There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge)

by Linda Åkeson McGurk

OUTDOOR NAPPING 101 The secret of outdoor napping is to dress for the weather, as it’s not good for the baby to be too hot or too cold. Dress the baby the way you would dress yourself, and don’t double up on everything just because you’re dressing a child. Lastly, use good judgment when determining whether the weather permits outdoor napping. These tips can help get you started: • Very young babies should sleep on their backs in a stroller that has a flat bottom or a bassinet attachment. • Place the stroller near a wall and out of the wind, and make sure that the baby is protected against rain. • In the summer, make sure that the sun is not shining directly into the stroller. • Use a mosquito net to protect the baby from bugs, stray animals, and debris that may blow into the stroller. • In the winter, dress the baby in warm layers (preferably starting with woolen long underwear in very cold temperatures) and use a bunting bag. Lining the stroller with lamb’s wool helps insulate it. • Avoid over-bundling, since this can restrict airflow around the child’s face and increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. • Place a baby monitor by the stroller or crack a window, and check on the child regularly.