For any first time parents, the first few months are truly a life altering experience. It’s not easy to welcome a newborn in the family. Many parents feel overwhelmed with the number of things to do. Conscious parents usually opt to taking a newborn care class during the pregnancy, however the real thing is of course quite different and parents often face many difficult situations.
Taking care of a newborn baby and making sure that you are doing everything right for your baby seems quite difficult. With that in mind, here are 10 tips which will help you take care of your newborn baby.
1. Holding the baby carefully
A newborn baby’s neck is soft and not strong enough to support the head fully. The muscles in various parts of their body have not yet fully developed. So how do we hold a baby properly without risking hurting them?
Well, first time parents, you can rest assured knowing that it is not actually that difficult. All you have to do is make sure that you fully support the baby’s neck when you are holding them. Without proper support the baby’s head will move in an uncontrolled way, which might damage the baby’s brain.
2. Feeding the baby
When it comes to breastfeeding, a good latch is very important, since improper latching can cause breast discomfort. Some mothers of newborns face difficulties when they are trying to get the baby to latch on to the breast. A good latch means the baby’s mouth covers both your nipple and the areola so that the baby can get the milk out of the milk glands.
You should start breastfeeding at the hospital so that if you are facing difficulty, a lactation consultant will be there to help you. Also, if you are having latch-on issues while breastfeeding, using a breast shield will definitely help you with the process.
3. Make sure to burp your baby
Another thing related to the feeding of your baby is making sure your baby burps after every feeding. The baby takes in air during breastfeeding and this can interfere with the baby’s digestion. It is very important to make sure that the baby burps otherwise the baby might feel uneasy and might even suffer colic pain. To get the baby to burp, all you have to do is first support the newborn baby with one hand on the baby’s front and lean the baby slightly forward. Now gently pat your baby’s back to release the excess air from the tummy.
4. Sponge baths are important
After you bring the baby home, most parents become concerned about the bath. However, you should always keep in mind to give the baby only sponge baths, especially until the remaining of the umbilical cord falls off. The umbilical cord falls off faster if the surrounding area of the navel is kept dry. This of course might take 2 to 3 weeks.
There are of course certain things you should keep in mind when you are giving the baby a sponge bath. It is very important to use lukewarm water. Also, since the baby’s skin is so gentle, we should avoid scrubbing the skin too hard. After the umbilical cord stump falls off, your baby will be ready for a real bath.
5. The baby’s sleep time
In order to ensure the safety of your baby, the best option for putting a child to sleep is the crib. When your baby is sleeping, make sure that the baby is on his or her back. This sleep position is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Always make sure that the baby’s face and head stay uncovered while sleeping. Also, it is better to make it a habit of dressing your baby in appropriate sleep clothing rather than using a blanket or other coverings. Blankets and coverings risk covering the face.
The safest process for putting your baby to sleep without any worries is if you are using a crib. There are several kinds of cribs available in the market and you can choose the crib which you think is the best for your baby.
6. Cleaning out the diaper
I know this part seems like hassle for a lot parents but changing the baby’s diaper regularly is not an optional activity. It is a messy duty but for the benefit of your child, a parent should always be careful.
A wet or spoiled diaper can make the baby prone to infection. It is also irritating for the baby. One thing to keep in mind is that it is actually good for the baby if you go without diaper from time to time.
7. Using hand sanitizers
Neatness and cleanliness is very important when you have a baby in your house. They have a weaker immune system which makes them highly susceptible to diseases and infections. This is why using a hand sanitizer is no longer optional for a parent. It is the duty of the parent to keep the hands thoroughly clean. Anyone who handles your baby should also clean their hands.
8. Giving the baby a massage
To improve the baby’s immune system and make him relaxed, try massages. Not only the massages help the baby be flexible, it also promotes coordination and helps with the flow of oxygen.
Giving massages also helps strengthen the bond between a parent and a child. Use lotion or oil to gently massage the baby starting from the neck down. Don’t forget to massage his arms and legs. Regular massage will also help your baby sleep better.
9. Applying moisturizer on the baby
You might be wondering why should I have to apply moisturizer regularly on my baby? This is because once the baby is exposed to the rough environment; it begins to make the skin of the baby rough and irritated.
The sudden exposure to air after remaining soaked in liquid in the womb makes the skin dry. In order to reduce the discomfort in the skin, you should try to apply lotion on the skin regularly.
10. NEVER shake a baby
Whenever we hold a baby in our arms, we usually have the inclination to play with the baby and shake the baby up and down. This is actually a very bad practice and might even cause bleeding in the brain. We have to keep in mind- the baby is very fragile and should be handled in a very careful manner.
Even when we are waking the baby from sleep, we should be careful not to shake the baby. You might be wondering, how can I possibly prevent excessive shaking of my baby? One of the best ways to do so is by placing the baby securely into a carrier, stroller or a car seat.
Conclusion
Hopefully these tips will help parents of newborn take better care of their babies. By following these tips you will be able to raise your baby in a very healthy manner.
Bio:
This article has been contributed by Stepheny on behalf of FeedFond. She’s a mother of two and loves to share her experience raising them. Check out more of her work at FeedFond.com
