out & about - coles baby club

At first you may feel the urge to keep baby home, protected from everything and everyone. But when it’s time to venture out, you’ll need to be prepared.

In baby’s bag

Keep a baby bag packed with your baby’s needs. Your baby bag might contain:

• two or three nappies and a nappy sack
• baby wipes and a small bottle of lotion
• a change of clothes and a plastic bag for the soiled ones
• a cup and a few snacks – sultanas, cheese sticks
• a couple of small books
• sun lotion, insect repellent, adhesive plasters and antiseptic.

What to dress baby in

Choose clothes suitable for the time of year. A good rule of thumb is to check how many layers of clothing you are wearing – babies are just like us when it comes to body heat and temperature.

In hot weather

Remove clothing but protect from direct sun exposure. Babies are prone to heat rash and sunburn, so keep them out of the sun. Give him lots of fluids, dress in lightweight, light coloured clothing and use a 15 SPF or higher sunscreen. (Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under six months of age, so protect younger infants by keeping them out of the direct sun.) Cottons that breathe tend to be better in warm weather.

In cold weather

Protect baby’s skin and body from the cold. Heat from a baby’s body tends to escape from the head, so a warm hat is necessary. Offer plenty of fluids and food prior to venturing out in the cold.

On the move

Safe and snug

If you prefer to keep your hands free, you can pop your baby in a baby sling, or papoose, until he is about six months old. He will find your body movement and warmth soothing. From around four months, you can carry baby in a backpack. Made of strong material and with steep supports, backpacks can hold even quite heavy toddlers.

Prams and strollers

Even tiny babies must be properly strapped into a lie-back stroller. From about two months, put your baby in a harness in a pram or fully reclined stroller. Even before he can sit up, he could pull himself up by the sides and fall out. Always make sure the brake is on correctly before you leave any pram or stroller.

In the car

It is important to plan ahead when buying a car seat for your baby. Make sure it is properly fitted to your car.

ALWAYS secure baby in a properly fastened child restraint suitable for his age. Never let him sleep on the seat. Never travel with baby on your lap, even to feed him. Never tie dummies, toys or other items to baby’s clothing or to car restraints. It is illegal to travel in a car in Australia without using a safety restraint for your baby or child.

NEVER leave your child unattended in a car. In warm weather cars heat up very fast and he can suffer potentially fatal heat stroke.