Should You Take Your Infant Outside?

There is much debate and controversy involved in the topic of allowing infants to be in the open air. Some people say that it is good for the child to get away from air conditioned and "processed" air. Other people say that it exposes them to too many airborne substances. The choice is yours on whether or not to allow your infant out in the open air; however, you should know all the facts before making your decision.

Allowing your child to breathe clean, pure air is essential to her health. Allowing her to be outside may expose her to things like smoke, pollution, and allergy causing bacteria. Because the outdoors is such a vast area, there is no way to stop this exposure. Another downfall to taking your infant outside is the temperature of the air. Throughout most of the year the air is at an uncomfortable temperature. It is often too hot or too cold for your infant to be outdoors for extended periods of time. Taking your child outside in the late fall and early winter can cause your child to become ill. In the spring there is so much pollen that you are likely to notice the symptoms of allergies if you take your child outdoors in this season. In the summer months, it is very hot, which can cause your child to overheat.

Going outside is not all bad though. Taking your child outside is a great way to help her develop a sense of surrounding, and can introduce new and exciting things to her. Outdoor parks were built with children in mind. Being outdoors for part of the day also can help your infant sleep better at night. If your child is inside too often, she will never get any fresh air or sunlight which is very important in your child's skin care, growth, and development. Being outdoors also give your child more room to play and run, which can help her maintain a healthy body weight and strengthen her body. Staying indoors means that your infant is likely to only receive air that has gone through an air-conditioning unit, or a heating unit. Air like that is often full of dust and harmful particles.

As you can see, there are pros and cons to allowing your child to be outdoors. You may be worried about the condition of the air she will breathe, and the other dangerous things she might be exposed too. However, you may believe that the benefits of allowing your infant to be outdoors greatly outweigh the downfalls. Whatever your opinion may be, you now have more information on which you base your decision.