You've survived 9 months of pregnancy. You've made it
through the excitement of labor and delivery, and now you're
ready to head home and begin life with your baby. Once home,
though, you frantically realize you have no idea what you're
doing!
Brushing up on these tips can help first-time parents feel
confident about caring for a newborn in no time.
Getting Help After the Birth
Consider recruiting help from friends and family to get through
this time, which can be very hectic and overwhelming. While in the
hospital, use the expertise around you. Many hospitals have feeding
specialists or lactation consultants who can help you get started
nursing or bottle-feeding
. In addition, nurses are a great resource to show you how to hold,
burp, change, and care for your baby.
For in-home help, you might want to hire a baby nurse or a
responsible neighborhood teenager to help you for a short time
after the birth. In addition, relatives and friends can be a great
resource. They may be more than eager to help, and although you may
disagree on certain things, don't dismiss their experience. But
if you don't feel up to having guests or you have other
concerns, don't feel guilty about placing restrictions on
visitors.
Handling a Newborn
If you haven't spent a lot of time around newborns, their
fragility may be intimidating. Here are a few basics to
remember:
-
Be careful to support your baby's head and
neck.
Cradle the head when carrying your baby and support the head when
carrying the baby upright or when you lay him or her down.
-
Be careful not to shake your newborn, whether in play or
in frustration.
Shaking
that is vigorous can cause bleeding in the brain and even death.
If you need to wake your infant, don't do it by shaking -
instead, tickle your baby's feet or blow gently on a
cheek.
-
Make sure your baby is securely fastened into the
carrier, stroller, or car seat
.
Limit any activity that would be too rough or bouncy.
-
Remember that your newborn is not ready for rough
play,
such as being jiggled on the knee or thrown in the air.
Bonding and Soothing Techniques
Bonding, probably one of the most pleasurable aspects of infant
care, occurs during the sensitive time in the first hours and days
after birth when parents make a deep connection with their infant.
Physical closeness can promote an emotional connection.
For infants, the attachment contributes to their emotional
growth, which also affects their development in other areas, such
as physical growth. Another way to think of bonding is
"falling in love" with your baby. Children thrive from
having a parent or other adult in their life who loves them
unconditionally.
Begin bonding by cradling your baby and gently stroking him or
her in different patterns. Both you and your partner can also take
the opportunity to be "skin-to-skin," holding your
newborn against your own skin while feeding or cradling.
Babies, especially
premature babies
and those with
medical problems
, may respond to
infant massage
. Certain types of massage may enhance bonding and help with infant
growth and development. Many books and videos cover infant massage
- ask your doctor for recommendations. Be careful, however - babies
are not as strong as adults, so massage your baby gently.
Babies usually love vocal sounds, such as talking, babbling,
singing, and cooing. Your baby will probably also love listening to
music. Baby rattles and musical mobiles are other good ways to
stimulate your infant's hearing. If your little one is being
fussy, try singing, reciting poetry and nursery rhymes, or reading
aloud as you sway or rock your baby gently in a chair.
Some babies can be unusually sensitive to touch, light, or
sound, and might startle and cry easily, sleep less than you might
expect, or turn their faces away when you speak or sing to them.
Keep noise and light levels moderate.
Swaddling is another soothing technique first-time parents
should learn. Swaddling keeps a baby's arms close to the body
and legs snuggled together. Not only does this keep a baby warm,
but the surrounding pressure seems to give most newborns a sense of
security and comfort. Swaddling works well for some babies during
their first few weeks.
Here's how to swaddle a baby:
- Spread out the receiving blanket, with one corner folded over
slightly.
- Lay the baby face-up on the blanket with his or her head
above the folded corner.
- Wrap the left corner over the body and tuck it beneath the
back of the baby, going under the right arm.
- Bring the bottom corner up over the baby's feet and pull
it toward the head, folding the fabric down if it gets close to
the face.
- Wrap the right corner around the baby, and tuck it under the
baby's back on the left side, leaving only the neck and head
exposed.
Diapering Dos and Don'ts
You'll probably decide before you bring your baby home
whether you'll use cloth or disposable diapers. Whichever you
use, the baby will dirty diapers about 10 times a day, or about 70
times a week.
