Essential newborn baby caring tips for those first few weeks
A new baby is indeed a bundle of joy, but your little one is also remarkably fragile and defenseless — especially in today’s rapid-paced, chemical-fuelled world. Whether you’re spending the day with your infant at home, choosing a new last name for your child or heading out for a visit with mum, it’s important to pay attention to any potential hazards that may lurk in your environment. From car safety to infant CPR, here are some newborn baby caring tips for those special first few weeks.
Do I need to follow these newborn baby caring tips?
From looking after multiple newborns, there are certain things I’ve learned through experience, so this article aims to help you avoid the failures that came with trial and error during those times, especially suited if you’re a first time parent. Take what you read as guidance only, but it’s important to consider these newborn tips and facts as part of your routine after birth.
How to take care of the newborn baby – Create essential stations for newborn care
You’re going to be tired after birth, and the new experiences happening around you will be overwhelming. So it’s important to prepare for when you take your baby home. If you’ve had a difficult birth and experienced a birth trauma then you should try to minimise moving around by ensuring you create essential stations for newborn care set up, so you can still be responsive to baby quickly and safely.
General stations can include a nappy changing area which includes all the essentials, like nappies, wipes, cotton wools, a place for cooled boiled water and clothing sets, as well as blankets and something entertaining for baby to look at while you change.
Wash hands before handling the baby and then wash hands after you change baby’s nappy to protect from germs spreading unnecessarily.
We will talk about other the stations you’ll need throughout this article too.
How to take care of baby – feeding and burping your baby
Another essential station to set up is a feeding station where you can sit comfortably and feed baby. Nursing care of newborn baby involves regular feeding even at night and whether you’re breastfeeding or using formula feed, your baby will want to feed every few hours at the beginning. Do not sleep train at the beginning, as this is actually detrimental to their health. When taking care of baby, respond quickly when your baby cries during the first months so they feel safe and secure.
If you are having trouble breastfeeding your baby, then you can visit a lactation consultant or attend your local clinic for professional help and support.
Burp the newborn after feeding
A gentle way to help your baby digest milk after feeding is to either place them over your shoulder with a muslin cloth in between or lean them over your hand. Gently rub their back in a clockwise circular motion until they burp. If after ten circles, they haven’t burped, you can feed them again. Take your time with this as it helps the baby to feel comfortable after a feed.
Newly born baby care – Change your baby’s nappy regularly
To avoid nappy rash, it’s important to change your baby’s nappy as soon as they have soiled, to prevent any nasty rashes on their delicate skin. At the beginning, you can use cooled boiled water and cotton wool, then after four to six weeks, you can transition to baby wipes. We use water wipes as they seem to be the most gentle on skin.
Newborn baby care tips – bathe your baby safely but not too frequently
There is no set baby skincare regime for first-time parents when learning how to look after a newborn during bathtimes. A gentle bath routine will help baby stay clean and happy.
For the first few weeks at least, you don’t need any cleansers when you bath baby as newborns are mostly clean. You can start with topping and tailing (more info here on how to take care of a newborn baby when bathing) to help you gain confidence in bathing your baby before you transition to bathing them in the bath tub.
After a few weeks, you can introduce a baby soap and give the baby a sponge bath to help with the cleaning process, but make sure it’s a gentle soap that’s suitable for newborn skin.
How to care for a newborn baby – Incorporate a baby massage into their bath/bed routine
As part of your baby bath routine, you could give the baby a massage which not only feels good but it helps baby relax before bedtime. Baby massage is also great for the digestion system and the blood circulation too.
Encourage baby to self soothe by gently flowing into a bedtime routine. Kids thrive on routine because they love to preempt what’s happening next in a world where they have no control. But, as with anything, no force is needed. Be guided by your baby to encourage them into a bedtime routine that works for you and baby.
Newly born baby care tips – Sleep when your baby sleeps and start a bedtime routine
Plan to sleep when your baby sleeps, which we all know can be tough when you have a million things to do. But, if you’re not sleeping well at night, then you don’t want to risk exhaustion. Even if it’s a short five to ten-minute nap, resting where you can make the difference between having the energy to deal with the onslaught of new experiences and being no good to anyone because you’re sick.
You can also use a white noise machine when baby is sleeping to help lull them into a deep sleep or to keep them asleep, but this shouldn’t be relied upon. A dark room helps baby settle down easily, so invest in some dark blinds and a comfortable place to feed baby.
Many people advise to make sure the baby is awake during daytime feedings to help them establish day and night, but during the newborn stages, it’s important to be responsive to the newborn’s cues because they require regular feeds throughout the day. Look for cues from baby when they’re tired and drowsy, and look for cues from baby so you can initiate the sleep routine before they become overtired.
Skin to skin contact with baby
Whenever and wherever possible, try to encourage skin to skin contact with baby because it helps to calm both you and baby, it regulates the baby’s heart rate and breathing and it stimulates digestion and an interest in feeding.
How to take care of newborn baby – protect your baby from sharp nails
A lesser known fact is to put mittens on baby’s bands after birth to take care of baby not scratching themselves with sharp nails, which tend to grow very fast. Babies aren’t in control of their limbs so they need help to protect their skin.
When handling baby take care to file nails while baby sleeps to avoid baby moving about too much. This is to help make sure there are no sharp edges when you trim baby’s nails.
