When can I take my newborn outside?

The "wait six weeks" myth

There is no NHS guidance to keep newborns indoors for any period — the idea is folklore. Daylight exposure actually helps set your baby's day-night rhythm (one of the few levers you have over newborn sleep), and getting out is consistently linked with better postnatal mental health for parents.

Dressing for the weather

• The one-more-layer rule: dress baby in one more layer than you're comfortable wearing, and check the back of the neck (warm, not sweaty) rather than hands, which always run cold.
• In warm weather, keep baby out of direct sun entirely under six months — shade and a brimmed hat, not sunscreen, are the first line at this age.
• In cold weather, layers on top but remove padded suits and thick coats before strapping into a car seat, as bulk stops the harness fitting properly.

Crowds and germs

The sensible middle ground: outdoors freely, but ask visibly unwell people to keep their distance and wash hands before cuddles — particularly in the first eight weeks and during winter virus season.