Right Ways To Care For Your Newborn Baby

How do you take care of a newborn baby?

If you’re a first parent, the first couple of months with the newborn baby can be overwhelming.

You can get all types of contradicting advice about how to take care of a newborn baby.

It can be confusing when it comes to choosing what advice to adhere to.

Looking after a newborn baby is difficult and very tiring; however, it’s also one of the most rewarding and amazing experiences of your life.

Every small behavior change is probably a source of anxiety, and you’re most likely to regularly think twice about whether you’re doing the right thing for your newborn.

Tips for taking care of a newborn baby

Ask for help

Make sure you get help during this period that can be overwhelming and chaotic.

While in the hospital, consult with professionals around you.

Most hospitals have lactation consultants or feeding experts who will help you start bottle-feeding or breastfeeding.

Nurses can also show you how to care, burp, hold, and change your newborn.

Some parents feel that it’s their responsibility to take on the burden of childcare and feel if they ask for assistance, they are in some way a bad parent.

But this shouldn’t be the case!

Childcare comes with many challenges, and for new parents, a huge change.

You should ask for help from close friends and family, particularly if they have already had children.

Handling a newborn baby

If you have not spent lots of time around babies, their fragility might intimidate you.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Ensure the newborn is fastened into the car seat, stroller, or carrier. You should limit any activities that might be too bouncy or rough.
• Support the neck and head of your newborn. While carrying the newborn you should support the head when you lay the newborn down or when carrying the newborn upright.
• Wash your hands before you handle your newborn.Babies have a weak immune system, so they are susceptible to infections. You should ensure the hands of everyone handling your newborn are clean.
• Do not shake the baby, whether in frustration or play. Shaking can lead to life-threatening injuries. If you want to wake your newborn baby, never do it by shaking. Rather, blow gently on a cheek or tickle the newborn’s feet.

Avoid any form of rough play, such as being tossing the baby in the air or jiggling on the knee.

Feeding your newborn

It does not matter whether your bottle or breastfeed your newborn.

The essential thing is that the baby gets the vitamins they require for growth and be healthy.

It’s believed that as long as the mother is healthy breastfeeding is better for the newborn.

Either way, it is your responsibility to ensure the newborn baby is consuming the milk and not spit it up.

Know how much they drink and how regularly you feed them.

You should also ensure that you burp your newborn after every feeding.

If they seem hungry continually or after being fed, you should talk to your pediatrician.

Sleep arrangements

Make sure the newborn has their special bed for sleeping and unwinding.

Avoid sleeping with them in your bed as this can increase the risk of Sudden infant death syndrome.

Bathing the newborn

Your newborn might have their first bath in the hospital.

However, no matter if they were bathed following the birth or not, plan to provide your child with a sponge bath soon after bringing them home.

You should have these things ready before you bath your newborn:

• Clean clothes
• Blankets and towels
• Fragrance-free, mild baby shampoo and soap
• Clean diapers
• A soft brush for stimulating the newborn’s scalp
• A clean, soft washcloth

To bathe the baby, first, dip a sponge or cloth in warm water and gently clean the newborn’s head, body, and the diaper area.

The safest option is a sponge bath; it will help until the umbilical cord of your newborn falls off on its own.

Caring for baby’s umbilical cord stump

An essential aspect of infant care in the first month is looking after the umbilical cord stump.

Don’t bathe the newborn for the first two to three weeks.

Give the baby a sponge bath rather than with lukewarm water.

Make sure the navel area stays clean and dry.

In addition, ensure to keep the newborn’s diaper folded down so the umbilical cord stump can dry.

You should sanitize your hands before you handle the baby’s naval area.

Use a damp cloth to clean and use a clean, porous cloth to dry. Make sure the stump area doesn’t have any signs of infection.

If there’s bleeding, swelling, redness, and foul pus or discharge in the baby’s navel area, take the newborn to a pediatrician.

It is fine to bath the baby 2 or 3 times weekly in the first year.

