SkillNewborn careFor new parents
When a newborn brings joy, it equally brings responsibility. New parents often face conflicting issues like sleep deprivation, soothing the baby, and feeding. Be ready for significant lifestyle changes, and remember that your little one’s first smiles make all the effort worthwhile.
We conducted research to compile a list of things that could be helpful for new parents.
Most Important Tips for Caring for a Newborn
1. How to Hold a Newborn:
When our babies are first handed to us, we often don’t know how to hold them. There is always fear, especially for new parents, and it’s crucial to handle them carefully.
A baby’s neck is very delicate, and when you lift them, you should always support their head. Since the baby can’t physically support themselves, it’s your job to keep them upright.
As mentioned in the newborn care section onSelMagzyou should place one hand under their head and the other under their bottom. You must also be cautious of the soft spots on a baby’s head; try to avoid too much pressure on this area to ensure maximum safety, always keep them close to your chest.
Caring for a newborn with awareness and learning
Essential Tips for Newborn Care
2. How to Care for the Newborn’s Umbilical Cord:
Duringpregnancythe umbilical cord carries food and oxygen to the fetus. However, after birth, this cord is clamped, and the connectionbetween the fetusand the mother’s body is severed, leaving the umbilical cord to appear as a dry, black patch.
Having an umbilical cord at birth doesn’t harm the baby since it isn’t attached to any nerves. However, it must be kept clean and dry to prevent infection. If you notice redness or discharge around the area before it falls off, consult a doctor, as it may indicate an infection.
In this case, avoid frequent bathing until this area heals completely and the umbilical stump falls off. Healing varies but usually takes about two weeks. In the first couple of days, the stump will start to dry out, turning from yellow tobrownin color.
When changing the baby’s diaper, place it lower than the umbilical stump to allow airflow for faster drying. Never use alcohol to hasten the stump’s fall, just keep it clean and dry.
3. How to Care for Babies During the First 30 Days:
The first thirty days are crucial. Remember, this is the time a baby experiences the world for the first time; it’s essential for mothers to take care of themselves to take the best care of their babies.
New mothers are advised to eat well, especially if they are breastfeeding. Sleep is another major challenge faced by new mothers; it’s usually recommended that they sleep when the baby sleeps, allowing them to get enough rest.
4. How to Swaddle a Baby:
Properly swaddling a baby is key to having a calm child. First, fold the blanket into a diamond shape, tuck the top corner down, and place the baby on the blanket. Bring one side of the blanket across the baby’s chest to under their arm.
Now grab the bottom of the blanket and bring it up over their legs, tucking it gently behind their shoulders. Then, wrap the remaining side of the blanket across the baby’s chest and tuck it beneath them snugly. A well-swaddled baby will feel comfortable and fall asleep faster.
5. How to Breastfeed a Baby:
Breastfeeding is very important, especially in the first few days. It can be challenging for mothers and sometimes for babies, as milk is the only source of nutrition for the newborn in the early days of life, so it’s essential to inquire about breastfeeding techniques.
As simple as it might seem, it can sometimes be complicated. New mothers might face issues like poor latch, low milk supply, excessive demand, and breast infections.
There are many different holds you can use for breastfeeding; choose the one that is most comfortable for you and your baby.
If you have a sleepy baby that gets tired while sucking, we have a tip for you; gently tickle their feet during feeding to keep them awake, ensuring they don’t fall asleep on an empty stomach.
Newborn Care Tips
Conditions for caring for a newborn
6. How to Help a Baby Burp and Perform CPR:Burping a baby is especially important in the first few months, as a comfortable baby can feed well and sleep soundly. To burp the baby, hold them against your chest, with their chin resting on your shoulder.Don’t forget to support their head and shoulders; now gently rub or pat their back to help them burp.
Another way to help a baby burp is to place them face down on your lap, keeping their chin and jaw supported with your hands, ensuring it is slightly above their head so that blood flows towards it. Gently rub or pat their back to help them burp.
In an emergency, if you feel the baby is choking, you can place them in the same position used for burping.
The correct way to respond is to use two fingers to apply pressure to the heart—do this five times—and then continue until the baby begins to cough. Remember that the baby is small, so do not press or hit too hard.
