Babies 2 Toddlers - Information and Advice

Newborn Baby Care: Basic Things You Need To Know

April 10th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

A new baby might be absolutely adorable but having to take care of one can also seem like the scariest thing in the world too! If you are a new parent, the responsibility for that tiny bundle is an enormous responsibility to bear. However, try to relax and enjoy those first few days and weeks with your new baby because all too often those early days can go by in a blur, never to be recaptured. This will be made all the more easy if you are well-versed in a few basics of newborn baby care. In the first few weeks your divine little bundle will basically just sleep, eat and dirty diapers. So these are the three basic processes that you need to know about to master newborn baby care.

Newborn Baby Care: Sleeping

Your newborn baby will start off sleeping about sixteen hours a day in the beginning. This sleep normally takes place in blocks of about three to four hours as that is about as long as they can go without food. Because your newborn will spend so much time sleeping, his sleep environment is important so you need to make sure you provide the proper setting for him. A Moses basket or crib without any excess bedding such as pillows (which shouldn’t be given to a baby under 12 months old) is ideal. Make sure you place your baby on his back to sleep as this reduces the risk of SIDS.

Newborn Baby Care: Eating

Babies need feeding every two to four hours in the early days and weeks of life. This applies to babies who are breast fed and bottle fed. While demand feeding (offering food when the baby seems hungry) is a good approach, it can be used in conjunction with a loose feeding routine so that the baby’s digestive system can start to become regulated. This approach to newborn baby care tends to be easier with bottle-fed babies as it is easier to see exactly how much milk they are taking. Don’t forget to wind your baby as burping allows air taken in during sucking to escape before getting into the tummy so it is an important part of the feeding process

Newborn Baby Care: Diapers

Once you have decided whether to use cotton or disposable diapers, you might think that you have done your job in this area of newborn baby care. This is not the case. As well as diapers, you will also need to stock up on wipes, diaper ointment and cotton balls. Newborn babies have very sensitive skin, so you must take care when cleaning your baby’s bottom. Some parents prefer to use a washcloth and warm water instead of baby wipes, although a lot of wipes that are available are fragrance free and do not contain harsh chemicals that can damage your infant’s skin. Don’t forget, as a part of newborn baby care, to change your child frequently. Don’t only change them when they are dirty as being wet can be very uncomfortable for them and also contribute to diaper rash.

Above all, babies are wonderful so enjoy them and try to keep up-to-date on newborn baby care information so you can give them the best start possible.