Newborn hospital hats help infants conserve heat and regulate body temperature. As hospital temperatures are much lower than temperatures inside the womb, infant caps are instrumental in helping babies adjust to a sudden drop in temperature.
When babies are born, they come out of a warm, cozy environment – the womb – and into one that can be downright chilly. That's why nurses immediately cover their tiny heads with those precious knit hats. But after your newborn leaves the hospital, they don't need to wear a hat all the time, unless it's cold outside.
The advice includes the importance of keeping windows closed in the delivery room; ensuring babies wear a hat and skin to skin contact.
Healthy term newborns do not need a hat after delivery.
The hats, made from soft baby wool are red, amber or green: Red hats are for babies who are more at risk, potentially because of infection and as such need more regular neonatal observations. Amber hats are for babies who may require a little more attention because they were born prematurely or low birth weight.
Unable to regulate their temperatures, they are vulnerable to hypothermia and even death. Fortunately, you can help. Tiny hats are an easy solution; they give tiny babies a fighting chance!
All new babies will wear either a red, orange or green hat, making it easy for midwives to see how long each baby needs to wear a hat for – just like a traffic light system. Green hats are put on babies that are born healthy and are a good weight. Babies with green hats keep them on for six hours.
It's a common misconception that newborn babies need to wear hats to stay warm (right after birth). In fact, there is no need to rely on hats to keep your baby warm, because you will be keeping your baby warm.
Newborn Swaddles or Gowns
Most hospitals prefer to dress babies simply, either in just a diaper and swaddled in a flannel blanket, or in a side-snap bodysuit or basic gown.
Babies lose excess heat through their heads, so make sure their heads cannot be covered by bedclothes, slings or carriers while they're asleep. Remove hats and extra clothing as soon as you come indoors or enter a warm car, bus or train, even if it means waking your baby.
Swaddling can be very helpful in the first days and weeks of life. However, it should be discontinued once the baby is actively trying to flip from back to front, which can happen as early as 6-8 weeks of age. “Actually, the goal should be to swaddle as little as possible,” says Dr. Srinivas.
Leaving the Hospital
Babies are often overdressed for the first trip home. Dress your baby as you would dress yourself. So, if you'd be too warm in a knitted hat during the summer, your baby probably will be, too. In warm weather, dress your baby in a T-shirt and light cotton pants or a baby blanket over bare legs.
Babies don't have to be swaddled. If your baby is happy without swaddling, don't bother. Always put your baby to sleep on his back. This is true no matter what, but is especially true if he is swaddled.
However, many parents are unsure about whether or not babies should wear hats indoors. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants under 6 months old do not wear hats because they may not be able to regulate their body temperature well and could become overheated.
Although your baby's hands and face may feel cold, this may differ from their core body temperature. To give you a better idea if they are warm or cold, feel the skin on their tummy and back. Their skin should feel warm and not too hot or cold.
But the cap also became obsolete because of:
Because the fabric was difficult to wash, the caps were a breeding ground for dirt and bacteria. Comfort. As nurses began to distance themselves from the white uniform, they also realized that the cap served no practical use.
Dress your baby so that they're not too warm and not too cold, especially for sleep. Make sure they don't overheat. Choose close-fitting soft, cotton baby clothes that have a low fire danger label and no loose trimmings.
You can wear a hospital-provided gown or buy and bring your own. A birthing wrap. Also known as a rebozo or a towel wrap, this multipurpose shawl is used during labor by taking weight off you as you hold a squatting position. It's wrapped around your back while someone stands in front of you while holding the ends.
The reality, however, is that mittens are rarely needed for newborns. Bluish and cool hands and feet are normal on healthy infants, and the cool sensation of extremities likely do not bother baby at all. Plus, good early nail trimming can avoid scratches—avoiding the need for mittens altogether.
The orange hat helps the team easily identify which babies need extra care; allowing them to take timely observations, blood sugar tests and extra support to establish feeding so that mothers and babies can stay together.
The hats are handed to new parents along with an education package detailing action steps for dealing with their constantly crying infant to raise awareness about the Period of PURPLE crying - the phrase used to describe the point in a baby's life when they cry more than any other time.
Amber hats are given to those requiring a little more attention because they were born premature or have a low birth weight. These babies may need a little extra help with feeding or keeping warm.
Baby Clothing
Newborn and preemie-sized clothing is provided by nearly all NICUs, but dressing your newborn in his/her own items can make you feel more at home. Although you may not be able to clothe your infant right away, check with your nurses to know when and what you can provide.
Babies that are too cold will not exert the energy it takes to cry, and may be uninterested in feeding. Their energy is being consumed by trying to stay warm. A baby that is dangerously chilled will have cold hands and feet and even baby's chest will be cold under his or her clothes.