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New Born Baby Care
Introduction
The most exciting affaire in the lives of a couple is having a newborn baby. Caring for a newborn, especially your first, is one of life's biggest challenges. You and your partner may feel overwhelmed at the beginning-after all, there's so much to
learn. AS soon as your little darling arrives, your life will be changed forever. It's a good idea to start preparing for that change early. As you find out you are pregnant, before delivery it is time for you to prepare for facing the changes. |
Cord Care
Many parents wonder when the umbilical cord stump will fall off. The cord stump should fall off within one to three weeks after birth. Until the umbilical stump heals, keep the area dry by exposing it to air. To prevent infection, clean the stump well with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, using a cotton swab. If the area around the navel turns red, swollen, or oozes, call your pediatrician.
Holding style for your Baby
Good baby care begins with the way you hold your baby. Support the back and head with your arm and hand. Touch your baby often. Use skin-to-skin contact and hold your baby close to you. There are too many comfortable ways to carry a baby. Whatever position you choose you have to keep always in mind that a comfortable support should be provided to your newborn's head and neck, as a baby cannot hold his head up. Laying your baby on his back on your lap and scoop up with two arms -one to support his bottom while the other rests comfortably against his head. Your neck can also be a comfortable nestle for your baby. But here your one hand should support the head and neck, and the other should support the baby's bottom.
Baby's Food
Breast milk is the optimal form of nutrition for your baby as breastfeeding ensures the best possible health as well as developmental and psychosocial outcomes for baby. The only acceptable alternative to breast milk is infant formula. Solid foods can be introduced when the baby is 4 to 6 months old, but a baby should drink breast milk or formula, not cow's milk, for a full year. The primary benefit of breast milk is nutritional. Human milk contains just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids for human digestion, brain development, and growth. Cow's milk contains a different type of protein than breast milk. This is good for calves, but human infants can have difficulty digesting it. Bottle-fed infants tend to be fatter than breast-fed infants, but not necessarily healthier. Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast-fed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to whatever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight the diseases their babies are exposed to as well. Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. No babies are allergic to mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself.
Newborns usually eat every three to four hours. Breastfed babies feed more frequently than bottle-fed infants because breast milk is easier to digest. As your baby grows, she will feed less frequently but her mealtimes will be lengthen.
If you think your baby may be dehydrated, watch for these signs: lethargy; fewer than eight wet diapers a day; refusal to feed; and dry, sallow skin and mucous. In more serious cases, a sunken soft spot will appear on the top of the baby's head.
Burping
Babies tend to swallow air during feeding, causing them to spit up or become fussy if they're not burped frequently. Using one arm, hold your baby upright against your shoulder. Gently pat his back with your other hand. Sit the baby upright on your lap, support his chest and head and pat his back. Lay the baby on your lap face down, and gently pat your hand on his back.
Crying
Crying is a baby's means of communication. Babies cry when they have to burp or are wet, soiled, tired, bored, or just lonely. As time goes by, you'll learn what your baby's crying means. If feeding cues accompany crying, it's usually a sign of hunger. You will not spoil your baby by responding promptly to crying. Your baby only cries if he or she needs something. When you satisfy his or her needs, your baby is learning to trust people and begins to know that someone cares for him or her. After taking care of physical needs, there are many things you can do to calm a crying baby. Try holding your baby over your shoulder, or place your baby on his or her stomach across your knees or arms. You can also try to rock your baby, swaddle your baby in a blanket, use a carrier, run the vacuum cleaner, or consider using a pacifier. If breastfeeding, you should try to avoid the use of a pacifier until breastfeeding is well established (usually by three to four weeks).
Sleeping
Most newborn babies sleep more than they do anything else. Your baby will develop his or her own sleeping pattern. It is normal for a tiny baby to sleep 16 to 20 hours a day. Take advantage of your baby's sleep periods to get the rest that you need. During sleep, your baby may make sucking motions, whimper, smile, or move his or her eyes.
Bathing
A tub bath is off-limits for the first two weeks or so, until baby's umbilical-cord stump has fallen off and healed. To sponge bathe baby, choose a warm, draft-free room, since newborns get cold easily. To start, place baby on a waterproof pad, changing mat, or towel. To help him stay warm, keep his undershirt on or cover him loosely with a towel. Another strategy is to undress each part of his body as you're ready to wash it. To prevent accidents, don't take the diaper off until it's time to wash his bottom. Gently wipe baby's face and neck folds, nose, and outer ears with a washcloth or cotton ball moistened with warm water. Never clean inside baby's ears (even if you spy some wax), because you could damage his eardrum. Wipe baby's face dry, paying special attention to his neck creases, where moisture can cause irritation. Carefully wipe baby's eyes from the inner corner outward with two clean, moistened cotton balls. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye to prevent the spread of infection. To wash baby's arms and hands be sure to rinse his hands of soap since they're one of baby's favorite sucking toys. Gently wash his torso and clean the umbilical stump. To wash baby's hair holding his head as he's lying back on the towel or by sitting him up, supporting his back, and reclining his head slightly. With your free hand, rub lightly to lather, and then rinse with a wet washcloth, gently towel. Baby's hair just needs a drop of shampoo once or twice a week. If you have a girl, wash her genital area from front to back. Don't use soap there. it can cause irritation or infection. Wash her buttocks with soap, and also make sure to clean in the creases of her thighs. If your baby boy is circumcised, don't wash his penis with soap until the wound heals. If he's uncircumcised, use soap, but don't attempt to pull back the foreskin. It will remain attached for several more years. Dry baby well.
Your infant is ready for the baby tub while the umbilical stump and circumcision have healed. For now you'll only need to bathe him every two to three days. In between, daily cleaning of the face, neck, hands, and diaper area is sufficient. As your baby starts crawling around the house, he'll need washing more often. Keep bath time short and sweet. Avoid bathing him right after his meal. Test the temperature by dipping your finger- tip in the water, it should be warm but not hot.
Caring others
A newborn's nails grow like wildfire. To trim baby's nails use blunt edged small scissors or file with an emery board to prevent scratching. Cut nails straight across. Wrap your finger in a bit of damp gauze or a washcloth, and then swipe it over baby's gums. You can do this as often as twice a day. No toothpaste is needed at this early stage. Once baby has sprouted a few teeth, it's time to get him used to a toothbrush. Let him chew on one as he would a teething aid. After his first birthday he can imitate you brushing your own teeth. Either way, you'll still have to wipe baby's teeth yourself, either with a soft, baby-specific brush or damp gauze. After a bath, gently clean the outside and back of baby's ears with a moist cotton swab. The important thing to be avoided pushing the swab into the ear canal as it can damage the eardrum and even cause hearing loss. Removing the wax isn't necessary; earwax protects your child's ear canal by sealing out moisture, dust, and bacteria. Cut baby's hair after a bath when it's still damp. Wet hair is more pliable. You can also sprite baby's hair to wet it, but if this upsets , cut it while it's dry. Don't give a haircut while baby is in the bathtub. Daily massage is a great way to make tight bondage with your baby. Massage actually promote better sleeping, relieve colic, and perhaps even enhance an infant's immune system, motor skills, and intellectual development. |
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