Caring For Your Newborn Baby
Coming home with a brand new life to take care of is a daunting prospect for
many new parents. But newborns are surprisingly resilient and with a few basic
principles of care you will be adept at looking after your baby in no time.
Bathing
Until the umbilical cord has fallen off you’ll need to keep to sponge baths
every few days but it is best to wash the baby’s bottom every day. You can wipe
his hands, face, neck and bottom every day with a soft washcloth dipped in warm
water. Some health professionals recommend organic cotton wool. Avoid harsh
chemicals found in wipes and soap. When the baby is ready for full baths,
bathing him every day helps to prevent nappy rashes. But keep in mind that too
much bathing can dry out his sensitive skin. See what works for your baby –
parenting is all about trial and error.
Your baby’s skin
The skin is the body’s first line of defence so treat your baby’s skin with
care. Avoid too many creams – even baby lotion is not recommended for the first
few months. If you live in a hot climate, or take your baby out on a hot day, it
is important to protect your baby against sunburn. There are baby sun-creams on
the market but the best policy is to keep him well covered up.
Finger and toe nails
Those little finger and toe nails will grow quickly and they’ll need to be
trimmed regularly so the baby doesn’t scratch himself. The baby’s nails can be
long, even at birth, and attached high on the nail bed. You’ll need to gently
press the finger-pad away from the nail and clip it with a baby nail clipper.
You might want to do this when your baby is sleeping to ensure that he doesn’t
jerk his fingers and toes away! If nail clippers seem to clinical, try biting
the nails – your mouth is very sensitive and can easily tell the difference
between skin and nail.
Vaccinations and tests
Newborns need vaccinations almost from birth. Many of these will have been
explained to you during your pregnancy and others are given within days of the
birth. Babies are more susceptible to disease because their immune systems are
still developing so it is important to ensure your baby is up to date. Hearing
tests and other developmental tests will be carried out by your health visitor
or paediatrician – don’t forget to mention anything you are worried about.
Feeding
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the
first six months, and obviously breastfeeding is ideal - but if that isn’t an
option then a good infant formula is perfectly fine for your baby. If you can
manage to breast feed your baby even once just after he is born, colostrum
provides a great boost to the baby’s immune system. If you are formula feeding
be sure to sterilize everything – bottles, teats, mixing apparatus – and it is
no good sterilizing the item if it is still dirty so everything must be
thoroughly washed in hot soapy water, then rinsed and air-dried.
Handling your baby
Providing you’re careful and gentle with your baby there is no need to worry
– he won’t break! Try to keep him close to your body when lifting or lowering.
Always support his head until he can support it himself – usually between four
and six weeks. Be calm and confident – your baby will pick up on your mood and
feel happy or anxious as a result.
You might also be interested in:
Read our Diary Of A New Mum and discover what happens when Jessica-Ann comes
home from the hospital and during her first year at home. This fun read is
perfect for new mums and experienced mums alike! New episodes weekly.
Diary Of A New Mum
More about Newborn Babies
Back to AV Baby home
|
