You are now prepared to go back home and start a new life with your newborn baby after a successful delivery. But, after you get home, you can feel completely lost! How is newborn care different from the usual child care you are used to? These tips can quickly instill confidence in even the most anxious new parents regarding newborn care.
Newborn Care Basics
Being around an infant for the first time can be frightening due to its fragility. According to a KFF Women’s Health Survey, 93% of kids had a doctor visit in the previous year. But you shouldn’t be alarmed by this. Here are a few newborn care basics to help you navigate through this new experience.
Before touching your baby, wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer to sterilize them. Newborns are susceptible to disease since they don’t yet have a strong immune system. Ensure that the hands of anybody who interacts with your child are clean. You should support your baby’s neck and head while carrying them. Also, support the baby’s head when laying them down. Under any circumstances, including those of play or rage, never shake your baby. Shaking may cause brain damage and perhaps death. Tickle your baby’s feet or gently blow on one of their cheeks instead of shaking them to wake them up. Ensure your child is safely buckled into the car seat, stroller, or carrier. Any activity that might be overly rough or bouncy should be limited.
Feeding Your Infant
You might be unsure about how frequently to breastfeed or bottle-feed your child. Generally, feeding babies whenever they appear hungry or on demand is advised. Your infant may cry, put their fingers in their mouth, or make sucking noises as a cue to you. A newborn infant needs feeding every two to three hours. Give your infant the chance to nurse for roughly 10 to 15 minutes at each breast if you’re breastfeeding. Your infant will likely consume two to three ounces (60 to 90 milliliters) of formula at each feeding if you are formula feeding.
Sleeping Basics
If you’re a first-time mom, you might be startled to find that your baby sleeps for at least 16 hours each day. Newborns frequently sleep for 2-4 hours straight. Expect your baby to wake up if they haven’t had food in four hours because babies’ digestive systems are too small to allow them to sleep through the night. When should you anticipate your child will start sleeping through the night? At three months old, most babies sleep through the night (for six to eight hours), but if yours doesn’t, it’s not a cause for alarm.
Although managing a newborn may make you feel uneasy, you’ll establish a pattern and be parenting like a pro in a few weeks! Give our pediatricians a call today for more information on newborn care.
