First off congratulations
on your newborn baby! While
at the hospital, ask the
nurses and doctors as many
questions as you can think
of there is no dumb
question. The nurses working
with you have been around a
lot of babies and will be
happy to show you anything
they know on extra tips to
help with your baby. Don't
forget to enlist any family
and friends to help out for
the first few weeks. The
granny's are already pros,
and can teach you a lot. So
keep this in mind when they
are giving advice. Do not
feel obligated to use every
ones instructions follow
your instincts.
First and most important
is the car seat. Follow the
instructions, if you need
help the hospital nurse will
help, and there is always a
number to the manufacturer.
Just do not buy a used car
seat. You have no way of
knowing if the seat has been
in a car wreck. If a car
seat has been in a wreck,
this impairs the protection
that a car seat is meant to
provide. If your in a wreck
call the manufacturers some
will send you another car
seat just for asking.
Do not be afraid to hold
your baby. While this seems
intimidating as long as you
support the head there are
many positions you can hold
your baby in. Against your
shoulder, across your lap.
With your hand under the
baby's chest, neck, and jaws
you can actually lay the
baby on your forearm, good
for leaving your other hand
free.
If your going to breast
feed ask the hospital to
send a lactation specialist
to your room, and let them
know you want a pump. This
will help out so much. In
addition ask where you can
rent a pump. This will make
a big difference in milk
production as well as
keeping the breast from
overfilling. Just remember
to ask to be shown how to
nurse, and do not get
frustrated if this does not
work the first time. Give
the baby about 15 minutes on
each breast.
When formula feeding give
them a couple ounces of
course ask the doctor first.
If the baby has any problem
with feeding call your
doctor for advice. Whichever
method you use be sure to
burp the baby often. This is
easy enough, you can pat the
baby's back gently and hold
in whichever position is
most comfortable to you. If
the baby still seems to have
gas you can lay the baby in
your lap, and lightly
bounce, your knees while
patting the baby's back, and
supporting the head.
Changing your babies
diapers. At the hospital
diapers are provided, you
may choose to use cloth, and
this is a personal
preference. Just remember a
baby's bladder is no larger
than a peanut, so check them
often, and remember you will
be going through a lot of
diapers for the first few
months about 10 per day. If
you do not have baby wipe
warmer, at least run a few
through warm water. Always
clean the back too, as urine
and feces can go up the
back. Make sure with a
female to always clean front
to back and get in all the
folds. Keep diaper rash
medicine on hand and use as
a preventative with each
diaper change. An old home
remedy, if you brown some
dry flour in a pan, this can
be used as baby powder
without all the dust. Now
that the diaper change is
done this is the time to
clean the umbilical cord
with alcohol as directed by
your doctor.
Bathing your baby is
relaxing for the baby. This
is best done at the changing
table even if it is the baby
tub since all the baby
supplies are right there.
Until the umbilical cord
falls off it is best to
sponge bath, this is quick
and easy. Since your sponge
bathing you can leave the
diaper on until you get to
that part. Get a little
container of warm water, use
the washcloth to wash the
baby from head to toe all
but the face, start with the
hair, and leave the private
area for last. To wash the
hair just use the damp cloth
or baby brush lightly to
clean the head, and be
careful when cleaning soft
spot. While washing
the baby keep dipping the
wash cloth in the water to
keep it warm, and be sure to
get in all the crevices.
Take your time with the
fingers and toes. You can
use a q-tip to clean the
creases around the neck.
After your all done with the
body, wash the face and eyes
with a cotton ball with just
water. Quickly dry the baby,
then give them a nice light
massage all over with a
little lotion, then dress.
When the baby graduates to
tub baths, make sure the
room is warm. Lay a towel on
the changing table to set
the baby tub on. Fill the
tub with just a couple
inches of water check the
water with your elbow, to
make sure it is not too warm
or cold. Most
important is the support,
put your hand under the
babies head with one hand,
and use the other hand to
wash the baby, soak up water
and keep squeezing this over
the baby to keep them comfy.
To wash the back you can lay
the baby over your arm long
ways and support the head
while working quickly to
wash the back. Just make
sure you give one last rinse
over, and until the baby
then quickly wrap baby, and
dry the baby. Dress the baby
so they will not be cold.
Finally the bathing, and
feeding are done. So you can
put the baby to bed. The
baby's bed, should not have
a bunch of covers, blankets
stuffed animals or cute
items in the bed with the
baby. As long as the baby is
swaddled, and you keep the
temperature warm in the home
this is enough. The baby
needs to be trained to sleep
on the back. You can not be
too careful because of
sudden infant death
syndrome. It is best to keep
the bassinet in the room
with you if you can, until
the baby is 3 months or be
sure there is a baby monitor
next to the baby's bed so
you can hear them if there
is any problem. It can take
weeks for a baby to sleep
all night, so catch your
sleep when the baby is
napping so you can get your
strength up.
Some vanity items that
you will find useful. A baby
swing which can not be used
until baby can hold the head
up, a baby wipe warmer, a
battery operated bottle
warmer/cooler combo, baby
Einstein lullaby music, sun
protection-all year round,
portable changing pad, a
diaper genie, a nursing
pillow-this can be used even
when not nursing to help
support baby, netting for
the top of a playpen when
outside, baby monitors,
sleep position blocks, and a
baby sling.
Recommended reading
topics. Sudden infant death
syndrome. Shaken baby
syndrome. What to expect the
first year is the best book
I ever read about child care
be sure to buy it or check
it out from the library.
Important tips: Do not
shake your baby. Do not ever
leave a baby unattended in a
car even for a minute.
Always completely engage the
belts and support for
placing baby in the car seat
per the manufacturer
instructions. Never leave a
baby unattended on changing
table, or in the baby bath,
or anywhere except the baby
bed, not even for a second.
I am not a physician, and
all information is from my
personal knowledge. This
information is not intended
to be used in place of
medical advice. Any
questions always call your
pediatrician first.