More regular bathing might be drying the baby’s skin.

The safety of your newborn baby 

Though SIDS is uncommon, there are some easy safety measures to follow to help in minimizing the risks:

• Don’t sleep with the newborn in an armchair or on the sofa.
• You should not allow the newborn to get too hot. Do not cover the baby’s head and make sure blankets are tucked on higher than the shoulders. The cot should be away from direct sunshine and radiators.
• Do not share a bed with the newborn if your baby is premature, taking any type of drugs, very exhausted, or if you and your partner smoke or have drunk alcohol.
• Avoid smoking during pregnancy or let anyone smoke in the house once the baby arrives.
• Make sure you use a firm new mattress and avoid using pillows or duvets
• Place your newborn on their back. The baby’s feet at the cot’s foot, when putting them down for a nap.

Sunburn and heat rash

Kids below six months shouldn’t get exposed to direct sunshine.

It can result in severe sunburn and rash.

If you should take them out, ensure you use long pants and tops to cover as much skin as you can.

For kids above six months, rub on the exposed skin area with a bit of baby-friendly sunscreen.

Diapering

Before diapering your newborn, ensure that you have all supplies nearby so you will not need to leave the baby alone on the changing table.

You will require:

• Diaper wipes (or cotton balls and a clean washcloth or a container of water)
• Diaper balm
• Fasteners (if using nappies)
• A clean diaper

If the diaper is wet or soiled, you should lay the newborn on their back to remove the soiled diaper.

Gently wipe the newborn’s genital area clean with wipes, cotton balls, and water or washcloth.

When removing the diaper of your baby girl, it’s best to avoid UTI by wiping her bottom from front to back.

When you’re wiping a boy, do this cautiously as exposure to the air might make him urinate.

To heal or prevent a rash, apply baby cream.

After changing a diaper you should wash your hands thoroughly.

A diaper rash is a widespread worry.

Normally, the rash is bumpy and red and will disappear in a couple of days with a bit of time out of the diaper, some diaper cream, and warm baths.

Many rashes take place as the skin of the newborn is sensitive and gets irritated by the soiled diaper.

To heal or prevent diaper rash, you can try these helpful tips:

• Allow the newborn to go without a diaper for most of the day. This will provide the baby’s skin with a chance of aring out.
• Use unscented detergents to wash your cloth diapers.
• Make sure you use water and mild soap to gently clean the area. After that, apply a thick layer of diaper rash cream. Keep in mind that creams with zinc oxide are popular as they form a barricade against moisture.
• You should change your newborn’s diaper regularly, and as soon as you can after bowel movements.

If you notice the diaper rash isn’t disappearing after three days or it’s becoming worse, consult with your physician.

It might be the result of a fungal infection that needs medication.

Massaging

This is the best way of bonding with your newborn.

It will also help to soothe your baby to sleep and improve digestion and circulation of blood.

You should spread a little amount of lotion or oil on your hands.

After that, rhythmically and gently stroke the newborn’s body.

When massaging your newborn maintaining eye contact and talking to the baby is important.

Bathing time is the best time to massage your baby.

Familiarize yourself with signs and symptoms of infancy diseases

As the baby’s immune system isn’t fully developed, they are especially susceptible to infections and diseases.

Remember that keeping the baby well-fed, hydrated, and warm together with the needed shots can help the baby stay protected from many illnesses.

But the flu, colds and other diseases that an adult will easily fight will be especially problematic with babies.

If your newborn baby is crying nonstop or is strangely quiet, you need to instantly look at their temperature and breathing.

In addition, if your baby will not drink or eat, you shouldn’t ignore these warning signs.

This is not to say it’s necessarily a medical crisis; however, you need to get in touch with your doctor for advice to check whether they suggest you visit for a health check.

Final thoughts 

Having a baby can be an exhausting and difficult time for parents.

However, try to appreciate these moments with your new visitor.

Use your support at this busy moment.

It is okay to ask for help around your home and with your other children as you recuperate from giving birth and catching up on sleep.