Find out newborn baby care tips. A newborn baby brings happiness to the family. Parents want to take special care of their child. But it’s an exciting yet challenging task, especially for the parents who have their firstborn. They have no idea how they will take care of their newborn. To guide parents, we have written this article and tried to cover all the newborn baby care tips that will be a great help for parents.

Newborn baby care tips by ibestbabyswing.com

Here are Some Newborn Baby Care Tips For Parents:

1. Soothe your crying newborn

soothe crying newborn baby care tips

Whenever your baby cries, give him comfort by tapping his back gently. It will make your baby relax, make him feel secure, and also helps him to burp quickly. This method works in most of the cases, but if it doesn’t, then you can try other calming moves like shushing, swing him, swaddle or hold him on his side.

2. Holding your newborn

holding newborn baby

Don’t afraid to hold your newborn; hold him with care. It is shown in studies, that babies who are held for more than 2 hours in a day, cry less as compared to those who are held for less time. Before holding your newborn baby keep few things in mind:

  • Hold baby with great care as their neck muscles are weak and haven’t developed yet. Whenever you pick up and hold the baby, give support to his head against your shoulder or with your hand.
  • Wash your hands before holding him, as the newborns have a weak immune system, so there is a chance that they can get affected if your hands are dirty. So make sure to wash your hands and clean them before picking up your baby.
  • Don’t shake your baby as it can cause bleeding. Whether you want to play with your baby or want to wake him up, then don’t do this by shaking him. You can tickle your baby gently for this purpose.

3. Keep baby awake during feeding

keep baby awake during feeding

Whenever you are feeding your baby, and he is sleepy, so he will eat slowly. Then simply massage his cheeks gently with your fingertips. So he will eat faster. Whenever the baby eats good and efficiently before going to sleep, they sleep for a more extended period between their feedings. If your baby is growing fast, check these swings for bigger babies.

4. Diapering your baby

diapering newborn baby care tips

During the day after every bowel movement, you are going to need a diaper for your baby. You have to change his diaper for about ten times a day. So whenever you are going to change the diaper of your baby, make sure you have all these necessary things near you. So you don’t leave your baby alone while bringing these things:

  • A new diaper
  • Baby wipes or cotton balls or water
  • Diaper ointment

So whenever your baby’s diaper is dirty after each bowel movement. Lay your baby on his back and remove the dirty diaper. Clean your baby’s genitals gently with the help of cotton balls or baby wipes or even with the water.

If you have a baby boy, then remove diaper with great care, because exposure to air may make him urinate. If you have a baby girl, then while wiping her, wipe her bottom from front to back. In this way, you can avoid urinary tract infections.

After cleaning your baby, apply ointment to avoid rashes. After changing the diaper, don’t forget to wash your hands.

For babies, diaper rash can also occur. But you don’t need to worry about it, as it is a common concern. Mostly it is happened because of the dirty or wet diapers. Rashes can make your baby’s bottom red, but they can quickly go away. To remove rashes, you can wash the baby’s bottom with warm water, or you can even use diaper cream for this purpose.

Keep in mind a few newborn baby care tips to prevent rashes:

  • Try to use water and mild soap while wiping the baby’s bottom instead of wipes, because in very few cases, wipes can irritate the baby. Then after wiping, apply rash cream.
  • Don’t let your baby stay in a dirty diaper for a longer period, try to change the diaper as soon as possible, after the diaper gets dirty.
  • For a few part of the day, let your baby stay without a diaper. In this way, the baby can expose his/her skin to air for some time.

Remember, if the baby is unable to get rid of rashes for more than three days, then get in contact with your doctor. Do you know when do babies crawl?

5. Basics of baby sleep

Newborn sleeping

If it’s your first child, then you may find it unusual that a newborn baby sleeps for more than 16 hours a day. Don’t think that your baby is going to sleep the whole night; baby’s sleep period is for 2-4 hours. As the baby’s stomach is so small, so that’s why it needs to be fed after a few hours. It is necessary for the nourishment of the baby.

Most of the babies start to sleep for the whole night at three months of their age. But if your baby is three months old and not sleeping for the entire night, then still you don’t need to worry about it. Every baby has its sleeping pattern, which they develop over time.

Remember, always put babies on their back while they sleep, as it reduces the chance of SIDS. Don’t use pillows, stuffed animals while the baby is sleeping as it can cause suffocation to the baby.

It’s essential to keep on changing the baby’s head position each night, e.g., one night right and another night left. It is necessary to avoid the development of a flat spot on the side of the baby’s head.

Newborn babies usually don’t have a proper sleeping schedule. They are more likely to sleep during the day, and they are active during the nighttime. Here you can use a little trick with them. Try to keep them engaged during the day by playing and talking with them during the day time. During the nighttime, keep the lights low and minimize the noise.

6. Basics of newborn baby bath

newborn baby bath

At the start, the first four weeks only give a sponge bath to your newborn until the circumcision heals, and also, the navel recovers after the umbilical cord fall off.

