As a new parent or soon-to-be parent, you must be thinking about how to care for a newborn baby.
Even though you have seen other parents as they care for their baby, it could be overwhelming thinking about how to feed a newborn, soothe a crying child, or bathe a slippery infant.
The first things you need to know are some immediate newborn care steps after delivery. Some newborn procedures after birth are:
- Cleaning or bathing the baby.
- Cutting and clamping of the umbilical cord.
- Administration of preventive drugs.
- Apgar testing.
- Vitals check.
- Hepatitis B vaccination.
- Skin-to-skin contact with the parents.
These tips will give you an idea of what happens to your baby in the hospital immediately after birth.
You should also learn some baby care tips for new moms. These tips will help you know how to care for a baby. Below are eight tips of these tips.
1. Feeding
Whether you intend to breastfeed, formula feed, or combine both, you need to know the basics of newborn care when feeding a baby. I will have to harp on the importance of breastfeeding over formula feeding.
Breast milk is the perfect food for a newborn for the first six months of life. After that, you can introduce formulas and semi-solids.
Breast milk contains vital nutrients and antibodies needed for the optimal growth and well-being of a newborn infant. However, some women may not want to breastfeed completely. They may combine both breast milk and formula, which isn’t bad as well.
The appropriate way on how to take care of a newborn when feeding is: Newborn babies need to eat regularly, maybe every 2 to 3 hours.
If you are breastfeeding, it is usually shorter, sometimes 30 minutes to 1 hour. The nature of food you eat plays a significant role in how well the baby will demand food.
I noticed that when you eat heavy meals like carbohydrates or proteins, the baby is much fuller, but if you take light meals like fruits and vegetables or tea, the baby will demand milk very soon. So take note that you may breastfeed your baby about 8 to 12 times a day.
Be prepared to breastfeed your baby on demand (that is, whenever he cries for food). While breastfeeding, it is essential to know the appropriate breastfeeding technique like the v-hold, cradle (which is the commonest), and c-hold. Our post on how to breastfeed your baby explains all these, do check it out.
Finding a comfortable position for you and your baby is essential for breastfeeding, so also is using breastfeeding bras and pillows as breastfeeding aids.
If the baby cries even while sucking, it may be because they are not positioned comfortably or latch properly. Wrong positioning can also cause breastfeeding problems like sore nipples and cracked nipples for the mother.
Correct latching correctly is also very important. Latching is the way the baby attaches to the breast while sucking. The right way to Latch is when the baby sucks not only the nipple but the areola; that is, the dark area around the nipple. It ensures that the baby gets sufficient milk.
When a baby latches appropriately, you will hear a smacking sound as he sucks and won’t cry when breastfeeding. You will also notice that the breast is no longer full as before.
It is a sign that the baby has latched properly. While feeding, how to take care of a newborn is to feed with the appropriate amount of formula stated by your baby’s pediatrician or in the Formula tin.
With formula, the baby can stay up to two hours before another meal, making it easier to time the baby’s meal. There are many formula products out there.
You do not have to go for the most expensive one to feed your baby. Just ensure that you get one that is appropriate and approved by the doctor.
While using the formula, always wash and sterilize formula bottles, cups, teats, spoons, and every other thing you will need to feed your newborn with hot water or a sterilizer so that you can minimize the risks of infections. Also, get formula bottles in different sizes because as your baby grows, he will demand more food.
For those breastfeeding, wash the nipple area when bathing. Change your bra at least every two days. If you experience leaking in the breasts, you may want to use a breast pad.
If you use a breast pump, ensure that the parts are washed and sterilized before every use. To avoid drying out in the nipple area, apply Vaseline or clear ointments on the nipple area.
Discard breast milk or formula stored in the refrigerator after more than 8 hours.
Newborn feeding is critical, and it should be with utmost care. However, it would be best to handle it yourself as the other family member may not be as careful as you.
2. Burping
Burping a baby is to make the baby release the air or gas swallowed after feeding. Either through breastfeeding or bottle feeding, babies tend to swallow as they suck, so burping is an integral part of newborn care that you should take note of.
If babies are not burped, after feeding it can cause colic, which is the discomforting feeling in the baby’s stomach. Swallowed air is one of the causes of colic in babies. Burping aids digestion and prevent spit outs which is common in babies.
To burp a baby after feeding, gently place the baby on the chest or one of your shoulders. The chin should be resting on the shoulder. Then, lightly rub or pat the back with the other hand till he burps or belches out air.
