A guide for first-time parents
Now that your baby is with you, your life has changed and you may have many questions about what to do. These tips will help first-time parents take care of a newborn in a short amount of time.
Get Help After Your Baby Comes Home
An important part of caring for a newborn is taking care of yourself. Don't hesitate to get help during this stressful time.
It's a good idea to ask anyone who handles or helps your baby to be aware of vaccinations and to only help when they're feeling well.
However, if you don't want to receive guests or have other concerns, feel free to limit visitors.
For babies, attachment helps them grow emotionally, which in turn affects their physical development. Children thrive by having a parent or other adult in their life who loves them unconditionally.
Start bonding with your baby by holding and gently stroking him.
Babies, especially premature babies and those with medical problems, may respond to baby massage. Some types of massage can strengthen the bonds and help the baby grow and develop. Many books and videos cover infant massage, but consult your doctor for specific recommendations. However, be careful - babies are not as strong as adults, so massage your baby gently.
Babies generally love sounds like talking, singing and screaming. Your baby will probably love listening to music. Baby jingles and musical mobiles are other good ways to stimulate your baby's hearing. If your baby is fussy, try singing, singing poetry and nursery rhymes while gently rocking your baby.
Some babies may be unusually sensitive to touch, light, or sound and may startle and cry easily, sleep less than expected, or turn away when someone talks or sings to them. If this is the case with your baby, keep noise and light levels low or moderate.
For some babies, swaddling is another soothing technique during the first few weeks. Proper swaddling keeps the baby's arms close to the body, while allowing the legs to move a little. Swaddling not only warms the baby, but also gives most newborns a sense of security and comfort. Lightness can also help limit the startle reflex that might wake the baby.
All about Diapers
Whether you use cloth or disposable diapers, your baby will soil them about 10 times a day or about 70 times a week. Miniboss diapers will be a favorite product of you and your child, both in terms of quality and price.
Feeding your baby and getting rid of colic
Regardless of what type of feeding your newborn is, you may wonder how often to do this. In general, it is recommended to feed babies on demand - when they seem hungry. Your baby may signal to you by crying, putting his fingers in his mouth, or making sounds.
A newborn baby should be fed every 2-3 hours. If you are breastfeeding, give your baby a chance to nurse for about 10-15 minutes on each breast. If you formula feed, your baby will get about 2 to 3 ounces (60 to 90 milliliters) at each feeding.
Some newborns may need to be woken every few hours to make sure they are eating enough. Call your baby's doctor if you need to wake your newborn frequently or if your baby doesn't seem interested in feeding or sucking.
If you are formula feeding, you can easily see if your baby is getting enough. But if you're breastfeeding, it can be a little more difficult. If your baby seems happy, has about six diapers a day, sleeps well, and is gaining weight regularly, then he is eating enough.
Babies often swallow air during feeding, which can be uncomfortable. To prevent this, pat your baby's back often. If you're bottle-feeding, try to burp your baby after every 2-3 ounces (60-90 milliliters).
If your baby tends to be gassy, has gastroesophageal reflux, or seems fussy during feedings, try burping after every ounce when feeding your baby with a bottle or every 5 minutes when nursing.