Taking care of a newborn may seem to be very daunting to new parents. With this guide, you don’t need to pay heed to some of the absurd tips people tend to give or spend money on expensive parenting courses.
The following are the nine ultimate tips that you need to keep in mind to take good care of the infant.
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Make Your Home Baby-Friendly
Arrange for a baby bassinet or crib before the baby is born. Before the baby starts to crawl (at approximately six months), make sure that you install a gate in front of the stairs, buy rounded furniture, etc. Also, have a first aid kit at handy in case the baby gets hurt.
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Touching The Baby
Make sure that your hands are germ-free when you touch the infant. It’s a good idea to use a hand sanitizer before you feed the baby to prevent the newborn from catching an infection. Never indulge in any activity that could scare the baby; for example, never throw the baby in the air or make scary sounds.
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Feeding The Baby
Never try to overfeed the baby. Always keep an eye on cues such as the hunger cry; after a few days, you will be able to differentiate between the type of cries. When babies are hungry, they also tend to suck on their fingers. This is an innate reflex in newborns, known as the sucking reflex. Feeding with breast milk is always better for the baby’s health and immune system.
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Playing With The Baby
Many new parents think that the baby can’t hear them. However, babies do recognize familiar sounds like the primary caregiver’s voice and even respond to it. Sing lullabies to your baby and blow raspberries. This helps in bonding with the baby.
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Soothing Babies
Some parents believe that it is good to leave the baby crying for a few minutes before responding to them. Responding immediately to the infant’s first cry may ‘spoil’ them. This notion may seem to be intuitively true, but it is harmful in the long term. You should respond instantly to the baby’s first cry and have him/her trust you.
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Sleeping
Sleeping helps in growth, so the babies sleep for most of the part of the day. It is critical to place babies on their backs to prevent choking and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.)
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Bathing
Don’t bathe babies too many times in a single day, or they may catch a cold. Make sure you use baby-friendly soaps and shampoos for bathing. Massage the baby’s body with oils or lotions after the bath to prevent dry skin.
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Diapering
The diaper must always be fresh to prevent rashes and UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections.) In case of a rash, apply diaper lotions and ointments to heal the skin.
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Clothes
Babies need to get their clothes changed multiple times a day. So, buy several outfits for the first few months. The clothes should not be very small or tight as babies grow quickly. Also, the clothes must be season-friendly.
