Emily Oster
- Health and Wellness
- Safety
- Babies
Q&A on warmth
Emily Oster
Apr 15 2024 2 min Read
Do babies really need to wear socks? I know there are footie p.j. options where they wouldn’t, but for the other non-footie outfits? We have a dog who is obsessed with eating socks. Two very expensive surgeries later to remove them, I’m stressing about all those tiny socks falling off everywhere when baby arrives!
—Dog Mom
This seems scary (for you and the dog) and makes me a little relieved I only have snails as pets. Perhaps for this reason, I hadn’t thought much about this question. But the search for the answer was interesting.
My perusal of the literature for this query, for example, led me to this paper, which in no way answers your question but is about how babies engage with socks as being representative of baby culture. Quote: “A majority of the babies in my study, at some point during the time I spent with them, were engaging with socks, and some of them did so during several different visits. Socks seem to matter in some ways and possibly in multiple ways to babies.”
Actually, reflecting on it, this is a partial answer, because it suggests that babies like socks as a toy, so by ignoring them you may be depriving your infant.
The main reason for socks, though, isn’t as a toy but for temperature regulation. Babies lose a lot of heat through their head and their feet, and a hat and socks are used to prevent this. When caring for preterm infants, for example, skin-to-skin contact involves a baby naked other than a hat, socks, and a diaper. This encourages better thermoregulation.
For a full-term infant in a warm climate, thermoregulation is less complicated, so socks may not be necessary. But there are theoretical reasons why they are a good idea.
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⭐ Regular tick checks
⭐ Using bug sprays with DEET
⭐ Wearing long sleeves and pants in the woods
Bug season is upon us. Besides annoyance, this can bring up safety concerns, particularly with ticks. They are carriers of diseases, most notably Lyme disease. So what’s the best course of action? Prevention is key! I suggest: Some parents worry about DEET, but repellants with up to 30% DEET are recommended by both the CDC and AAP. The data says you’re in the clear, so go for it. Enjoy your summer! #parentdata #emilyoster #tickseason #bugbites #bugspray
⭐ Regular tick checks
⭐ Using bug sprays with DEET
⭐ Wearing long sleeves and pants in the woods
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We’re hiring an Associate Editor at ParentData! More details at my link in bio. Please share with the great writers and data-loving people in your network. 📊💻 ...
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#parentdata #emilyoster #claireholt #parentingstruggles #parentingtips #latenightpanicgoogle
... Sun safety is a must for all ages, especially babies! Here are my tips for keeping your littlest ones protected in the sunshine: Comment “Link” for a DM to an article on the data around sun and heat exposure for babies. #sunsafety #babysunscreen #babyhealth #parentdata #emilyoster
☀️ Most importantly, limit their time out in hot weather. (They get hotter than you do!)
☀️ Keep them in the shade as much as possible when you’re out.
☀️ Long-sleeve but lightweight clothing is your friend, especially on the beach, where even in the shade you can get sunlight reflecting off different surfaces.
☀️ If you want to add a little sunscreen on their hands and feet? Go for it! But be mindful as baby skin tends to more prone to irritation.
Sun safety is a must for all ages, especially babies! Here are my tips for keeping your littlest ones protected in the sunshine: Comment “Link” for a DM to an article on the data around sun and heat exposure for babies. #sunsafety #babysunscreen #babyhealth #parentdata #emilyoster
☀️ Most importantly, limit their time out in hot weather. (They get hotter than you do!)
☀️ Keep them in the shade as much as possible when you’re out.
☀️ Long-sleeve but lightweight clothing is your friend, especially on the beach, where even in the shade you can get sunlight reflecting off different surfaces.
☀️ If you want to add a little sunscreen on their hands and feet? Go for it! But be mindful as baby skin tends to more prone to irritation.
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@michellemart1n
@kristinvora.nutrition
@emilylpryor
@melmademillr
@meganelizafit
@kellyapro
@newmamafriend
@grayeatspeakplay
@pearlsofjasmine
Thank you to everyone who shared your unexpected stories of complications during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum last week. It’s incredibly brave to put these moments into words. Collectively, you created awareness and shined a light on pregnancy complications in ways that data alone cannot. It was beautiful to see everyone come together to support and uplift these stories. The song playing is “Alone” by @therosesarehere, written after experiencing the loss of their son Austin. This song, along with many more that you all sent in, is available in a playlist at the link in my bio. I hope it can help you through difficult and unexpected moments 💛 Featured (in no particular order): Read more of your stories here: #myunexpectedstory.
