Caring For Newborn
Babies - A Learned
Skill
Delivering your
first child is a stunning
experience (to say the
least) as well as the
beginning of a new time in a
woman's life. Motherhood has
its amazing rewards but
unfortunately your baby
doesn't come with a
handbook.
Sleep
Newborn babies usually sleep
for sixteen hours in a day
or at least that's what the
textbooks say. Some do, some
don't. However, you do need
to encourage your baby to
sleep during the first few
months of life. Newborn
babies sleep for the most
part for about two hours at
a time. You need to
establish a day/night
routine fairly early on so
that they get to know the
difference. Believe me, it
will save a lot of sleepless
nights if you are successful
with this early.
Exercise
Your newborn baby will
benefit from small exercises
which you make your baby do.
You can gently massage his
muscles to facilitate their
coordination and this is
also a fabulous soothing
tool. Lie your baby down on
its back and gently move its
limbs. You can bend your
baby's knees and elbows but
with care.
Food
It is necessary that your
newborn baby receives a
suitable diet during the
initial months. There is
much debate about whether or
not to breastfeed. My advice
is do what is right for you,
so long as your baby is fed
at regular intervals
throughout the day your baby
will thrive.
Bath
Don't be concerned if your
daily ritual with your new
child prevents daily baths.
While it is good to
establish a routine early
on, and a bath is certainly
soothing, it is not
necessary. Always wrap your
baby in a soft towel and
then dry your baby one limb
at a time so that your baby
does not feel cold. An after
bath tip is to use olive oil
on your baby's skin. It is
the best moisturizer you'll
find. An the best nappy rash
deterrent I've found.
Health
Any abnormal change in your
child's behaviour will be
noticed by you first.
Constant crying, coughing or
sneezing is something that
should be seen to by your
family doctor. A mother's
intuition about her children
is rarely wrong. Always
consult your doctor
immediately if you are
concerned about your child's
health.
Taking care of your
newborn should be
satisfying. Never hesitate
to ask for help or advice.
An experienced mother is
always a great source of
information. Don't hesitate
to ask for help and remember
that your community nurse
and/or family doctor are
there to help.