The simple answer is no; a healthy newborn does not need to wear a hat after birth. Historically putting a hat on a newborn was seen as standard practice in hospital however many hospital are no longer putting hats on babies.
Why are hats no longer seen as necessary for a newborn?
- It’s a common misconception that we lose most of our body heat through our heads.
- Babies do not need to wear a hat to keep them warm. In fact, it’s possible that a baby is at risk of overheating if wearing a hat inside, especially in the hospital where temperatures are often warmer than at home. Skin to skin will keep baby at the optimal temperature; your body is amazing and will warm or cool to help regulate baby’s temperature.
- It masks that amazing newborn smell which reduces the amount of oxytocin that you produce. Oxytocin is the hormone that aids bonding and speeds up the separation of the placenta away from the uterus so the more of it you produce the better!
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