Another way to burp the baby is to position your baby to sit. While sitting, support the head and chest with one of your arms. Use the other arm to rub the baby on the back till he belches. Or, you can make the baby face down lying on your lap.
The baby’s head should be on your lap, and support it with one hand. Then, gently pat the baby from the back till he burps. If the baby does not belch immediately, change the position and try again. To avoid the baby puking, you should keep the baby in an upright position a few minutes after feeding.
3. Bathing
Bathing a newborn should be done with the utmost care, for it is a delicate task. It is essential to wait for a few hours after birth before bathing a baby, for it has some health benefits. Check our blog post on things to do immediately after giving birth. It explains more.
Handling a newborn when bathing can be very tricky because they are so small and slippery.
If you are a first-time mom, you must have been taught how to bathe a baby at birth classes, but trust me, it is different from the real thing. Try these tips on how to make bathing easier.
Before bathing, bring together all the bathing materials and arrange them close by. Lotions, towels, soap, clothes, etc., are some bathing essentials for newborn care.
Rummaging through the wardrobe for clothes and other bathing essentials is wrong, and it wastes time. It can also cause cold if your baby is already exposed. There are two main types of bath: Sponge bath and Tub bath.
Sponge Bath
Sponge bath is usually preferred for infants And newborns. For a Sponge bath, you require a firm surface like a table to place the baby.
When you have arranged all that you need, close the windows and ensure every way is warm. In the sink or a small bowl, remove the baby’s clothes and wrap the baby in a towel.
Using a washcloth damped in warm water and little soap, work quickly by gently wiping the baby’s face.
Clean both eyes one at a time, the nose, ears, and rinse out using another washcloth damped in warm water. Using a small pail, pour water on the hair and apply few drops of soap.
Gently massage the hair in the head, then rinse out and dry with a towel. When done with the head, remove the towel and work quickly. Next, with a washcloth damped in warm water and small soap, wash the neck, armpits, behind the ears, the stomach, genitals, etc.
Pay close attention to the areas with folds and creases, then rinse. You may rinse the body with a washcloth or pour the warm water all over the body (this usually causes a shrill cry from the baby). Quickly wrap the baby with a hooded towel, then dress up.
Apply lotions on the body. Wear a diaper, wear the cloth, socks, and hand mittens. Oil the hair and apply Vaseline on it, then comb. To care for the umbilical cord area, clean it with spirit and cotton wool.
Tub Bath
For a tube bath, fill the tub halfway. With one hand to put off the baby’s clothes, place the baby inside the water (the baby’s head should not be inside).
Working gently, use a washcloth to wash the head and rinse out, then move to the face and rinse. Use your hands to move across the face in case any water gets to it.
After washing the body, pour water on the body quickly, wipe the baby with a towel, and then dress the baby up. Some precautions to take when bathing a newborn are:
- Always test the water with your hands before cleaning to ensure that it is not too hot or cold.
- Never leave your baby alone when bathing.
- Use a sponge bath in the first few weeks of birth.
- To avoid the dryness of the skin, wash the infant about three times a week.
- Never leave your baby in the bedroom alone.
- Clean and dry all bathing materials after use.
- You may also bathe the baby in your lap. It is safer to do this if you have no mastered how to handle a baby well. It also promotes bonding.
4. Handling A Newborn
Parents need to spend time bonding with their baby, holding, swaddling, or rocking their baby. Holding a baby is always a delightful time that many people love.
Seeing and holding the one you have carried your home for the first time is a fantastic experience; however, you need to know how to handle the baby right as newborns are fragile and a bit unstable.
You need to support the baby’s head and neck while holding the baby because the neck muscles and backbone are not too strong.
When the baby is a bit bigger, he should be able to sit on his back. When handling a baby, ensure you wash your hands Or use a sanitizer as the newborn’s immune systems are not so strong yet; visitors are not left out.
Avoid shaking or throwing the baby up because it can cause brain bleeding and death. You should guide young children when they are around the baby because they are rough.
Bonding helps promote physical and emotional development and helps the child establish closeness with the parents and the child.
Bonding is an essential step on how to take care of a baby. It also makes you learn about your baby and make you both understand each other. Another way to bond with your baby is to massage the baby gently, especially when the baby cries. It helps to soothe the baby.
5. Diapering
Expect about 6 to 8 nappy changes a day for a newborn if the baby is feeding well. Diaper changes should be done when you notice the nappy is full and soiled with poop.
For the first few weeks, the baby will pass out meconium (poop at the womb) to clear the baby’s bowel. It is a bit blackish or brownish. After that, it would be regular poop and pee.
