After birth, there is a lot to do for the newborn baby. Those who are first-time moms are a little puzzled to maintain the baby’s care. Even though, the event is pleasant for the mother, due to sickness it is a little bit painful to take care of the newborn baby. Bringing your new baby home in the cold winter months can seem a little daunting – after all, your baby can’t tell you whether he or she feels too hot or too cold. Special care needs to be taken to ensure that your baby is healthy and comfortable during the winter months.
Topping and tailing first
Topping means washing your baby’s face, neck and hands. Start by wiping each of your baby’s eyes. Dip a clean piece of cotton wool in warm water and squeeze it out. Tailing means thoroughly cleaning your baby’s genitals and bottom as part of his wash and after each nappy change. For topping and tailing, a bowl of warm water in a warm room with a clean nappy and clothes, is needed.
A baby bath doesn’t necessarily need to be done in a tub of water. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off — which might take up to three weeks. There’s no need to give your newborn a bath every day.
Care of umbilical stump
The umbilical cord doesn’t contain pain-sensitive nerve fibers, so your baby won’t feel any discomfort during this rite of passage. The baby’s umbilical cord stump will change from yellowish green to brown to black as it dries out and eventually falls off within two weeks. You don’t need to disinfect your baby’s stump. Antiseptics can mean the stump takes longer to fall off. So just keep the stump as clean and dry as you can. Researchers now say the stump might heal faster if left alone.
Breast milk is the only food
Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients for your baby and boosts your baby’s immune system. Colostrum, the yellow milk secreted in the first three days of birth, acts as a “first vaccination” to the newborn. So breast milk should be the baby’s first food. In our country newborn babies are first entertained by honey or sweet water, but it is scientifically proven that all are harmful for the newborn baby. Exclusive breast-feeding is typically recommended for the first six months after birth. In that period the baby doesn’t need to take any other foods, not even water. Most newborns need eight to 12 feedings a day. Frequent feedings will also help you establish your milk supply. Commercial infant formulas don’t contain the immunity-boosting elements of breast milk.
Vaccination after birth
The first dose of BCG, Oral polio and Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given at birth or immediately after birth. A second dose may be given after one month with other vaccines like DPT according to the immunisation schedule.
Body temperature and clothes
Newborns are not able to regulate their own body temperature as effectively as older children. The optimum temperature for the nursery is between 16-20 degrees Celsius. The general rule of thumb about dressing newborns is that they need one layer more than you are wearing yourself. If you are swaddling your baby, count the swaddle or wrap as one layer of clothing. It is best to choose natural fibers such as cotton and merino for baby’s clothing and bedding. These fibers allow your baby’s skin to breathe.
Nappies
Nappies are the big issues for newborns. Nappies can cause nappy rash, which can usually be avoided with frequent nappy changes. You can protect your baby’s skin from nappy rash by using a barrier cream such as zinc and castor.
Urination
Your baby may urinate as often as every one to three hours or as infrequently as four to six times a day. In a healthy child, urine is light to dark yellow in color.
Scalp care
Shaving hair after few days of birth has one major advantage – it keeps the scalp clean. However shaving does not promote fast or healthy growth of hair. Infants have very delicate hair and soft scalp. Hence there is no need to shampoo or wash every single day. You can wash twice a week. After drying the hair use a baby comb which has soft bristles.
