Have you ever experienced feeling better after getting outside? How do you feel when you see the sunrise or sunset? You may not love the outdoors like I do. Camping (glamping) and hiking year round? Yes, please! But that doesn't mean your baby won't benefit from getting outside. The impact of simply stepping outside with a fussy baby can be incredible. Here are some of the benefits of getting a baby (0-12 months) outside and my best tips for making it happen, regardless of the weather. The quote attributed to Alfred Wainwright is “There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” Interestingly enough, in Scandanavian countries it's common for babies to nap outside...year round.
Sensory stimulation. Nearly all of the sights, sounds, smells and textures inside are artificial. Living in a city, you will get that to a certain extent, but you'll also get a ton of natural light, sounds and smells creating an appropriate sensory experience for your baby. Not too much, not to little. Now, we do live in an increasingly artificial world, even outside, but being outside is still better than inside, especially for our little ones with that fresh nervous system.
Eye development. When we are inside, our eyes never have to look beyond about 20 feet. When we get outside, we have to look much, much further using different muscles in our eyes and actually allowing parts of them to actually relax and be used differently.
Vitamin D conversion. It's understood that the amount of vitamin d we get is often not enough, especially when you're as far north as Canada. I've written specifically on the deficiency in Canada here. Our children are no different. Getting them outside at any age will improve their vitamin D levels and thus, their health. And they don't have to be directly in the sun to get the benefits. Simply getting sun exposure to the eyes, even while being in the shade, may also improve vitamin D levels. Of course, you will also increase your vitamin D levels when you have some skin exposed in the sun.
Varied terrains. It was only recently that humans started walking on hard, flat surfaces. Getting outside allows children to explore a wider variety of terrains and textures which will improve proprioception, strength and coordination. Allow your little one to crawl and explore as many different terrains as possible. This is even beneficial if you are carrying them while you are going up or down hill (or spinning or going sideways or backwards). The crystals in their ears will notice and adapt to the change of motion.
A less sterile environment. Children should be exposed to dirt. All humans benefit from a non-sterile environment. Their immune systems are designed to respond to a variety of different things in the environment and the first two years of life is when a child immune system is really getting regulated to the world.
Improved sleep regulation. Infants aren't born with a circadian rhythm. It is developed through breast milk (melatonin levels in breast milk changes through the day and night) and exposure to sunlight. When we're outside, our eyes take in the time of day thorugh the amount of sunlight we are exposed to. The sunlight changes throughout the day giving our eyes, and thus brain, different information in the morning and evening. Getting outside during sunrise and again during sunset can be very helpful in regulating the circadian rhythm from birth. Screens (even indirectly) and indoor lighting throws this off.
My favorite way to get outside with baby is to put them in the carrier and get our for a walk! No matter the weather. Dress for it. Get a coat that you can wear over your baby and the carrier. Even just a walk around the block a few times a day will help both you and your baby. A bassinet attachment for the stroller is also an options, but I much prefer wearing baby. The carriers that worked best for me to wear under my coat were the Baby K'tan (be mindful it is sold by sizes) and ErgoBaby Embrace. Both can often be found secondhand.
If it's nice out, get in the grass. Lay a blanket down, bring a book and enjoy being outside. Seek shade, if needed.
Find a beach, play in the sand and go swimming.
Practice crawling up stairs, hanging and swinging at the park.
Take a nap! Outdoor stroller or baby carrier naps are amazing. Just be mindful of the temperature in the stroller because it can get hot if the weather is warm.
A great book for more info on this topic is Angela Hascome's Balanced and Barefoot.