@michellemart1n
@kristinvora.nutrition
@emilylpryor
@melmademillr
@meganelizafit
@kellyapro
@newmamafriend
@grayeatspeakplay
@pearlsofjasmine
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It’s been amazing to talk to so many people this week about pregnancy complications and the support that women need. The bottom line is we need more discussion for things to change. And now I want to talk to all of you! I am doing an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on ParentData about #TheUnexpected and you can submit your questions now at my link in bio. I would also love to hear what you think about the book. Thanks for being here 💛
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Comment “Link” for a DM to sign up for a free downloadable guide with these questions to ask your provider after a complicated pregnancy, birth, or postpartum experience. In my new book #TheUnexpected, we encourage you to collect your own data. Every complicated pregnancy is complicated in its own way. We can talk about some general numbers, but your experience is unique. It’s central to have the details of your own personal experience to understand possible steps in a later pregnancy. Having this information will empower any future attempt at pregnancy you may choose to make. #emiloster #pregnancycomplications #parentdata #askyourdoctor
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I’m calling on you today to share your story. I know that many of you have experienced complications during pregnancy, birth, or postpartum. It’s not something we want to talk about, but it’s important that we do. Not just for awareness, but to help people going through it feel a little less alone. That’s why I’m asking you to post a story, photo, or reel this week with #MyUnexpectedStory and tag me. I’ll re-share as many as I can to amplify. Let’s fill our feeds with these important stories and lift each other up. Our voices can create change. And your story matters. 💙 #theunexpected #emilyoster #pregnancycomplications #pregnancystory
OUT NOW: My new book “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available on April 30th. All of my other books came out of my own experiences. I wrote them to answer questions I had, as a pregnant woman and then as a new parent. “The Unexpected” is a book not to answer my own questions but to answer yours. Specifically, to answer the thousands of questions I’ve gotten over the past decade from people whose pregnancies were more complicated than they had expected. This is for you. 💛 Order now at my link in bio!
OUT NOW: My new book “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available on April 30th. All of my other books came out of my own experiences. I wrote them to answer questions I had, as a pregnant woman and then as a new parent. “The Unexpected” is a book not to answer my own questions but to answer yours. Specifically, to answer the thousands of questions I’ve gotten over the past decade from people whose pregnancies were more complicated than they had expected. This is for you. 💛 Order now at my link in bio! ...
OUT NOW: My new book “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available on April 30th. All of my other books came out of my own experiences. I wrote them to answer questions I had, as a pregnant woman and then as a new parent. “The Unexpected” is a book not to answer my own questions but to answer yours. Specifically, to answer the thousands of questions I’ve gotten over the past decade from people whose pregnancies were more complicated than they had expected. This is for you. 💛 Order now at my link in bio!
OUT NOW: My new book “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available on April 30th. All of my other books came out of my own experiences. I wrote them to answer questions I had, as a pregnant woman and then as a new parent. “The Unexpected” is a book not to answer my own questions but to answer yours. Specifically, to answer the thousands of questions I’ve gotten over the past decade from people whose pregnancies were more complicated than they had expected. This is for you. 💛 Order now at my link in bio! ...
OUT NOW: My new book “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available on April 30th. All of my other books came out of my own experiences. I wrote them to answer questions I had, as a pregnant woman and then as a new parent. “The Unexpected” is a book not to answer my own questions but to answer yours. Specifically, to answer the thousands of questions I’ve gotten over the past decade from people whose pregnancies were more complicated than they had expected. This is for you. 💛 Order now at my link in bio!
OUT NOW: My new book “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available on April 30th. All of my other books came out of my own experiences. I wrote them to answer questions I had, as a pregnant woman and then as a new parent. “The Unexpected” is a book not to answer my own questions but to answer yours. Specifically, to answer the thousands of questions I’ve gotten over the past decade from people whose pregnancies were more complicated than they had expected. This is for you. 💛 Order now at my link in bio! ...
