Recommendations for Taking Care of Newborns

Taking care of newborns means providing them with all the basic care they need for both their physical and psychological well-being. It means giving them their needed love and attending to them every time they need you. When a baby comes into the world they should become a priority for their mother, father and the rest of the family.

3 important ways to take care of your baby

A bath

Your baby’s first bath should be done with soap for babies and warm water, and at one week old.

Before this, you should only use towels and wet cotton swabs to clean them.

It’s not recommended to give your newborn a bath a few days after their birth because they come into the world already protected with a white substance called the vernix caseoso.

Every time you give your child a bath it should be done with a routine. Only this way will your child be able to start to feel comfortable with the process.

Some children cry uncontrollably while they are being bathed and will only get over the fear after they “learn” that baths are not harmful and can even be enjoyable.

Something else we can give you as advice is that a newborn should only receive a bath once a day. If you have the help of another person, the process will be less stressful and you will be able to hold them properly while someone helps you.

Many mothers are afraid of giving their newborn a bath because of their small size and because they move around quite a bit. Now, in case you need to give your baby a bath alone and you do not know what to do, here’s a suggestion.

Convert your bedroom into a bathroom

Put nylon wrap over your bed in order to keep it from getting wet. Put their little tub above it, and beside the tub a small container with the water you are going to use for the bath, along with soap and a towel.

Sit on the bed. Hold your already nude child in one of your arms in a way that their head is placed in the palm of your hand and their bum by your forearm.

With your other hand gently wet your child, use some soap and finally rinse. Then dry them, and then you are ready to dress them again.

It’s important to do this while on your bed so the chances of your baby getting hurt are as low as possible.

The stump of the umbilical cord – necrotic tissue that sometimes scares parents.

The stump that stays after the umbilical cord is cut is dead tissue that should not be taken off immediately. However it should also not be treated as though it will be there forever.

The stump of the umbilical cord is nothing to be afraid of unless it gets infected due to inadequate hygiene; in the majority of causes it is not a problem.

In order to clean it, hold it firmly and lift gently in order to get to the area that is still attached to the abdomen. Clean with water and soap, and rinse after all of this is done. Make sure to dry it properly.

Many pediatricians recommend cleaning the stump twice a day and at least once with prepared alcohol.

As time passes the stump will continue falling off, starting from the sides in an inward manner and a few days after birth it will fall off leaving a scar.

Feeding your newborn: milk, milk and more milk

The feeding of your child should be composed only of breastmilk

Of course there are always exceptions. If you have a problem with your breasts, if you don’t produce enough milk, if the child does not latch on to the nipple or in the case of any other problem, you can opt for alternative feeding methods.

Nevertheless, you and your child are in perfect condition. In the first months of life you should only allow breastmilk.

Breastmilk contains antibodies and it helps develop the child’s immune system in order to protect them from pathogens. It is also rich in fats, carbohydrates, protein, minerals, vitamins, hormones and digestive enzymes.

It is composed mostly of water and due to this, newborns do not need to drink water while they are being fed breastmilk.