Babies are very tender, and proper care needs to be given to them. As a parent, taking care of your newborn can be one of the most special experience of your life.
To take care of a baby, you need to know how to give your newborn the rest, sustenance, and care that they need, as well as a healthy dose of parental love and affection.
Below are ways to take care of your newborn:
1. Make sure your baby gets enough rest
Babies need to get lots of rest to continue growing healthy and strong. Some infants can rest up to 16 hours a day. Though once your baby is about three months old, he may be able to sleep for 6-8 hours at a time, in the beginning, your baby may only sleep for 2-3 hours at a time and should be woken up if they haven’t been fed for 4 hours.
- Some babies have their days and nights confused when they are born. If your baby is more alert at night, try to limit nighttime stimulation by keeping the lights dim and your talking low, and be patient until your baby begins a normal sleeping cycle.
- Make sure you place your baby on their back to lower the risk of SIDS.
- You should alternate the position of your baby’s head, whether they’re leaning to the left or the right — to eliminate the “soft spot” that can appear on a baby’s face if they spend too much time sleeping with his head in one position.
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2. Breastfeed your infant
If you want to breastfeed your newborn, then feeding your baby the first time you hold them after they are delivered is a great place to start.
You should turn your baby’s body toward you, so you are holding their chest toward yours. Touch their upper lip with your nipple and pull them to your breast when they open their mouth wide. Once they do this, their mouth should cover your nipple and as much of the areola as possible. Here are some things parents should know about breastfeeding their newborn:
- If your baby is getting enough food, they will produce 6-8 wet diapers a day, along with steady bowel movements, alert when they’re awake, and will steadily gain weight.
- Don’t stress if your baby has a hard time feeding at first; it takes patience and practice. You can get help from a nurse or even a lactation consultant (who can be helpful before birth).
- Know that nursing shouldn’t hurt. If the latch-on hurts, break the suction by placing your pinkie finger between your baby’s gums and your breast and repeat the process.
- Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. Stay hydrated and be prepared to feel more hunger than normal and follow it. Limit your use of alcohol or caffeine because it will enter your breast milk.
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3. Change your baby’s diaper frequently
Whether you’re using cloth or disposable diapers, if you plan on taking care of your baby, you’ll have to be a diaper-changing expert, and fast. Whatever method you use, you should be prepared to change your baby’s diaper around 10 times a day. Parents should keep these things in mind:
- Get your supplies ready. You’ll need a clean diaper, fasteners (if you use cloth diapers), diaper ointment (for rashes), a container of warm water, a clean washcloth, and some cotton balls or diaper wipes.
- Remove your baby’s dirty diaper. If it’s wet, remove the diaper, and use the water and washcloth to wipe your baby’s genital area. Wipe girls from front to back to avoid UTIs. If you see a rash, place some ointment on it.
- Open the new diaper and slide it under your baby, gently lifting your baby’s legs and feet. Move the front of the diaper up between your baby’s legs, over the belly. Then, bring the adhesive strips around and snugly fasten them so the diaper is nice and secure.
- To avoid diaper rash, change your baby’s diaper as soon as you notice that it’s soiled.
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4. Bathe your baby
As a parent, you need help. See if you can get help. You may feel a little scared or uncertain when you bathe your baby for the first time. If so, see if you can get your partner or a family member involved. That way, one person can hold the baby in the water while the other person bathes the baby.
5. Know how to handle your newborn
You may be intimidated by how tiny and fragile your baby seems, but with a few basic techniques, you should feel more confident about handling your baby in no time. Here are some things you should do:
- Wash or sanitize your hands before you handle your baby. Newborn babies are susceptible to infection because their immune systems aren’t quite so strong yet. Make sure that your hands and the hands of anyone else who handles the baby are clean before you make contact.
- Avoid shaking your baby, whether you’re playing or angry. This can cause bleeding in the brain, which can lead to death. Don’t try to wake up your baby by shaking it, either — instead, tickle its feet or give it another gentle touch.
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6. Hold your baby
You have to make sure to give your child as much head and neck support as possible when you hold them. You should let the child’s head rest inside your inner elbow, with the length of his body resting on your forearm. His outer hip and upper legs should rest with your hand, with its inside arm resting over his chest and abdomen. Hold your baby snugly and give your baby all of your attention.
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