Newborn hats

[Plummeting]

A great thing about my midwives is that they supply all the medical stuff that a lot of people have to purchase for their birth kits, so I don't have to worry about cord clamps and things like that. However, I really am obsessing about little newborn hats. lol Where can I find some that aren't pink or blue and that will actually fit a tiny newborn head? I'm scared to buy any anywhere, for fear they'll be huge. DD was a little baby and the "newborn" hats we bought from the store were way, way too big for a couple of weeks. I just want a few neutral colors or unbleached newborn hats for tiny heads. Where can I get them?

[Belle]

We got ours from Cascade health.

[SheBear]

http://www.preciousarrows.com/Newbor...on_p/64006.htm

http://www.birthwithlove.com/categor...Newborn-Deluxe

http://www.1cascade.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=2735

http://www.inhishands.com/html/orderbirth.html (Scroll down about 1/3 of the page...in the "Birth" section, unbleached cotton $1.35)

http://www.radiantbelly.com/baby-clo...baby-hats.html

HTH!

[treegardner]

DS wore hats from Gymboree. They have preemie ones (up to 7lbs) and newborn ones (0-3 months).

[~Kristina~]

My midwife has newborn hats for all her babies. They are Amish made and adorable!

[Gray's Mommy]

If you know someone that knits or crochets, I would ask them to make a few as a baby gift. Handmade hats are wonderful!

I am lucky since my mom is beginning to crochet & from what I understand--newborn hats are super easy to make.

[tessie]

They give you a hat for the baby to wear in the hospital? Or have I got that confused?

[Plummeting]

Tessie, I'm not sure what you're asking. We are having a home birth, but when you birth at the hospital, they put a hat on the baby ASAP and it fits. I'm looking for a good hat like that, that isn't pink or blue.

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies.

[tessie]

Originally Posted by Plummeting

Tessie, I'm not sure what you're asking. We are having a home birth, but when you birth at the hospital, they put a hat on the baby ASAP and it fits. I'm looking for a good hat like that, that isn't pink or blue.

Thanks for the suggestions, ladies.

Sorry, I got that you were having a homebirth, I was just confused about the need for a hat as they don't put hats on babies here. Shame really because I love a baby in a hat.

I have seen teeny white hats in Gap, if that's any help?

[Sijae]

hats aren't strictly necessary right away. As long as baby is skin to skin with mom a hat is more of a hinderance to bonding than any help. Once baby is away from mom a hat could be helpful but the ones they use at the hospital are useless and aren't proven to make any difference to the baby's heat because they are usually very thin polyester material (which makes them fit so well, lol). Just make sure the hats you buy are cotton, wool or fleece :-) I'd just buy a few, maybe some different sizes until you see what size your baby is.

[Eeyore35]

Originally Posted by tessie

They give you a hat for the baby to wear in the hospital? Or have I got that confused?

here, the ladies in the hospital auxiliary knit hats and booties for all the babies. In yellow, or at least my daughter's were. the booties I got when I was born (35 years ago...) are a blue green colour, (I still have them,and my daughter also wore them. )

So maybe the hospital gift shop? I think I've seen hand knit baby clothes in the gift shop here.

[MyBoysBlue]

There was a cheap little hat that came with our bith kit that we used right away when he was born. It got all icky and dirty so after DS and I had a dip in the tub, just warm water, and the blood was rinsed off and some of the vernix rubbed in we put on the little touque DH had bought DS from the Gap.

[gardenmommy]

I am knitting a few hats for my babe. Otherwise, i still have a few left from previous births.

[Bea]

Originally Posted by tessie

Sorry, I got that you were having a homebirth, I was just confused about the need for a hat as they don't put hats on babies here. Shame really because I love a baby in a hat.

I have seen teeny white hats in Gap, if that's any help?

I get confused about this one too. It's an American thing apparently.

My son was born in the States, in hospital, and they shoved a hat on his head within minutes of birth. I think it might be another odd Americanism like eye drops for neonates.

