In the article – Can you go to sauna with a baby – I discuss all the things you should take into consideration when going to sauna with baby.
Read more: Can you go to sauna while pregnant
Are saunas safe for babies
This article focuses on whether or not you should take your baby to sauna. And if you should, how to do it right. Are there any rules of thumb for that?
About hundred years ago, 95% of all births in Finland were home births and usually mothers gave birth in the sauna. It was therefore normal for the baby to “have their first sauna” at the age of ten minutes.
Today, an average Finnish baby takes their first sauna bath at the age of 4.5 months. 12% of babies go to the sauna for the first time at the age of one month. At first, babies are kept in the sauna for less than five minutes at a time.
Babies have a large skin area in relation to their size, which allows them to warm up faster than an adult. The baby’s body temperature begins to rise as soon as you enter the steam room and stays high throughout. Baby’s body temperature does not stay constant in the sauna.
In Finland, families enjoy the sauna experience about once a week, and it is part of our tradition and culture. The new baby is included in the bathing ritual and it is all considered a natural part of the family activity. However, the baby should not stay in the sauna for more than ten minutes.
Remember to take care of hydration, especially during and after bathing.
Can you go to sauna with a baby
Initial Setting:
Finnish wooden sauna, sauna temperature 60 degrees and a 3-month-old baby.
- Initially, we sat on the lower boards
- I breastfed the baby at the same time
- I checked the baby constantly, on the forehead and cheeks
- We started with ca. 5 minutes
- We went outside to cool down
- We only had mild steam
- We left the sauna and showered
- I continued breastfeeding in the dressing room
- Father stayed in sauna and when he was ready, he took the baby so I could go back to sauna
Read more: 5 tips for taking a sauna with a child
In the sauna with a 5 month old baby
When the baby was five months old, I pretty much continued to do the same things I did when he was 3 months old. Although, we were here in Germany at that time and there was no chance of a steam bath and the temperature of the sauna was only 60 degrees.
Sometimes, we stayed in the sauna for almost 15 minutes. I kept an eye on the situation and breastfed my baby the whole time.
It seemed that the baby enjoyed sauna just as much as I did. From the blush on his cheek I could tell when it was time to leave.
Because babies are unable to communicate their feelings, it is the adults responsibility to make sure that they are conformable at all times.
Sauna experiences in Germany
When my son was little, we took a sauna after we had finished our baby swimming lessons and sometimes got strange glances thrown at us. Some were delighted and told how brave I was to bring a baby to the sauna. Others mumbled something about being worried about the baby and wondered why I had dragged my baby to the sauna.
Most people I talked to were excited and encouraging. Especially excited they were when they heard that we were from Finland. Then they just said, “You Finns are so used to saunas”.
Once a lady told me that I had been in the sauna for a long time with my baby. By that time my son was already older and used to being in the sauna, so I just told the lady that. Maybe she was terrified, I don’t know.
Read more: Can you go to sauna with children
Summary
Taking your baby to sauna is safe as long as you follow the basic rules. Take care of hydration, do not stay for too long and do not go to sauna that is too hot. Common sense goes a long way. It’s a good idea to start slowly, so your baby has a nice sauna experience starting from the beginning.
Have you been to the sauna with your baby? Have you experienced any criticism?