Coughing
indicates that the foreign object has moved from the airway.7. How to Massage a Baby:Massaging is generally done to strengthen babies’ bones and muscles. The first rule is not to do it before or after feeding. For a successful baby massage, follow these steps:
Lay your baby on a towel or blanket on a comfortable surface, like a bed, and start massaging them with vegetable oil, beginning with the legs, then arms, followed by the chest, and finally their back. Massaging not only alleviates discomfort but also strengthens the baby, an added bonus is that it helps create a good bond during daily massages.8. How to Bathe a Baby:Every new parent worries about bathing their baby. When you want to bathe a newborn, there is always a level of
anxiety
involved. It is essential to note that newborns need a sponge bath during their first week of life; it’s advisable to wait until the umbilical stump has dried and fallen off before starting regular baths.
9. How to Put a Baby to Sleep:
The first few days, especially when it comes to the baby’s sleep patterns, can be tough. Parents often struggle to settle their baby during this time; it’s the first step to help the baby understand the new world and how people sleep in light patterns.Try to keep the room bright during the day and dim at night; this will help the baby learn the difference between day and night.It might be tempting to kiss or talk to the baby while they seem sleepy, but that’s not a good idea; it can signal to the baby that you are ready to play, waking them up. You need to be patient until the baby is fully trained.
Newborn Care with Great Tricks
Tips for Newborn Care
10. How to Change a Diaper:
Parents generally feel uneasy and are a bit afraid of this task at first. The first and foremost thing to keep in mind is to clean the baby properly until the umbilical stump is dry and falls off. Never place a diaper over the cord clamp; always have it beneath the stump. No extra pressure should be applied to that area.
There are more things to keep in mind; always wipe the baby front to back, especially for baby girls, to prevent any infections, and always dry them before putting on a new diaper.
If your baby has diaper rash, take extra precautions, as a diaper can exacerbate rashes and irritations; keep anti-itch ointment handy so that even a small rash doesn’t worsen. Also, avoid any type of
soap
and scented diapers until rashes fully heal.
11. Dressing a Baby:
Unlike us, babies cannot regulate their body temperature, so we must dress our child according to the season to keep them warm or cool.In cold weather, it’s better to dress them in multiple thin layers rather than one thick garment, allowing you to adjust their clothing accordingly. Don’t forget the hat during this season, as babies lose heat through their heads.Don’t hesitate to dress the small hands and feet of the baby as their bodies are flexible. For newborns in their first week, opt for clothes that open in the front and the bottom.
12. Care for the Soft and Thin Skin of a Baby:
Redness, bumps, and small rashes in newborns can sometimes be normal and harmless, but at times they may indicate allergies. White spots on a baby’s nose and cheeks are natural and will fade over time, as well as the thick, greasy yellow patches seen on the baby’s scalp which can be removed with special shampoo.
Sometimes, the area under the baby’s diaper can become red. Using special creams for babies and changing the diaper regularly will keep them clean and dry, eliminating redness and preventing it from returning.
To prevent discomfort and redness in the baby’s bottom, give them diaper-free time for a few hours and place waterproof mats underneath them.
13. The Soft Spots on Your Baby:
All babies have two soft areas at the front and back of their head. A soft spot is an opening in their skull covered with skin. If you worry about touching this area, rest assured, touching it doesn’t harm the brain because it’s protected by a fibrous membrane.
At SelMagz we have mentioned that the soft area allows the head to shape itself as the baby is born. The front soft spot closes by two months, while the back one usually closes by the age of two.
Always pay attention to the soft spot on the baby’s head, as it can indicate their health. If this spot sinks too low, it could signify dehydration, while too much bulging could indicate an illness like
meningitis.
Tricks for Proper Newborn Care
What do you know about caring for a newborn?
14. How to Connect with Your Baby:Gentle skin-to-skin contact is a fundamental part of the early days and should start immediately after the baby is born. Another important point is to make eye contact with your baby and talk to them; it may seem strange to talk to a tiny baby who might not even understand your words, but it truly works.Since a newborn’s vision is limited (about 30 centimeters), get close to them, smile, talk, read them
lullabies
massage them, and spend quiet time alone with your baby.
Now that you have useful information about all the important things to keep in mind for caring for a baby, be sure to share it with your friends and family who have recently become parents.
Baby Care
Newborn Care ExperiencesBreastfeedingCaring for a Newborn
Putting a Baby to Sleep