Tips to take care of newborn baby – safe sleeping
Newborns are safest when they sleep on their backs on a firm surface, away from blankets or pillows. Pick a crib/cot that is suitable for your baby, so that you can minimise any complications because
- Smoking around the baby
- Placing the baby on her stomach to sleep
- Placing the baby on a soft surface to sleep
- Placing the baby in a room away from her mother to sleep
- Not breastfeeding
If your baby moves during sleep, change the position of the baby’s head when sleeping so that their airways are clear and they sleep on their back.
Car safety
Car safety is an essential part of keeping your newborn safe when you’re out and about with baby, so when you choose a car seat, it’s important to find one that meets national safety standards. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure it is properly installed in the back seat and facing towards the rear of your vehicle. Pull the straps tight enough to properly restrain your child and make sure the baby is securely fastened in the event of an accident.
Most newborns dislike being placed in a car seat at first, but in time, they usually adjust. Drive with even more care, if possible, and in the event of an accident — even a small one — be sure to notify the police, and accept any medical care for your child that is necessary.
A proper hold
Newborns have deceptively weak neck muscles, which means it’s important to support their heads when you hold them. Gently keep a hand behind your baby’s head anytime you move her until your baby’s neck is strengthened — usually by the time she is two to three months old.
Try baby wearing with a baby sling or baby carrier to move baby around safely. Make sure you follow the package instructions on how to carry baby safely and securely,
Prevent falls
Newborn babies aren’t mobile yet, but you still need to be on the lookout to prevent falls. Never place your baby on an elevated surface — even in a car seat or bouncy seat — in case they fall, and always stay with your child while you’re changing his nappy, so there’s no chance of him/her falling off the changing surface.
Infant CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, for infants differs from it is for adults, so even if you’ve been trained on reviving grown-ups, you may need further education on how to resuscitate a child. A class conducted by a trained professional is recommended. In the meantime, some features of infant CPR are:
- Be sure to remove any visible blockages from baby’s mouth or nose.
- Place one hand on your baby’s forehead and tilt it back while lifting the chin.
- Place two of your fingers in the centre of your child’s chest and press down roughly a third of the depth of his chest.
- At the rate of 100 per minute, give 30 compressions. Then, give two breaths into your child’s nose and mouth.
- Continue the repetition of 30 compressions to two breaths until your baby recovers or help arrives.
Product recalls
Pay attention to any product recalls that may affect your baby equipment at home or at nursery. Cribs, strollers, car seats, and more are all commonly recalled due to defective manufacturing that leads to safety risks. An ongoing and updated list of product recalls can be found here.
Avoiding phthalates and BPA
Plasticisers, also known as phthalates, and bisphenol A, also known as BPA, are two common chemicals found in many household products, from lotions and packaging to cosmetics and toys. There is a lot of concern over the side effects that may be caused through exposure to these chemicals, such as hormone disruption that can affect your child’s reproductive system, as well as an increased prevalence towards asthma, obesity, and even cancer. While a definitive link has not been proven, it’s best to rid your home of anything that has these chemicals in it just to be safe.
Look after yourself
This article wouldn’t be a useful article if I didn’t include newborn care tips for stressed out parents. I’ve been through the newborn stage four times and I know how overwhelming it is when handling a newborn while staying sane during the first six weeks, especially when learning how to handle newborn baby alone after the help has gone.
The postpartum bleeding, the sleep deprivation and a needy baby creates a combo platter of stressful emotions, which makes it difficult for you to think objectively. It indeed takes a village to look after a baby, but if you don’t have a village, then the least I can advise is to take time to look after yourself. Plan to sleep when your baby sleeps and take the rest where you can. Babies need love and attention but so do you. Don’t forget yourself.
Newborns are resilient, but it is your job to keep your baby safe. Thankfully, by using common sense and following these newborn baby tips and other guidelines, you will know how to take care of your newborn baby and do so without too much worry.
For more parenting tips direct to your inbox, as well as baby care tips for new parents and my top tools that I’ve tried, tested and love, sign up above for more information, tips and freebies.
FAQ
When can newborn babies see? What are the vision development stages?
Check out my article here for more information on what a baby sees in the first year of life.
What are the basics for a newborn?
Other questions asked were:
- How do you take care of a newborn?
- What are some newborn life hacks for parents?
- Taking care of a newborn baby of one month is challenging. What can I do to manage the situation?
- When babysitting a little baby newborn, 7 months, how can I provide the best care for the child?
- What are some life hacks when having a newborn baby?
- What special care does a newborn baby need?
- How do parents take care of a newborn baby in the first six months?
- How do you take care of newborn baby in winter?
Follow the above baby care tips for new mums to help with the first few weeks of handling a newborn.
What should you not do with a newborn?
Never shake a baby because it can lead to brain damage or even death. Also, do not neglect your baby. They cry because that’s their only form of communication. They don’t cry for nothing! Find out what is causing your baby to cry and tend to their needs accordingly.
How do I organise a newborn’s room?
Check out this article here for more information on how to decorate your child’s nursery.
What are some tips for managing your own sleep when caring for a newborn?
Check out my article here on how to manage your own sleep when caring for a baby.
*Collaborative feature post*
