child will be protected from irritation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract caused by car exhaust fumes; in fact, let's not forget that when we walk on the street with the stroller, unfortunately the baby is at the same height as the toxic gases emitted by the vehicles. If we can, then, we try to avoid it.

A nice daily walk is good for the baby as the natural sunlight contributes to the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, that substance in the brain that regulates mood, sleep and appetite; at the same time it is also very good for the mother who has the opportunity to relax by moving So green light for the daily appointment with nature, with layered clothing so that the baby can be covered or uncovered depending on the temperature of the day and the activity he carries out.

If the baby is very small, we can check his well-being simply by touching his neck under his clothes or behind his shoulders: we will immediately find out if he is too hot or cold without being confused by the temperature of his little hands, which can often be cold even if the rest of the body is warm. In fact, this happens because small children have a self-regulation system that is not yet fully formed and can therefore have parts of the body at different temperatures. If the baby is already walking we will have to consider that moving around will be less cold than sitting in the stroller, and therefore we will have to adjust accordingly with the clothes and jackets to wear.

In any case, we are not mistaken if we keep ourselves as a reference, since children in good health are never "cold" or "less cold" than adults as was believed in very past times.

The only important attention is instead to be paid if the baby is really very small, within the first month of life or premature; so then he is very sensitive to the cold and if you decide to go out it is better to cover him really well or even avoid going out if the day is windy.

In fact, the wind seems to be the least suitable atmospheric event for going out with children, since together with dust, it raises many substances that are harmful to children's health.

If, on the other hand, we get caught in the rain or are forced to go out with the baby to run an errand and we have no one to leave him with for a while, just use the rain cover on the pram or stroller. We don't have to fear a little rain and once we get home it will be enough to change the baby's clothes.

Leaving the house with a stroller or pram is also good for mums or dads to keep in good physical shape: some studies carried out on a sample of mums around 35 years old, 1.65 m tall, weighing 55 kg, have shown that up to 131.67 Kcalories can be consumed per hour. For dads, considering a 35-year-old male sample 1.75 meters tall and weighing 75 kg, a caloric consumption of 175.87 Kcalories per hour can be considered (source My-personaltrainer.it).

From today, therefore, no excuses: we go for a walk every day, even if it's cold!