Caring for a newborn is one of life’s biggest challenges. You will probably feel overwhelmed at first, but trust your instincts and use these tips to help you get to know your baby.
Burping
Try these few methods to see which works best for your child:
• Hold the baby in an upright position with her head laying on your shoulder and gently pat her back with your other hand.
• Sit the baby in an upright position on your lap and support her chest and head and pat her back.
• Lay the baby on your lap face down, and then gently pat her back.
Feeding
Newborns usually eat every three to four hours, although some feed as often as every two hours.
• Breast-feeding babies eat more frequently than bottle-feeding babies because breast milk is easier to digest.
• As your baby gets older, she will go longer between feedings and feed for a longer time.
• Your baby will let you know when she has had enough, usually by turning away from the nipple or bottle.
• Healthy infants rarely become dehydrated, so it’s unnecessary to give them supplemental feedings of juice or water
Changing Diapers
Newborns tend to wet up to a dozen diapers per day. Urine should be light or dark yellow. A dark amber color means the urine is highly concentrated. Babies should have their first bowel movement within the first couple days of existence, it will be thick and dark green or even black. Breastfed babies’ stools will be a light mustard color and runny. Formula feeding babies stools will be a tan or yellow, more firmer and smellier.
• You should never leave a baby unattended on a changing table.
• Have your diapers, wipes etc. within reach.
• Clean your baby with a moistened cloth or alcohol-free wipes.
Holding Your Baby
Always support your newborn’s head and neck – Babies cannot hold their head up on there own. There is a few ways to carry a baby comfortably:
• You can Lay your baby across one of your arms with there head in the crook of your elbow and there bottom in your hand. Now, Your other arm is free to offer them support.
• Nestle Your baby at your neck. Your one hand should be supporting there neck & head, and the other should support the baby’s bottom.
Dressing Your Baby
If the temperature is below 75° F, it is a good idea to dress infants in one extra layer of clothing than you are comfortable wearing.
• You should always keep one hand on the baby when dressing her.
• Use a changing table that is high enough so that you don’t have to bend down.
• Stretch the necklines wide so that they don’t get caught on your baby’s ear or nose.
• Get your infants arms into the sleeves by putting your fingers through the wrist opening, reaching up through the sleeve, grabbing your baby’s hand and gently pulling it through.
Putting Your Baby to Sleep
Infants sleep between 14 and 20 hours daily. Most infants do not sleep through the night until they are about 4 months old. To teach newborns that daytime is for playing and nighttime is for sleeping:
• Try to avoid keeping the lights on or prolonging nighttime diaper changes.
• Have the baby go right back down after feeding and changing them at night.
• If the baby naps longer than three or four hours during the day, wake him up and play with him.
Caution: DO NOT lay infants to sleep on soft or puffy bedding, it increases the risk of death due to suffocation. Be sure to place your infant on a firm, flat mattress. DO NOT put any soft items like pillows, comforters under babies while they are asleep. Lay healthy infants to sleep on their backs.
Bathing
Newborns don’t need a bath every day, they can be bathed 2-3 times a week. They should have their faces washed every day. Follow these tips:
• You should not use a portable tub until the umbilical cord comes off (usually in the first week). Give sponge baths instead over the sink.
• If you sponge your baby on a surface that is above the floor, use a safety strap or keep one hand on the baby at all times.
• Water should be Luke warm.
• When your infant is ready for a baby tub, fill it with about 3 inches of warm water. Have a few washcloths within reach and a hooded infant towel on hand.
• Wash the face first, using a damp cloth. Then wash the rest of your baby’s body and diaper area.
Caution: Never leave a baby unattended during a bath, not even for a second.
Calming a Crying Baby
If you have fed or changed your infant and they are still crying, here are a few things that you may want to try:
• Wrap your baby snugly in a receiving blanket.
• Gently pat there back.