It’s better to get items ready before giving a bath to your newborn. Otherwise, you have to leave the child alone to get those items.

Get these items ready before giving a bath to your baby:

  • Towel
  • A mild baby soap
  • Baby shampoo
  • A soft and clean washcloth
  • New diaper
  • Neat and clean clothes
  • Soft brush for baby’s scalp

How to give a sponge bath?

Lie down the baby on a flat surface. Take a bowl filled with warm water (note: shouldn’t be hot). Remove your baby’s clothes and cover him up with the towel. Now the damp the washcloth in the water and wipe the eye of your baby. Wipe it from the inner corner to the outer corner. Use another corner of the washcloth to clean the other eye of the baby.

Now wipe the nose and ear of your baby with a wet washcloth. Now apply a little amount of soap on the face of the baby and wipe it gently with a dampened washcloth.

Create suds using the baby shampoo. Apply the suds gently on the head of the baby and rinse it slowly. Now wash the rest of your baby parts like underarms, genital area, and around the neck, etc. with soap and washcloth. Gently pat the baby to dry his body. Now diaper and dress up your newborn.

How to give a tub bath?

If the baby is over four weeks and is ready for a bathtub, then give him the first bath but should be very gentle. If he hesitates, then keep on giving him a sponge bath for two more weeks. In a tub bath, you need all those items which were used in sponge both in addition to:

  • Get a plastic infant bathtub for your baby. Fill 2-3 inches with warm water. Before putting your baby inside the tub, first, check the temperature with your fingertip. It shouldn’t be hot, but a little warm water.

Place the tub in a warm temperature room. Now lie your baby inside the tub and hold his head with your one hand. Use your other hand to wash his body, starting from feet to chest gently. Wipe the face and head or baby with a washcloth and lightly give massage to the scalp of baby with brush and fingertips.

After applying shampoo to the baby’s head, cover his forehead with your hand while rinsing, so that the suds don’t go into his eyes. Gently wash the rest of your baby with soap and water. During the bath, keep on pouring the water on his body so that he doesn’t get cold. After bathing him, immediately wrap your baby in the towel. Don’t forget to cover his head as well with the towel. These newborn baby care tips for bathing will help you a lot in giving him proper, effective, and riskless baths.

7. Let your baby make a bond with dad

newborn baby bonding with daddy

No doubt, the baby spends most of the time with his mom. But let the baby spend some of his time also with dad because dad’s voice and touches are different from the mom. From this bonding process, you will not only get a break but also, the baby will start to be comfortable with someone else.

This process will take little time, but sooner, he will get comfortable with his dad. It will be much easier if the baby is fed and well-rested so that you can leave him with his dad for at least 2 hours. Make sure one thing, if you leave the baby with dad, then you shouldn’t be nearby. Its better that baby is unable to hear or see you.

However, if the baby starts crying, then you know how to fix it, but dad needs time. By spending time with the child, dad will also learn how to make him stop crying, and the baby will also learn the other way of comfort.

8. Feeding baby

feeding newborn baby care tips

The first question that triggers in mind while feeding the baby either by breastfeed or with the feeder is, how frequently you have to feed your baby? It’s better to feed the baby when he demands it. You can guess it by some simple gestures, e.g., the baby starts crying, starts to make sucking noise, or starts putting a finger in his mouth.

Keep in mind; generally, you have to feed your newborn every 2-3 hours. If you are feeding the baby with feeder, then prepare 2-3 ounces of milk for your baby each time. If you are breastfeeding him, then give him 10-15 minutes each time to suck milk.

It’s essential to monitor the diet of the baby to keep the baby healthy. It’s simple to track if you are feeding him with a feeder. However, if you are breastfeeding him, then it can become a little tricky to track. But still, you can monitor it with some simple tricks:

  • If the baby is getting enough sleep
  • Making wet at least six diapers a day
  • having several stools a day
  • Gaining weight regularly

Then it means your baby is getting proper feed. During the feed, usually, babies swallow air as well, which makes them fussy. To prevent this, you can burp the baby after every ounce if you are feeding him with the feeder. If you are breastfeeding the baby, then switch the breast after every 5 minutes.

Here are some newborn baby care tips that you can follow while burping your baby:

  • Pick up the baby and hold him in a straight-up position. Put his head against your shoulder and pat his back gently with your one hand.
  • Lie down your baby on your lap with the face down. Give support to the head of the baby with your hand and make sure it is higher than the level of the chest. Now pat the back of the baby with your other hand.
  • Make your baby sit on your lap. Give support to your baby’s chest and head in a way that you hold his chin with the palm of your hand; his chest with the heel of your hand. Now gently pat his back with the other hand.

Every time after you feed your baby, don’t forget to burp him. Keep him in the upright position for at least 10-15 minutes; otherwise, the baby may spit-up.

FAQs

How can I make my newborn healthy?

