Does a newborn have to wear a hat to regulate body temp? if so how long? first 6 weeks? longer? only outside or at all times, incl inside?

Baby hats: Placing a hat on a newborn doesn't truly regulate body temperature in the physiologic sense but does help prevent excessive heat loss. The surface area of a baby had is relatively large. During cold weather, it would be wise to use a hat for at least several months.

Newborn body heat: A newborn looses heat from any skin exposure and since they are small they can lose a lot of heat in a short period. A hat is used to lessen heat loss if a baby is in a cold environment . Usually if the temperature is cooler than room temp a baby needs a hat. The wearing a hat is for all young children and not just newborns.