Welcoming a newborn is the most exciting yet scariest part about starting a family. Whether you’re a first-time parent or have a few children already, the newborn phase is a challenging time for everyone. They’re such tiny, precious creatures who require constant attention and care, and it’s always a good idea to keep yourself informed on how to look after them before the time comes to bring them home.
If you’ve never done this before, you might be surprised that there’s so much more to taking care of a newborn baby than just feeding, changing, nap times, and cuddling. There will be adorable moments, but there might be some nightmarish ones too. In this article, we’ll help you prepare for it all with the top 6 ways to look out for your newborn baby. Let’s dive right in.
- Observe Them Carefully
As parents of a newborn, you need to keep a watchful eye on them. They might not move much or do much in the first few weeks of their lives but observing them and what little movements they do may be crucial for their health. Some abnormal signs to look out for are difficulty suckling or swallowing, high-pitched crying, or even excessive drooling. These could be signs that your baby might have had a birth injury at the time of labor.
Birth injuries occur when there is negligence in the care of health providers at the time of birth of your baby. If this is the case with your baby, you’re not alone. You might be eligible for birth injury lawsuit settlements that will cover any expenses your family will need to care for the child suffering from a preventable injury. So, trust your instincts and keep an eye out for anything you might find abnormal.
- Feeding Your Baby
When your baby is born, you’ll realize one of the only things they want to do is eat. This is because newborn babies are rapidly growing, but their tiny tummies only allow so much milk to be consumed at a time. This means you’ll find yourself having to feed your baby throughout the day and even during the night.
To figure out just how much they need to eat, look out for their hunger cues. These could be crying, finger-sucking, or other sounds. But generally, newborns should be fed about every 2 to 3 hours. If your baby is well-fed, they’ll have regular wet diapers, seem content, are sleeping well, and will be gaining weight consistently.
- Diaper Changes
If you’re a first-time parent, you’ll be surprised at how much your baby needs to ‘go to the bathroom.’ Newborns typically poop four times a day during the first week of their lives but come down to just twice a day by the time they’re a year old. A lot of your time will be spent cleaning their bottoms, but there are still some things to keep in mind.
Your newborn’s skin is super sensitive and needs to be handled gently. You can’t let your baby sit in soiled diapers for too long, as it can lead to infections or nasty rashes. This might mean you go through about a dozen diapers a day, so make sure to stock up. Set up a cozy spot on the floor to change your newborn, as it’s the safest for the little ones, but if you’re using a table, remember not to ever leave them unsupervised.
- Safe Sleeping
Sleeping is a major activity for your little bundle of joy because this is the time most of their growth happens. You might feel like they’re sleeping all the time, and it’s true. Newborns typically sleep at least 16 hours a day. Odds are they’ll only wake up when they’re hungry or uncomfortable. There are a few ways to make sure they’re comfortable and safe during their time of much-needed rest.
Firstly, it’s best to have your newborn sleep in the same room as you so you can monitor them closely and feed them quickly when they wake up during the night. Having your baby sleep in a cot in the same room as you can even significantly reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Also, when your baby sleeps during the day, don’t worry too much about keeping quiet. It’s a good habit for your baby to be able to sleep through certain amounts of noise.
- Bath Time
Considering how much they need diaper changes, you’ll be surprised to know that when it comes to bath time, your newborn only requires one a couple of times a week. That doesn’t mean you don’t clean your baby at all in between the baths. Make sure to wash their face, neck, hands, and bottoms regularly, as they get the dirtiest throughout the day.
For newborns, a nice lukewarm sponge bath with just water is sufficient to keep them clean. When your baby’s umbilical cord stump or circumcision wound has healed, they might be ready for a sink or plastic tub bath.
- Cuddling and Bonding
From the moment they’re born, babies need and crave physical and emotional connection with their parents. These moments aren’t just for fun. They’re crucial for your baby’s development and help in developing a lifelong bond between you and your baby. Since newborns are so small and delicate, it might be hard to figure out how to safely cuddle them.
You can start by cradling them and stroking them softly on their body. Babies also respond very well to skin-to-skin contact, and it helps regulate their breathing and heart rate. If you try this approach, make sure you’re not wearing any strong perfumes or scented lotions. Lay your baby on your bare chest in a dimly lit room, and make soothing sounds, or talk, or even sing to them.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the newborn stage in your child’s life comes with so many challenges, but it also comes with so much joy, love, and tiny little snuggles. This is the start of a lifelong adventure between you and your little one, and it’s important to kick it off on the right note. While some days might be unbearable, and you’ll be exhausted from staying up all night, know that it’s worth it because your baby will grow up happy and healthy and grateful to have loving parents taking care of them.