Feed babies properly with breastfeed or with infant formula. The ideal feed for babies is the breastfeed, however, if it’s not possible, then you can go for infant formula. Feed your baby after every 2-3 hours.

Monitor the feed of baby, it’s easy if you are feeding your baby with feeder. But if your baby is on a breastfeed, then monitoring will be a little tricky. You can do this by noticing that if the baby is getting proper sleep, making diaper wet for at least six times a day, gaining weight regularly. Then it means the baby is well-fed and he will be healthy.

How do I calm my newborn?

You can make him calm by playing with him, singing a song, and also by giving him a gentle massage to his scalp with your fingertips. You can use an effective way as well, i.e., you can put him in an infant rocker for some time. Portable Baby Swings can quickly calm your baby with their different kind of motions and with the built-in music system.

You can even swaddle your baby. Swaddling not only soothes your baby but also make him feel secure and cozy, as it gives the feel of a womb. It is found in a study that swaddling can reduce the fussiness of babies. Pacifiers can also do their job in making baby calm. Put pacifiers in the baby’s mouth, and he will soothe himself by sucking it.

Why does my newborn cry at night?

Because you have to feed your newborn baby every 2-3 hours, so whenever they feel hungry during the night, they cry. You can find out if they are hungry by simple indicators, i.e., they make sucking noise, put a finger in their mouth.

Another reason for crying is if their diaper is dirty. Dirty and wet diaper irritates baby and can cause rashes to their bottom. So it’s vital to change the diaper immediately after it gets dirty.

How long can a newborn cry?

On average, a newborn baby can cry for up to 2 hours a day.

What can newborns see?

At the start, a newborn baby is only able to detect light and motion. Then he becomes able to detect large shapes and faces. When he becomes almost one month old, then he becomes able to make eye contact, and also he can detect the object that is 12 inches away from him. When he becomes almost 3-4 months old, he becomes able to detect smaller objects. He can also differentiate between colors at this age.

Do newborn babies feel love?

Even when babies are in the womb of their mother, they can feel, hear, and also can smell their mothers. When they are born, they feel attachments. The more you care about them, the more they become attached to you. So definitely, newborn babies feel loved. When you take regular care of them, they make an emotional bond with you.

What happens if a newborn cries too long?

Normally, baby cries, and you don’t need to worry about it. You just have to come up for his aid immediately. But if a baby is crying and you are not responding to him, then you have to worry about it. Because crying for more time can cause brain damage, which leads to lower their learning capacity.

Can newborns drink water?

No, because newborn babies don’t need extra hydration. Infants under six months old should avoid drinking water as babies already have a tiny belly. Even a little amount of water is enough to fill up their bellies. Water will interfere with the ability of the body to absorb nutrients from milk. So water is strictly prohibited for babies under six months old.

When can newborn go outside?

It’s better to avoid going outside for newborn babies under eight weeks old. Places that are crowded or with a weak ventilation system can be dangerous for your newborn. As newborn babies have a weak immune system, so there is a chance that they can get affected by airborne germs.

How do I get my newborn to sleep at night?

Newborns have a mixed schedule; they sleep for 16 hours a day in both day and night. Don’t think that they are going to sleep for the whole night as they have a short sleep period of 2-4 hours. Because they have a small stomach, which needs to be fed every 2-3 hours, so they wake up and demand milk.

Usually, babies start to sleep at night when they are at least three months old. A sleeping pattern develops with time. Once they are three months old and still not sleeping at night, then you can use some tricks to make them sleep at night. Try to play with them during the day, sing them a song. During night keep the lights low and reduce the noise.

Can newborns drink water for hiccups?

There is no need to give them water during hiccups. As hiccups don’t make babies upset, so you don’t need to worry about it. Water is not suitable for babies under six months old. However, if you want to do something, then you can try giving him milk, but remember it’s not going to work every time.

Conclusion

we’ve tried our best to cover all kinds of newborn baby care tips in this article. Taking care of a newborn is an exciting yet challenging situation for the parents, especially for those who have their firstborn. Because newborns need special attention and care. Always keep yourself clean, as babies have a weak immune system,s so dirty hands can infect them with germs. Newborns need to be fed after every 2-3 hours to keep them healthy either with breastfeed or with infant formula. However, breastfeeding is recommended.

Change their diapers immediately once it gets dirty; otherwise, it will cause rashes on their bottom. Hold babies with special care as their neck muscles are weak and haven’t developed yet, so shaking may cause SIDS. Whenever newborn cries, soothe him immediately, it will make him feel secure and relax. You can relieve them by swaddling, burping, or even with baby swings. Crying for a long time is bad for their mental health.

At the start, it’s better to avoid taking your newborn baby outside, especially in crowded places, as they have a weak immune system, so there is a chance that they can get infected with airborne germs. Take special care of your newborn. The more you take care of him, the stronger emotional bond will be created between you and your newborn. Upon following all the mentioned above newborn baby care tips, you’ll be able to take special care of your baby in a healthy manner.

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