Apparently, a newborns survival here is dependant on his wearing a hat despite no one else in the vicinity wearing one. I was told by the nursing staff that he had to keep it on for at least 24 hours. I think he might have exploded or something without it. They were very worried about the hat, as was I, except I was concerned because my son was wearing a silly hat.

I have no idea how babies in other countries manage without it but somehow they struggle through.

All joking aside, if a parent wants their brand new, newborn to wear a hat as part of their outfit, baby fashion if you will, I think it's adorable but I also have a sneaking suspicion that hats for neonates are part of a non evidence based obstetric practice like so much else that happens in medicine in the USA.

[Comtessa]

Originally Posted by Bea

Apparently, a newborns survival here is dependant on his wearing a hat... I have no idea how babies in other countries manage without it but somehow they struggle through.

*giggling*

The L&D nurses did the same thing when my DD was born - it was the first thing they did to the poor child! I was clutching her to me with one arm and batting them away with the other. Oh, well - the hat was the least of my worries.

I suspect that it may have something to do with how freakin' cold the hospital L&D and PP rooms are. I birthed in May, and I seriously spent my time in the hospital dressed in sweats, two pairs of socks, and wishing I had a hat and mittens like DD. It was ridiculous. No wonder they have a policy of putting little ones under warming lamps - it's the only way anybody in that place could stay warm!!!

DD is 8 months, and I still keep a hat on her almost all the time - it's just too cold here, and it makes me feel happier to know her little melon has an extra layer. She doesn't have much hair, after all. So maybe it's just a difference based on climate??? *shrug*

FWIW, I've heard of people just cutting the top off a standard adult-size sock and plunking it on their baby's head in a pinch. It's not too terribly pretty, but it would do the trick.

[ProtoLawyer]

Mine's due in July.

No wonder hospital bills are so expensive; they keep the rooms cold enough that babies need hats, indoors, in July.

[SwanMom]

I don't think we put a hat on my nephew (born in a birth center).

[maeby]

i had my son at home in july and he wore a hat for the first 3 days. i do live above 7000 feet though so it gets a little chillier than say phoenix.

[lyshy]

I have heard that a baby loses the most heat out of their head and that was the purpose. I myself just didn't get into the habit but I know people who keep hats on their kids till they are like six months old. I got them at the hospital with my kids but ours were hand knit (and actually too small for my 8 pound babies heads)

[cathicog]

Originally Posted by Bea

I get confused about this one too. It's an American thing apparently.

My son was born in the States, in hospital, and they shoved a hat on his head within minutes of birth. I think it might be another odd Americanism like eye drops for neonates.

Yep, you are right. But it was because hospital delivery rooms are air conditioned to the max to keep the staff comfortable, and the baby get's cold quickly, since he's wet when he comes out. At a homebirth, it usually isn't necessary, since we do the opposite- make sure the room is warm, so the baby can feel comfortable...

Apparently, a newborns survival here is dependant on his wearing a hat despite no one else in the vicinity wearing one. I was told by the nursing staff that he had to keep it on for at least 24 hours. I think he might have exploded or something without it. They were very worried about the hat, as was I, except I was concerned because my son was wearing a silly hat.

Makes you wonder how nurses survive without the hats they used to have to wear in hospital!

I have no idea how babies in other countries manage without it but somehow they struggle through.

Hey, maybe we could follow thier lead, have most of our babies at home, and they won't need hats! I think you are onto something there!

All joking aside, if a parent wants their brand new, newborn to wear a hat as part of their outfit, baby fashion if you will, I think it's adorable but I also have a sneaking suspicion that hats for neonates are part of a non evidence based obstetric practice like so much else that happens in medicine in the USA.

spot on. Like i said, the hats are needed in hospital, where the air conditioning is freaking fridgid! It's no wonder most new moms get the shakes so bad! (I know, hormonal changes and all that, but it is usally worse in the hospital than the homebirths I have been at....)