hats off to warmth for babies

Mixed reviews are often interesting to me. Whether in response to our decision to homeschool, or to the welcoming of our FIVE beautiful children or to some of the smaller details of our life, I am often intrigued about the 'why' and 'where' people's questions come from.

In terms of the smaller details of life, one of the more frequent questions I am asked is why my baby is always (well, almost always) wearing hats.

Some, like my Nana, are beyond pleased by the fact that my infant Cecelia is perpetually donning her bonnet. She is 94 and must know from old-time wisdom that babies should be dressed in layers with bonnets and booties and the whole-nine-yard regardless of the season (hats aren't just for winter).

Others seem to ask why and wonder whether she is too hot with her head covered. These well-intentioned observers seem to ask with a mixture of intrigue and skepticism and are always met with a simple and confident answer.

Babies ought to be wearing hats.

One point that Susan Johnson, MD makes in regard to keeping our children warm is that-

“Warmth is probably one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, not only the warmth of love, but the physical warmth of their bodies.  Children are developing their bodies especially during the first seven years of their lives.  An infant or a young child will always feel warm unless they are on the verge of hypothermia because they have an accelerated metabolic rate.  If we don’t provide them with the layers of cotton and wool to insulate their bodies, then they must use some of their potential “growth” energy to heat their bodies.  This same energy would be better utilized in further developing their brain, heart, liver, lungs and other organs.”

 And just think of a small baby with all of that body heat leaving them through their heads! I truly do attempt to live my life judge-free of others and often strive to give others the 'benefit of the doubt', but I have to admit to cringing a bit when I see small children and babies being brought into air-conditioned stores or out in breezy, cool weather with little more that a romper on and a bare head.

Of course I just had to share a few photos of Cecelia this spring in some of her many hats. We have wool, cotton, wool-silk and some blends for her to enjoy. Seeing her in these hats makes me feel warm inside knowing that her sense of warmth is being protected.