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Are you a new parent, or are you expecting another baby? If so, you have to upgrade yourself to various ways of taking care of a baby. After you have gone through the tiresome process of pregnancy, you expect to welcome a healthy baby. Once the baby arrives, you have to take measures for them to feel at home and thrive. This article will discuss some of the top tips you should know and use to take care of your bundle of joy. Check on the list below.
1. Handling a newborn
A newborn baby is not like any other person. They have delicate skin and are prone to diseases. When it is your first time bringing up a baby, you might find handling them challenging and irritating. You have to handle them with care to avoid damaging their skin and also avoid infections. First, you need to wash and disinfect your hands before handling a baby. When holding them, you have to support their neck and head since they are the most fragile parts. You have to remember that any newborn baby isn’t ready for rough play. Ensure they are fastened to a babysitter when traveling and are never shaken, whether moving or playing with them.
2. Bonding and soothing the baby
Besides carefully handling the baby, you need to bond and soothe them to make them feel comfortable. How do you do this? Bonding is essential to create a deep connection with the baby. It has to be done on the first days after welcoming the baby.
Soothing your baby needs to be done the right way. As stated on this website, swaddling is one of the ancient methods of soothing your baby. It involves keeping the baby’s arms to the body while allowing movement of legs. It is essential to follow the right way of swaddling to make your baby comfortable and calm. When you don’t do the bonding and soothing right, the baby might be uncomfortable, affecting their growth.
3. Details about Diapering
Before your baby arrives, you would have decided whether to use washable or disposable diapers for them. Whatever the option you chose, changing the diaper is among the tiresome processes in bringing up a baby. Regardless of how tiresome and wanting it is, you have to do it right. In a day, you can change the diaper ten times. How do you do it right? Ensure you have all the supplies when changing a baby’s diaper. You will need a clean diaper, some pins if using a folding cloth diaper, diaper ointment, and wipes. Ensure to change the diaper immediately there is a bowel movement or when the baby is wet. Also, you have to apply the ointment to avoid baby rashes and these are some ways to prevent diaper rashes:
- Changing the diaper often.
- Cleaning the soiled area with baby soap and warm water.
- Leaving your baby free of diapers for some hours in a day.
If there is a persistent diaper rash, it is crucial to visit your doctor for a checkup and treatment.
4. Bathing your baby
You have to sponge bathe a newborn until when the umbilical cord falls, and the nerve heals. You can thoroughly bathe your baby three to four times a week. Frequent bathing will make the baby’s skin dry up. What do you need when cleaning the baby? You will require a clean, soft washcloth, unscented baby soap, a brush for the scalp, clean towels, a new diaper, and clean clothes. Ensure you follow the correct procedure when bathing the baby and never leave them alone in the water.
5. Feeding the baby
A newborn baby doesn’t require any food but the recommended breast milk. Whether sucking directly or feeding them through a bottle, it is essential to follow the proper feeding procedures and hygiene to ensure they stay healthy. Babies do not have a specific feeding time but will feed when hungry. Ensure breast milk is available whenever it is needed. When feeding your baby on formula, you have to follow its strict guidelines to ensure the baby feeds well. Also, during feeding, the baby might swallow in gas, making them fussy.
When such happens, you have to burp the baby. When burping, hold your baby upright with their head on your shoulder while parting their back. Other methods include holding them face down on your lap while gently tapping on their back.
We hope the above tips will help you a lot in taking care of your baby. As you can see from the list, the ways are easy to follow and achieve for your baby. You only need to do everything right, as required. It is also vital to follow advice from experts to bring up your baby the right way.
