Walking is great for you – and your baby

You’ve probably heard the praises of walking being sung many times over the years now. It’s wonderful for physical health and is good for breaking up a long day.  

Aside from the physical benefits, there are many reasons why going for a walk is great. Not just for you, but for your baby, too! 

Walking is a sensory experience 

A trip out in the pram is an opportunity for your baby to experience different sights, sounds and smells. Walks to both new and familiar places are a fantastic way for your baby to take in the world around them.  

Quality time together 

For you and your baby, a walk can be a bonding experience. Taking the time to explore places together, just the two of you, can make you feel closer. You can use what you see to start conversations with your baby – even if they aren’t quite ready to say anything back yet! 

Spending time in the daylight can help your baby sleep 

A 2004 study in the Journal of Sleep found that babies who spent more time in daylight during the early afternoon slept for longer periods at night, and had less interrupted sleep.  

Reference:

Harrison, Y. (2004). ‘The relationship between daytime exposure to light and night-time sleep in 6–12-week-old infants’. Journal of Sleep 13(4):345-52. Available online: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2004.00435.x