At Joy of Life® Surrogacy, intended parents often ask us how long their new baby is considered a newborn? You’d think it’s an easy answer, but the age of a newborn can vary from under 28 days to 1 year, depending on the source of the definition.
Newborn is one of several terms that are often used to describe children. Others include infant, toddler, baby, and neonate. To help you prepare for your new life as parents, we decided to put together a guide about this terminology.
How Long Is Your Baby a Newborn?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) definition, a newborn baby or neonate is one who is under 28 days old. Other definitions state that a newborn is an infant who is less than 2 months old. Taking a look at data provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), they classify an infant as a baby between 0 and 1 year of age.
When babies are between the ages of 1 and 3, they can be referred to as toddlers. From 3 to 5, they are preschoolers.
How Long Are Babies in Newborn Clothes?
When buying clothes for your newborn baby, you may have asked yourself, “How long will these last?” With so many adorable newborn clothes on the market it can be difficult to make decisions on which outfits to buy and which to skip.
It comes down to the weight.
If your baby weighs 8lbs or less, they will probably outgrow their newborn clothes within a month. For this reason, it is preferable to purchase clothing within the 3-6 months range of sizes.
If your baby weighed more than 8lbs at birth, they will grow out of their newborn clothing within a few days.
How Many Layers of Clothes Should a Newborn Wear?
Since newborns cannot regulate their body temperature like adults, they are more sensitive to weather conditions, so dressing in the right amount of layers is very important.
If the weather is cold (less than 75°F/23.88°C), your little one will require several layers. This may be one undershirt, diapers, pajamas, and finally a receiving blanket. If you’re going out, add a sleep sack.
If the weather is hot (i.e. above 75°C) your baby will do well with a single layer of clothing. If your baby is a pre-term they will need one extra layer in both hot and cold weather.
Looking for a Surrogacy Agency in California?
Do you have more questions about surrogacy? Our team here at Joy of Life® is always happy to help. As one of the leading surrogacy agencies in Southern California, we delight in helping surrogates and intended parents prepare for this life-changing journey. Contact us for more information.
