Newborn Care Tips

Even if you are the proud parents of several older children, each new baby brings with him or her reminders in the art of new baby care. For mothers and fathers who are just beginning their family, the challenge of caring for a tiny, helpless being can be daunting and emotional. With some practical advice and realistic suggestions, getting used to a baby will be much easier.

Changing Station

You might not think having a baby changing station is all that important, especially when your infant cannot roll yet. What you will discover, however, is how handy it is to have everything you need to change a baby's diaper in one place. This provides three important advantages:

• Ease for parents

• Safety for baby

• Routine

Even in the very beginning, babies are learning their routines. The baby changing station is for diaper changing, nothing else. If you can keep this area topped up with necessary items, then diaper time will be far less stressful.

One of these items to have on hand is a clean face cloth. According to experts, baby wipes can be harsh on new skin. Since many parents are also concerned about the environment, they balk at buying disposable wipes. Instead, they used soft cloths and room-temperature water to bathe their baby's skin with every diaper change. Afterwards, they might apply some zinc to a baby's bum, especially if he or she has a rash.

Bathing

A bath is not something your infant needs every day. When you do bathe your infant, be sure the water is just warmer than room temperature. You and your baby feel heat differently. What is comfortable to you could burn a newborn, so check the water with your elbow. This is a highly sensitive part of your body and will react similarly to your baby's skin.

Only use gentle, natural shampoos to bathe your baby and to wash his or her hair (if there is any), and do not scrub. At this point, an infant's head, neck, and skull are still very vulnerable. Just do a brief wash and then wrap your infant in a towel right away.

Eyes

Sometimes you will have to clean the sleep from a baby's eyes. When you do this, do not dig. Just dab. A tiny wipe with a fresh, lightly wet cloth will get most of this away. Whatever is left will come out when baby cries.

Noise

Do not get your baby get hooked on absolute peace and quiet. Let in some fresh air and, with it, some of the noises which go on outside your home. This could be the sound of cars and buses, school kids, or industry. Whatever the case may be, let your baby hear it. If you do not, this child will become so oversensitive to sounds that she will not sleep through the night for a long time.

If there are siblings around, let them play in their usual way. Do not shush kids, but allow them to rev their toy cars and play music. At the same time, make sure they are not so loud that the baby cannot sleep. Like any child, a newborn can become overwrought if he or she cannot get enough rest.

Feeding Times

Most of the time looking after a new baby is just about feeding and changing diapers. Mothers who are breastfeeding will often have to take care over what they eat and drink. Certain foods, like spicy salsa and strong curry, could cause a baby to get an upset tummy. If a baby appears to be colicky, take no risks. Eat bland foods. Avoid caffeine. Wait until your infant is a bit older before trying these things again. Whatever gave your gas or heartburn when you were pregnant is likely to cause the same reaction in an over-sensitive infant stomach.

If you are bottle-feeding, this makes getting into routine quite simple. Many mothers find their babies sleep through the night after drinking a small bottle of infant formula. Never give your baby milk or solid food in the early days and weeks. The only thing other than milk which he or she could receive is water, but this should be sterilized by boiling. Make sure it is cool before you give it to your baby. Also, be sure not to give too much or your infant will become full before receiving nutrients.

Sterilizing bottles is necessary for the first few months if you are using them, which is just one reason breast feeding can be less work. At the same time, breast feeding is good for moms. This time with her infant releases hormones which make her feel happy during post partum adjustment. Do not underestimate self-care when considering new born care. The better a mother feels emotionally, the better bonding experience she will have. The more time she spends singing to and talking to her child in gentle tones, the better this early development period will be.