Before diapering a baby, make sure you have all supplies within
reach so you won't have to leave your baby unattended on the
changing table. You'll need:
- a clean diaper
- a fastener (if cloth is used)
- diaper ointment if the baby has a rash
- a container of warm water
- clean washcloth, diaper wipes, or cotton balls
After each bowel movement or if the diaper is wet, lay your baby
on his or her back and remove the dirty diaper. Use the water,
cotton balls, and washcloth or the wipes to gently wipe your
baby's genital area clean. When removing a boy's diaper, do
so carefully because exposure to the air may make him urinate. When
wiping a girl, wipe her bottom from front to back to avoid a
urinary tract infection
. To prevent or heal a rash, apply ointment. Always remember to
wash your hands thoroughly after changing a diaper.
Diaper rash
is a common concern. Typically the rash is red and bumpy and will
go away in a few days with warm baths, some diaper cream, and a
little time out of the diaper. Most rashes occur because the
baby's skin is sensitive and becomes irritated by the wet or
poopy diaper.
To prevent or heal diaper rash, try these tips:
- Change your baby's diaper frequently, and as soon as
possible after bowel movements.
- After cleaning the area with mild soap and water or a wipe,
apply a diaper rash or "barrier" cream. Creams with
zinc oxide are preferable because they form a barrier against
moisture.
- If you use cloth diapers, wash them in dye- and
fragrance-free detergents.
- Let the baby go undiapered for part of the day. This gives
the skin a chance to air out.
If the diaper rash continues for more than 3 days or seems to be
getting worse, call your doctor - it may be caused by a fungal
infection that requires a prescription.
Bathing Basics
You should give your baby a sponge bath until:
- the umbilical cord falls off (1-4 weeks)
- the circumcision heals (1-2 weeks)
- the naval heals completely (1-4 weeks)
A bath two or three times a week in the first year is
sufficient. More frequent bathing may be drying to the skin.
You'll need the following items before bathing your
baby:
- a soft, clean washcloth
- mild, unscented baby soap and shampoo
- a soft brush to stimulate the baby's scalp
- towels or blankets
- an infant tub with 2 to 3 inches of warm - not hot! - water
(to test the water temperature, feel the water with the inside of
your elbow or wrist). An infant tub is a plastic tub that can fit
in the bathtub and is better fitted for the infant and makes bath
time easier to manage.
- a clean diaper
- clean clothes
Sponge baths.
For a sponge bath, pick a warm room and a flat surface, such as a
changing table, floor, or counter. Undress your baby. Wipe your
infant's eyes with a washcloth dampened with water only,
starting with one eye and wiping from the inner corner to the outer
corner. Use a clean corner of the washcloth to wash the other eye.
Clean your baby's nose and ears with the washcloth. Then wet
the cloth again, and using a little soap, wash his or her face
gently and pat it dry. Next, using baby shampoo, create a lather
and gently wash your baby's head and rinse. Using a wet cloth
and soap, gently wash the rest of the baby, paying special
attention to creases under the arms, behind the ears, around the
neck, and the genital area. Once you have washed those areas, make
sure they are dry and then diaper and dress your baby.
Tub baths.
When your baby is ready for tub baths, the first baths should be
gentle and brief. If he or she becomes upset, go back to sponge
baths for a week or two, then try the bath again.
Undress your baby and then place him or her in the water
immediately, in a warm room, to prevent chills. Make sure the water
in the tub is no more than 2 to 3 inches deep, and that the water
is no longer running in the tub. Use one of your hands to support
the head and the other hand to guide the baby in feet-first.
Speaking gently, slowly lower your baby up to the chest into the
tub. Use a washcloth to wash his or her face and hair. Gently
massage your baby's scalp with the pads of your fingers or a
soft baby hairbrush, including the area over the fontanelles (soft
spots) on the top of the head. When you rinse the soap or shampoo
from your baby's head, cup your hand across the forehead so the
suds run toward the sides and soap doesn't get into the eyes.
Gently wash the rest of your baby's body with water and a small
amount of soap. Throughout the bath, regularly pour water gently
over your baby's body so he or she doesn't get cold. After
the bath, wrap your baby in a towel immediately, making sure to
cover his or her head. Baby towels with hoods are great for keeping
a freshly washed baby warm.
While bathing your infant,
never
leave the baby alone. If you need to leave the bathroom, wrap the
baby in a towel and take him or her with you.
Circumcision and Umbilical Cord Care
Immediately after
circumcision
, the tip of the penis is usually covered with gauze coated with
petroleum jelly to keep the wound from sticking to the diaper.