“I sat on the couch, staring aimlessly at the television as my husband and family milled about the house. A baby was crying somewhere in the distance. My mom walked into my line of vision with the crying baby asking if I wanted to feed him. I shuddered, trying to clear the brain fog. Right, the crying baby was mine. I had a baby. We were finally home with our baby. I was a mom.” Today, @thebirthtrauma_mama lends her voice to ParentData by sharing her own traumatic birth story and what came after it. Kayleigh is a therapist who is tireless in her efforts to help people feel seen, heard, and understood in these impossible situations. I’m so grateful to her for sharing this with us. Comment “Link” for a DM to read her full essay. #parentdata #birthstory #pregnancyjourney #birthing #pregnancycomplications #birthtrauma
“I sat on the couch, staring aimlessly at the television as my husband and family milled about the house. A baby was crying somewhere in the distance. My mom walked into my line of vision with the crying baby asking if I wanted to feed him. I shuddered, trying to clear the brain fog. Right, the crying baby was mine. I had a baby. We were finally home with our baby. I was a mom.” Today, @thebirthtrauma_mama lends her voice to ParentData by sharing her own traumatic birth story and what came after it. Kayleigh is a therapist who is tireless in her efforts to help people feel seen, heard, and understood in these impossible situations. I’m so grateful to her for sharing this with us. Comment “Link” for a DM to read her full essay. #parentdata #birthstory #pregnancyjourney #birthing #pregnancycomplications #birthtrauma
Is side sleeping important during pregnancy? Comment “Link” for a DM to an article on whether sleep position affects pregnancy outcomes. Being pregnant makes you tired, and as time goes by, it gets increasingly hard to get comfortable. You were probably instructed to sleep on your side and not your back, but it turns out that advice is not based on very good data. We now have much better data on this, and the bulk of the evidence seems to reject the link between sleep position and stillbirth or other negative outcomes. So go ahead and get some sleep however you are most comfortable. 💤 Sources: #emilyoster #pregnancy #pregnancytips #sleepingposition #pregnantlife
📖 #ExpectingBetter pp. 160-163
📈 Robert M. Silver et al., “Prospective Evaluation of Maternal Sleep Position Through 30 Weeks of Gestation and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes,” Obstetrics and Gynecology 134, no. 4 (2019): 667–76.
Is side sleeping important during pregnancy? Comment “Link” for a DM to an article on whether sleep position affects pregnancy outcomes. Being pregnant makes you tired, and as time goes by, it gets increasingly hard to get comfortable. You were probably instructed to sleep on your side and not your back, but it turns out that advice is not based on very good data. We now have much better data on this, and the bulk of the evidence seems to reject the link between sleep position and stillbirth or other negative outcomes. So go ahead and get some sleep however you are most comfortable. 💤 Sources: #emilyoster #pregnancy #pregnancytips #sleepingposition #pregnantlife
📖 #ExpectingBetter pp. 160-163
📈 Robert M. Silver et al., “Prospective Evaluation of Maternal Sleep Position Through 30 Weeks of Gestation and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes,” Obstetrics and Gynecology 134, no. 4 (2019): 667–76.
My new book, “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available for preorder at the link in my bio! I co-wrote #TheUnexpected with my friend and maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Nathan Fox. The unfortunate reality is that about half of pregnancies include complications such as preeclampsia, miscarriage, preterm birth, and postpartum depression. Because these are things not talked about enough, it can not only be an isolating experience, but it can also make treatment harder to access. The book lays out the data on recurrence and delves into treatment options shown to lower risk for these conditions in subsequent pregnancies. It also guides you through how to have productive conversations and make shared decisions with your doctor. I hope none of you need this book, but if you do, it’ll be here for you 💛 #pregnancy #pregnancycomplications #pregnancyjourney #preeclampsiaawareness #postpartumjourney #emilyoster
My new book, “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications” is available for preorder at the link in my bio! I co-wrote #TheUnexpected with my friend and maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Nathan Fox. The unfortunate reality is that about half of pregnancies include complications such as preeclampsia, miscarriage, preterm birth, and postpartum depression. Because these are things not talked about enough, it can not only be an isolating experience, but it can also make treatment harder to access. The book lays out the data on recurrence and delves into treatment options shown to lower risk for these conditions in subsequent pregnancies. It also guides you through how to have productive conversations and make shared decisions with your doctor. I hope none of you need this book, but if you do, it’ll be here for you 💛 #pregnancy #pregnancycomplications #pregnancyjourney #preeclampsiaawareness #postpartumjourney #emilyoster
We are better writers than influencers, I promise. Thanks to our kids for filming our unboxing videos. People make this look way too easy. Only two weeks until our book “The Unexpected” is here! Preorder at the link in my bio. 💙
We are better writers than influencers, I promise. Thanks to our kids for filming our unboxing videos. People make this look way too easy. Only two weeks until our book “The Unexpected” is here! Preorder at the link in my bio. 💙
