When to stop putting a hat on baby inside the house?

[pjs]

DS is 4 weeks and shivers if he's not wearing a hat. A friend had her 6 wo with no hat and another friend's lo had no hat on at 10 weeks (and we were in a very cold room). My midwives told me the most important thing is keeping baby warm, but when can I ditch the hat? I want ds to stay warm, but I like seeing him without a hat on.

[springbride]

I think it depends on the baby. If your little guy is shivering, keep the hat on, or put more/warmer clothes on.
We have a few of those blanket sleep bags that zip up over clothes, I often put that on DD instead of hats/mittens etc.

[liliaceae]

We didn't have a hat on DD inside after the first couple of days.....How cold is it in your house?

[texaspeach]

Originally Posted by liliaceae

We didn't have a hat on DD inside after the first couple of days.....How cold is it in your house?

: but it was still warm here.

add another layer? ls onesie under a sleeper?

[pjs]

I keep it about 70, if I feel a chill in the air I'll turn it up a degree or two. I've had him in fleece pjs and a fleece blanket. Even if I put on another layer, should I keep the hat on (don't you lose most of your body heat through your head or is that a myth?)

[alegna]

I didn't have hats on either baby past the first day, but both of mine were summer babies in Houston. If your baby seems to need it, then follow their lead.

-Angela

[Drummer's Wife]

I dont' recall keeping a hat on their head past the first couple days, either, but we have always kept the room temp warm enough.

[katelove]

Originally Posted by pjs

I keep it about 70, if I feel a chill in the air I'll turn it up a degree or two. I've had him in fleece pjs and a fleece blanket. Even if I put on another layer, should I keep the hat on (don't you lose most of your body heat through your head or is that a myth?)

No, it's not a myth. Babies are especially prone to heat loss through their head because their head is larger, in proportion to their body than an adults. And also, because they tend to have less hair to insulate them.

[mamazee]

I didn't have a hat on either baby's head after a couple of days. But, as with all things, follow the baby's lead. If he seems cold without it, by all means keep it on.

[paxye]

We have never put hats on our babies, not even the first day... but I agree that if your baby seems to need it then keep it on...

[Friday13th]

I don't think we had a hat on DS (born at the end of December, in New England, in a house we keep at 68 when we're feeling generous) for more than a day or two after he came home. But he's a furnace, like DH. He would have died of heatstroke wearing a hat in the house. But if your baby runs cold, why not? You can always leave it off for a bit and put it back on when he seems chilly.

[elmh23]

I don't think we ever really used hats on our babies. One was born at the end of November and one at the of February (though the day my Feb. baby was born in it was 71 degrees out ) My kids tend to run hot like their dad though.

Since your baby is shivering when he doesn't have a hat on, then leave it on. He'll let you know when he doesn't want it and you can touch his skin to see if he's overheating.

[littleteapot]

Originally Posted by katelove

No, it's not a myth. Babies are especially prone to heat loss through their head because their head is larger, in proportion to their body than an adults. And also, because they tend to have less hair to insulate them.

*cough*
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/20...humanbehaviour

[melamama]

I think most people give up on hats fairly soon.

For us, I think they're important for the first year. I have several silk and silk/wool knitted ones that my 4m wears inside, then warmer wool ones for outside. (but I know even here this is unusual).

[Sk8ermaiden]

Originally Posted by paxye

We have never put hats on our babies, not even the first day... but I agree that if your baby seems to need it then keep it on...

This.

[earthmama4]

I didn't use hats much with my first three, but with DS4 we sure needed to. He was a November baby, and he just ran a little colder. He was much happier if we kept him warm, and keeping the house at 72+ and using a portable heater was not enough. He needed layers and a hat! In the Waldorf tradition of Early Childhood Education, babies wear hats for most of the first year. It is said that keeping a child warm is very important for their growth and development. If the body is fighting to maintain its core temp, that is energy that could be used for growth instead. There is more talk of the importance of warmth for babies in the book You are Your Child's First Teacher and I learned in that book the trick of feeling the baby/child's hands to check their temperature - if the hands are cold, add a hat and another layer. I also found a nursing session really warmed him up, and then the layers helped him keep that warmth.

Hats can be really cute. I loved these fitted pilot hats from Lapsaky, so comfy and DS wore them through three seasons.
http://www.lapsaky.com/shop/organic-...tton-Pilot-Hat
They have matching t-shirts too - really cute.

ETA: Hanna Andersson has their pilot caps on sale for $6 right now!
http://www.hannaandersson.com/catego...Hats%20Mittens

[dogretro]

Originally Posted by earthmama4

There is more talk of the importance of warmth for babies in the book You are Your Child's First Teacher and I learned in that book the trick of feeling the baby/child's hands to check their temperature - if the hands are cold, add a hat and another layer.

I totally disagreed w/ the author on that point! Both dd and I have naturally colder feet and hands & if I were to put on another layer b/c my hands were cold, I would pass out! DD can be running around in an undershirt, socks, jeans, long-sleeved shirt AND a sweater & still have cold hands! I go more by if her arms or legs feel chilly.

It is nice to see them w/out a hat on, but for our next one, she will be wearing a cap much more regularly than dd did. I agree w/ the "warmth to grow" thing and have gotten more long-sleeved nb onesies this time, too.

[Ldavis24]

I wouldn't sweat it majorly if your LO shivers time to bundle up but you don't need to use a hat...

DD literally would not keep a hat on from the moment she was born. You know how in the hospital they put a hat on baby right away. She screamed and screamed until it was taken off...Then the nurse put it back on and she screamed and screamed and I took it off and she stopped from then on I made it clear no hat for baby. She was fine and it was only early summer when when she was born not exactly the warmest time of the year. She also basically just lived in a diaper for the first month anyway and I have discovered she is generally warm even when I am not, she gets that from her daddy!

Oh I too have heard from my ped and midwife that hands and feet are one of hte most unreliable ways to check for warmth. You have to check their chest or back to really know. Think about it even adults hands and feed are generally cooler than the rest of your body...Just please please don't be one of those parents that over bundles their poor sweating kids! I tend to dress DD how I am dressed and add a layer if I think she is cool.

[Roxswood]

Its funny because in the UK we're pretty much told no hats indoors and definitely not if the baby is sleeping. Neither of mine have ever worn a hat really at all, even in winter outside they just didn't like it.

[liliaceae]

Yes I believe you're not supposed to keep your baby too warm at night because it's a SIDS risk.