• Burp your baby frequently, even if she shows no discomfort. If you’re nursing, burp her when you switch breasts. If bottle-feeding, burp her after every two or three ounces. If she fusses, stop the feeding.
• Rock or sway your baby in your arms from side to side.
• Turn on a fan, radio or washing machine. (My Personal Favorite)
• Play music, sing or talk to your baby.
• Give your baby a warm bath.
• Put him in the stroller and go for a walk.
• Take her for a ride in the car.
Cord Care
• Clean the umbilical cord by dabbing it a few times a day with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol. Continue this until a few days after it has dropped off. To protect the navel, fold down the top of the diaper.
• Redness around the navel, swelling or foul-smelling discharge around the base of the stump, and fever are all signs of infection. Call your baby’s pediatrician.
Circumcision Care
If you’ve chosen to have your baby circumcised, here’s how to care for his healing penis:
• Change your baby’s diaper often during the first week. Wash his penis carefully.
• Don’t worry if the tip of the penis is a bit red, or if there’s yellow crust. These are signs of normal healing. Call the pediatrician if redness persists or if you see swelling.
Caring for an Uncircumcised Penis
• Gently cleaning your baby’s genital area during bath time is sufficient to keep an uncircumcised penis clean.
• Make sure the hole in the foreskin is large enough to allow normal urination. If there’s only a trickle, or if your baby seems uncomfortable while urinating, consult your pediatrician.
• Contact your pediatrician immediately if you notice swelling or discharge.
Getting Rid of Rashes
• Treat your babies diaper rash with a cream or ointment containing zinc oxide. Always call your pediatrician if it persists beyond a few days.
• Rashes from spit-up, hot weather or clothes that chafe are very common, as are milia, tiny white dots on a baby’s face. Call your pediatrician only if it doesn’t clear up after a few weeks.
Trimming Nails
A newborn’s fingernails grow quickly and may require weekly trimming. Toenails will probably need trimming once a month.
• Use baby nail clippers or an emery board.
• Trim nails when the baby is asleep or after a bath.
Taking Your Baby’s Temperature
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents not to use traditional glass thermometers due to possible exposure to mercury. Other types of thermometers are safer and have been found to be just as accurate in young children.
Your best bet is to use a digital thermometer that can be used to take temperature readings rectally or in the baby’s armpit. Taking a rectal temperature gives the most accurate reading of body temperature in infants. Taking the temperature in the armpit is the next best choice.
Once your child is older than 3 months, an ear thermometer may also be used, although they tend to give falsely low readings in young children and are not recommended by the AAP for young infants. Likewise, temperature strips, which are placed on the forehead to give a reading, have been found to be poor indicators of body temperature in children.
Giving Medicine
Consult with your pediatrician before giving your baby medicine.
• Using a medicine dropper to squirt liquid on the inside of the baby’s mouth.
Relieving Teething Pain
Children begin teething around 4 to 7 months of age. Symptoms include excessive drooling, swollen gums, loss of appetite, cranky behavior, crying and waking several times during the night.
To ease your child’s discomfort:
• Gently massage his gums with your finger.
• Offer a teething ring.
• Use a cool compress to soothe swelling.
• If your child has a fever, consult your doctor about the appropriate dosage of acetaminophen.
• Offer cool, soft foods, such as applesauce, on a cool spoon.
Don’t Worry If …
While you should contact your pediatrician about any conditions that worry you, don’t be overly concerned if:
• You notice bruises on your newborn. These are often a result of the trauma of birth and will disappear in a few days.
• Your baby loses weight in his first days. Newborns can typically lose up to 10 percent of their body weight after delivery, then start gaining it back at the end of their first week.
• Your newborn sneezes. Newborns will often sneeze to clear mucous from their noses.
• Your baby is hairier than expected. Most of the hair on your child’s back, shoulders, ears and cheeks will disappear within a couple of weeks.
• Your baby seems to be breathing rapidly. Most infants breathe about 40 times a minute, compared to their parents 18 breaths a minute.
By S. Gelman