Before changing the baby’s diaper:
- Spread a diaper pad, flannel, or napkin on a firm surface like a bed or changing table.
- Gently place the baby on the changing pad supporting the head and neck with your hands.
- Open the soiled diaper.
- Use a gentle diaper wipe to wipe the baby (from front to back for girls to prevent infection). You may have to use several wipes for clean-up to ensure that the bum is clean.
- After wiping, apply petroleum jelly or any diaper rash cream on the baby bum to prevent diaper rash.
- Gently lift the umbilical cord, so it doesn’t bruise whenever you are changing the diaper.
You should use a new diaper after removing the soiled diaper, but when the baby is older, you can expose the bum for a few minutes a day before re-diapering to reduce nappy rash.
Powders are no longer advisable to be used while changing the baby as they promote the occurrence of nappy rash, and the dust can cause choking.
If you have to use powders, do so only when the baby is a bit bigger. Cloth diapers and disposable diapers are available. They each have their advantages and disadvantages. You decide which is preferable for you.
It is common for babies to have diaper rashes, and it can cause discomfort. To avoid and minimize this, do not wait too long before the next diaper change. If you are using cloth diapers, rinse thoroughly and always ensure they are adequately dried before use.
Nappy cream, oils, or ointments with zinc oxide is most preferred to rub on the bum during changing. Before changing and diapering, all supplies should be arranged close by
6. Sleep
Newborns sleep a lot, as much as 15 hours a day, even more. Since newborns have not adjusted to a sleeping pattern, they may sleep more in the daytime and lesser at night so try as much as possible to get enough sleep during the day while your baby sleeps.
At about three months, the baby should be adjusted to the sleeping pattern and sleep better at night. The best sleeping position is to place the baby on the back, not on the chest. Putting a baby on the chest with a pillow can cause sudden infant death syndrome (SID).
Avoid stuffed animals, thick blankets, pillows, and quilts for a newborn crib, as they can cause suffocation.
Try to change the baby’s position frequently, so he doesn’t rest on one side of his head for too long, and you can prevent what is called a flat spot. Though babies may not adjust to our sleep patterns till three months, you can help train your baby to learn how to sleep.
Minimize activity when it gets to night-time, play soft music, use a night light in the room, give the baby a warm bath. Engage the baby during the day, so it doesn’t sleep so much or make the baby do some exercises a few hours before night and feed the baby full at night so you can sleep longer. All these are some ways and how to take care of a newborn baby when sleeping.
You are going to be sleep-deprived for a few weeks after birth. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps, reduce workload, avoid unnecessary pressure and stress, involve your partner and others to help you in the home chores and the care of your baby.
7. General Care
Aside from bathing the baby, you also need to care for the baby’s body generally. Nail trimming. Babies fingers are pretty sharp when born, and it grows fast.
Try to keep it short and always trimmed as they can scratch themselves and cause injuries. To avoid this, you can wear scratch mittens for the first few weeks, but it restricts babies, and they outgrow it quickly.
Small scissors or nail cutters sterilized should be used to trim the nails. Be careful as you cut the nails. It is better to trim nails when the baby is asleep or sucking.
Do not trim the edges of the nails as it can cause ingrown nails. For umbilical cord care, clean the area around the stump as often as possible.
Doctors advise that you can clean every time you do a diaper change till it falls off. Be careful when handling the umbilical cord when dressing or diapering the baby.
The umbilical cord should not be soaked in water when bathing. When the stump is dried, it changes to brown before falling off.
For circumcision sites, apply petroleum jelly or ointments and avoid anything hitting that area. You may want to expose it so it can air-dry partially.
After a few days of circumcision, it should heal and feel less sore. If you notice pus in this area, see the doctor as this is a sign of infection. Apply ointment or Vaseline before combing the hair. The fontanels should be oiled regularly till they cover-up.
8. Baby’s Cry
Babies cry for so many reasons, hunger, wet diapers, colic, attention, fatigue, etc. As parents, it is essential to know how to take care of a newborn when they cry. There are different ways to soothe the baby. Cradling the baby is the most common way.
To cradle a baby, wrap the baby in your arms or a swaddle wrap and gently rock the baby when he cries, sings songs, or makes a distracting noise( one that isn’t too loud, though).
You can also soothe a crying child by putting the baby on the breast. Most times, work to calm them down.
You can also ease a crying baby by placing the baby on the back or front with a sling and move around, make funny faces, or doing other entertaining things to make the baby distracted and stop crying.
Different ways to soothe a crying baby are: swaddling, rocking, or swaying, give the baby a warm bath, a massage, or go outdoor.
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