5 Tips On Taking Care of Newborn Babies – A lot of new parents worry about how to care for their newborns and rightfully so because babies are so fragile and needy. It’s perfectly normal to feel this way but don’t worry because we got you. Here are 5 tips on taking care of newborn babies.
Your newborn will be sleeping a lot for the first few months so you need to make sure that you have everything covered when it comes to sleep care. Moreover, your baby’s sleep pattern will affect your sleeping arrangements and if you don’t have a good one, it will compromise your health. Many new mommies have said that whenever they get stressed because of things like this, it affects their milk production.
Setup the proper environment for sleeping. Start by making sure they’re comfy and cozy and that linens are clean. Next, make sure that the temperature is perfect – not too cold, not too warm. Avoid anything that can create noise. For example, instead of going in and out of a closed-door, just leave the door open.
Try your best as well to instill a regular bedtime ritual so your baby can be more consistent with her sleeping schedule. The best way to do this is to have winding about activities that will signal that it’s time for bedtimes like a quick warm bath, massage, or a lullaby.
Nursing will come naturally to you but there are a lot of things you can do to make this easier.
First, and I say that this is one of the best experiences when it comes to childbirth, let your pediatrician know that you want to be able to lactate right away after birth so tell them to do skin-to-skin contact with your right away. It’s best if your baby tries to latch within an hour of birth. Most hospitals have lactations experts to help you.
Take it upon yourself as well to care for yourself because if you don’t your milk supply won’t be enough. Liquids are gold at this point so always incorporate healthy soup in your diet and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
If you. decide to use formula, then your pediatrician can tell you need to buy for your child. Other than that, formula feeding can be easier if you are well-prepped for it. Remember to never freeze formula because its nutritional value drops, and if ever you’re going to refrigerate it, it must be consumed within 48 hours.
Crying is the only thing your baby can do right now as a newborn to communicate with you. If they cry and you don’t know how to deal with it, just be well-versed about any potential causes and start to rule them out.
The easiest thing to do is to check if their nappy is soiled. If it isn’t, then they’re probably uncomfortable so check if their clothes are too tight. You may also check if they’re hungry by feeding them your nipple and when they start sucking away, it’s probably because they are hungry indeed. Some cries might just be because they need some swaddling so invest in a good swaddle so you can securely hold your baby by doing other things.
Be very observant as well with his body secretions.
If he is producing mucus then he might have a cold or they might be catching a cold. In this case, check for temperature and ask your pediatrician for the right dosage of medicine to reduce the fever of your baby. There are many over-the-counter meds like Infant’s Tylenol so we suggest you keep some in storage just in case babies find it hard to rest whenever they have a fever.
Have some vigilance with their poop as well. For the first few days, their poop will be black or dark green which is perfectly normal. For the next weeks, they might have more bowel movements and will become fewer as months go by. If their poop is wet or different in color all of a sudden, then call your doctor immediately.
Your baby will probably be sleeping for the first few weeks but as he develops a sleeping routine, there are many moments in the day that he will need to be entertained. Either way, you will end up having to swaddle or carry all the time which isn’t really encouraged.
Amusing your newborn can be a great way to start learning. Make it a habit to talk and interact with them. When you do this often, they’re going to develop cues that’s why babies suddenly move or coo when their parents start to speak.
Invest in toys that are appropriate for newborns, too. Musical toys and textured toys are great options just be sure that they’re safe. Mirrors are good, too and you’ll find a lot of mirrors that are unbreakable that are manufactured especially for newborns.
Don’t underestimate the power of music as well and how it can help the cognitive development of your child. If your child gets used to lullabies, that will be his cue for bedtime. Generally, what your baby can hear matters so aside from music, constantly talk to them.
Your pediatrician is going to provide you a baby book to track the health of your newborn until their about 2 years of age when checkups can be less frequent. So you have vaccines and other shots covered and tracked.
But during these crucial years, it’s important that you keep track of other developmental aspects. If you see something that worries you, make sure to jot it down in your developmental journal right away. Although it’s true that babies are different when it comes to development, there are several red flags that you still need to look out for.
Parenting a newborn may sound challenging but they’re gonna be celebrating their first birthday before you know it. Just have fun and enjoy the process.