Ten Reasons to Stop What You’re Doing and Take Baby For a Walk
Updated: May 26, 2022
Top Ten Benefits of Going on a walk with Baby
Even before we become parents, we hear it over and over again: walking is good for you. Not to mention, it’s convenient and a cost-effective activity that is relatively easy to fit into any schedule. Now that baby is a part of your life, there is even more reason to lace up the sneakers, pull out the pram and head outside for a stroll with your little one. Below are our top ten reasons you should stop what you’re doing and take baby for a walk.
“Babies love nothing more than to be with you. Walking baby in a stroller is a fun way for both of you to enjoy each other’s company.”
Top Ten Reasons to Take Buba for a Walk
1- Enjoy a Little “You Time”
Babies bring lots of fulfilment and happiness into our lives. However, being a parent is also a non-stop job that can also bring stress and exhaustion along with all of the joy. Stepping out for a walk with baby can be a quick way to regain a sense of peace and clarity in an otherwise chaotic or monotonous day of parenthood. It can support your emotional wellness and is a great way to sneak a little “You Time” into your day.
2- Get to Know Your Neighborhood
Walking a neighborhood offers greater opportunity to truly get to know the community you live in. Without the car, you’re likely to wander down streets you’ve never been down, and the slower pace allows you to really take in what you come across. Who knows, you might stumble upon a playground you never knew existed – or a new favorite local café you’ll return to again and again. Bonus: you may also bump into other local parents out and about with their little ones in strollers – thus making a new friend along the way.
3- Improve Your Fitness
Walking is a light, low impact exercise that most anyone can do. For a lot of new moms, it can be hard to find the time and motivation to work on personal fitness – but walking is an easy way for busy moms to get moving and stay active. Many find it also helps the pregnancy pounds shed naturally away. Plus, as baby grows, the resistance you push around in the stroller naturally gets heavier- meaning walking with the stroller is virtually plateau resistant. Another consideration: you’re setting a great example for your little one from an early age, as getting outside and moving will help inspire your growing kiddo to be more active in their own lives.
4- Enjoy Quality Time with Baby
Babies love nothing more than to be with you. Walking baby in a stroller is a fun way for both of you to enjoy each other’s company. This is especially true when using the Looky Lou stroller mirror, which makes it easier than ever to connect with your little one while out for a walk together. Enjoy pointing out new sights and seeing your precious little one’s face as you both enjoy a little time together in nature.
5- Did Someone Say Nap Time?
Parents all over the world swear by walks to get their little ones to sleep. Something about the combination of fresh air, movement of a pram and sounds of the great outdoors seems to quickly lull babies into dreamland. It can actually keep babies asleep longer too, with a Finish study finding babies actually nap longer outdoors than indoors. Another 2004 study in the Journal of Sleep also found that spending time in nature and under sunlight helps establish good sleeping patterns for babies, which then translates to better quality sleep later in the day. Another bonus: not only will your baby’s sleep quality improve; the fresh air and activity is proven to help you sleep better as well!
6- Relieve Some Stress
Walking is known to burn off energy and stress. Having a regular walking routine can also be something to look forward to and add a sense of purpose and achievement to your day.
7- Get Social
Sometimes a stroll with your baby is a nice way to spend some quality time with your little one - but it can also be a great opportunity to spend time with a partner or catch up with friends. Meeting for a “walk and talk” is a great alternative to catching up at a home or café as it offers parents a chance to get some much-needed adult social interaction while baby is secure and happy in the stroller. Walking is also a great way to catch up with a partner at the end of a long day or on a lovely weekend morning.
8- Give Your Baby a Sensory Experience
By nature, babies are incredibly curious – and because everything is so new to them, something as simple as a stroll around the block can seem like an epic adventure to them. Getting outdoors offers baby a chance to explore and learn more about their world. The vibrant colors of flowers and trees, the feel of a cool breeze, sounds of birds chirping and dogs barking – all of these things can be incredibly stimulating to baby’s senses and bring a lot of joy to your little one.
9- Boost Baby’s Development
Fun and enjoyment aside, the sensory experience a walk outdoors offers your baby is actually fantastic for baby’s cognitive development. According to a study published in the European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research, compared to being inside, outdoor time with baby can promote early language development. Talking to your baby about the things you see and experience as you walk is a great way to enhance these benefits. Other research has shown that outdoor time can also help your little one with their gross motor skills. Additionally, if you come across other people on your walk, exchanging smiles and greetings can help baby’s social development, as it demonstrates speech patterns and social interactions with others.
10- Enjoy Nature’s Health Benefits
Getting outside in sunlight is an excellent way to get your daily dose of Vitamin D, which is critical to bone health and the facilitation of a healthy immune system. Plus, outdoor environments have been shown to improve children’s immune systems, versus harming them. Being outdoors exposes babies to microbes and other elements they wouldn’t come across indoors, making them less likely to get sick than babies without the same exposure.
At Pramglam, we’re big fans of getting outdoors for walks with your little one and we hope this list has helped convince you of the many benefits of walking with baby. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you head out with your little one. Mainly, baby’s safety and comfort should always be the number one priority. Weather appropriate clothing and a safe environment are key considerations before heading out with your little one. With these two elements in place, we believe a daily walk with your little is a great routine that will reap many rewards for both parent and child. As always, we wish you and baby many happy and connected walks together!
Ps- should you decide to “glam up your pram” by adding our stroller mirror to your walks, we’d love to hear from you! Email at info@pramglam.com or tag @pramglam on Instagram and let us know how you like to use the mirror on your walks. Truly nothing would make me happier than to hear from you!