Gently wipe the tip clean with warm water after a diaper change,
then apply petroleum jelly to the tip so it doesn't stick to
the diaper. Redness or irritation of the penis should heal within a
few days, but if the redness or swelling increases or if pus-filled
blisters form, infection may be present and you should call your
baby's doctor immediately.
Umbilical cord care in newborns is also important. Some doctors
suggest swabbing the area with rubbing alcohol until the cord stump
dries up and falls off, usually in 10 days to 3 weeks, but others
recommend leaving the area alone. Talk to your child's doctor
to see what he or she prefers. The infant's navel area
shouldn't be submerged in water until the cord stump falls off
and the area is healed. Until it falls off, the cord stump will
change color from yellow to brown or black - this is normal.
Consult your doctor if the navel area becomes reddened or if a foul
odor or discharge develops.
Feeding and Burping Your Baby
Whether feeding your newborn by
breast or a bottle
, you may be stumped as to how often to do so. Generally, it's
recommended that babies be fed
on demand
- whenever they seem hungry. Your baby may cue you by crying,
putting fingers in his or her mouth, or making sucking noises.
A newborn baby needs to be fed every 2 to 3 hours. If you're
breastfeeding, give your baby the chance to nurse about 10-15
minutes at each breast. If you're formula-feeding, your baby
will most likely take about 2-3 ounces (60-90 milliliters) at each
feeding.
Some newborns may need to be awakened every few hours to make
sure they get enough to eat. Call your baby's doctor if you
need to awaken your newborn frequently or if your baby doesn't
seem interested in eating or sucking.
If you're formula-feeding, you can easily monitor if your
baby is getting enough to eat, but if you're breastfeeding, it
can be a little trickier. If your baby seems satisfied, produces
about six wet diapers and several stools a day, sleeps well, and is
gaining weight regularly, then he or she is probably eating enough.
Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your child's
growth
or feeding schedule.
Babies often swallow air during feedings, which can make them
fussy. You can prevent this by burping your baby frequently. Try
burping your baby every 2 to 3 ounces (60-90 milliliters) if you
bottle-feed, and each time you switch breasts if you breastfeed. If
your baby tends to be gassy, has gastroesophageal reflux, or seems
fussy during feeding, try burping your baby every ounce during
bottle-feeding or every 5 minutes during breastfeeding.
The following are burping strategies:
- Hold your baby upright with his or her head on your shoulder.
Support your baby's head and back while gently patting the
back with your other hand.
- Sit your baby on your lap. Support your baby's chest and
head with one hand by cradling your baby's chin in the palm
of your hand and resting the heel of your hand on your baby's
chest (be careful to grip your baby's chin - not throat). Use
the other hand to gently pat your baby's back.
- Lay your baby face-down on your lap. Support your baby's
head, making sure it's higher than his or her chest, and
gently pat or rub his or her back.
If your baby doesn't burp after a few minutes, change the
baby's position and try burping for another few minutes before
feeding again. Always burp your baby when feeding time is over,
then keep him or her in an upright position for at least 10-15
minutes to avoid spitting up.
Sleeping Basics
As a new parent, you may be surprised to learn that your
newborn, who seems to need you every minute of the day, actually
sleeps
about 16 hours or more! Newborns typically sleep for periods of 3-4
hours. Don't expect yours to sleep through the night - the
digestive system of babies is so small that they need nourishment
every few hours and should be awakened if they haven't been fed
for 5 hours (or more frequently if your doctor is concerned about
weight gain).
When can you expect your baby to sleep through the night? Many
babies sleep through the night (between 6-8 hours) at 3 months of
age, but if yours doesn't, it's not a cause for concern.
Like adults, babies must develop their own sleep patterns and
cycles, so if your newborn is gaining weight and appears healthy,
don't despair if he or she hasn't slept through the night
at 3 months.
It's important to place babies on their backs to sleep to
reduce the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
. In addition, remove all fluffy bedding, quilts, sheepskins,
stuffed animals, and pillows from the crib to ensure that your baby
doesn't get tangled in them or suffocate. Also be sure to
alternate the position of your baby's head from night to night
(first right, then left, and so on) to prevent the development of a
flat spot on one side of the head.
Even though you may feel anxious about handling a newborn, in a
few short weeks you'll develop a routine and be parenting like
a pro! If you have questions or concerns, ask your doctor to
recommend resources that can help you and your baby grow
together.
Reviewed by:
Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: July 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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