Immediately after birth, nurses cover newborns’ heads with these precious knit hats. But once babies leave the hospital, they don’t always need to wear a hat.
That’s because their body temperature helps regulate their own temperature. If you put a hat on them, you may be elevating their temperature too much and increasing their risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Warmth
During the winter, babies lose up to one-third of their body temperature through their heads. So they need a hat to keep them warm.
The best baby newborn hats are soft, stretchable and made of high-quality material that provides warmth to the head. They also have a cute design that makes your baby look adorable.
Newborn hats are an essential part of a new baby’s coming-home outfit, newborn photoshoot outfit and overall early wardrobe. They’re a must-have for sweet pictures and are also perfect for your little one’s first outings outside.
However, they should not be worn in bed as babies can overheat due to their small size and cannot regulate their body temperatures. The hat can also fall off and cover their face while they sleep, which is a choking and suffocation hazard.
Smell
Besides the scent of the vernix that covers your baby’s skin during birth, there are other reasons why newborn babies smell so good. Among other things, the vernix lubricates your baby’s skin and helps it adjust to life outside of the womb.
When a new mother smells her baby’s scent, it triggers certain bonding responses in her brain. This can help speed up the birth process itself by triggering oxytocin and making your uterus contract to safely expel the placenta.
To explore the sensory impact of neonate odors on human sensitivity, we conducted an experimental study with young adults. We evaluated an artificial odor mixture mimicking the mean odor composition of neonates’ head odors within an hour of birth, that of babies 2 or 3 days after birth and amniotic fluid.
Bonding
One of the most important aspects of bonding with a baby is contact. That includes touch, as well as olfactory stimuli.
The tops of babies’ heads are biologically engineered to release a pheromone-filled perfume that triggers certain bonding responses in the mother. In addition, the smell of newborns helps birthing mums pass their placenta faster because it releases oxytocin, which can make labor easier to progress.
It’s also important to choose skin-to-skin contact with your newborn immediately after birth. That’s when your body floods with love because of the oxytocin released in your system.
You might think that putting a hat on your newborn will help keep them warm, but the truth is that studies show that hats actually can do more harm than good for newborns. Plus, they may be uncomfortable and obstruct the bonding process.
Comfort
Keeping your baby’s head warm is one of the most important things you can do for them. Hats are a great way to do this. They can help your baby stay warm in cold weather and protect their little heads from the sun.
Often, hats for babies are made from soft fabrics that will fit their heads properly. They also come in a variety of colors and designs.
Newborn hats are a must-have for your little one’s first wardrobe. They are also a great accessory for those first family photos.
Newborns are very small and lose heat through their heads, so a hat is a great way to keep their little heads warm. It’s also a good idea to buy a newborn hat that will grow with your child, as a newborn hat can last for years to come.