Baby Care Guide For Parents After Delivery | First-time parents guide

Your baby’s first 3 months of life are by far the toughest milestone for any parent.

Before becoming parents you must have dreamed about the days when you will play with your newborn,cuddle them ,love and pamper them.But in real it's gonna be totally different.

All new parents often get nervous ,confused and frustrated while handling the newborn. You would be in a state where you have no idea what you’re doing! But,don’t worry it's common for new mommies and daddies.You just need to get through the initial months.Once that is achieved things will automatically become much easier and smoother.

Here are the best and effective baby care guide and tips for new parents to make their journey easier and cherish-able.

Get a helping hand -

Right after delivery you will have nurses ,doctors and lactation to help you out.But once you reach home taking care of the newborn all alone is really going to get the hell out of you.

In India ,we generally have our mothers or relatives to help us out.They are really a boon during this difficult phase.

But if you are someone who is living abroad without any of your relatives nearby, try hiring someone like a baby nurse or postpartum doula to help you in the initial period of post delivery.Even though you might not want or like the way they look after the baby ,don’t dismiss them. Rather address your opinion and dislikes openly.

It's also common to have a lot of guests coming to meet your baby.But if you are not comfortable with it , don’t feel guilty about placing restrictions on the visitors.

Handle baby with care and hygiene-

New born babies are too fragile.They are easily prone to infections and illness.Hence you should be uncompromising when it comes to handling your baby.

Baby’s head and neck -

When your baby is born his/her neck is too weak to control their head movements.Hence it’s important to always support their head when you feed ,cradle or lift them up. By 4-6 months their neck muscles will become more stronger to control their head movements.

Another common concern is when the baby has a flat head.There is no need of panic.This is common between 1-3 months old and usually resolves by the age of 1 if given proper care.All you need to do is to following these steps-

• Try to make them sleep on their back or tummy. Though it’s best to make your baby sleep on their tummy, some parents may not be comfortable with this initially.Hence you can opt to make them sleep on their back.

• support your baby’s head while sleeping with a soft pillow.Use a pillow that supports from the sides.

• If a baby tends to sleep on a particular side try changing his/her position in between.

• You also need to vary the baby's position when he/she is awake.

Prevent baby from getting infected-

Baby’s have a very weak immune system and hence are more prone to infection or diseases.

It won’t be just you who would be handling the baby. So make sure that everyone including you who handles the baby should wash and sanitize their hands.

Handle your baby gently-

Newborn baby has a soft skull.It takes around 9-18 months for a baby’s skull to fully form. Hence you should never be rough on them at any instance.Do not shake your baby to wake them up.Instead try tickling on their feet or neck.

Sleep survival -

If your baby sleeps well at night without being cranky then consider yourself as blessed!

Most parents experience severe sleep deprivations during the initial months.Newborns tend to sleep for about 16 hrs or more in a day but of course in short bursts.

Why do babies cry and not sleep -

1. Babies have a very tiny and little tummy.You need to feed them in regular intervals to keep it full.you must have heard - “ empty vessels make more noise”.In this case it's your babies stomach.Keep it full and you can find a big difference in their sleep pattern

2. Baby must be colicky.Many infants are colicky ie. They experience severe pain in abdomen(colic) due to gas or intestinal obstruction.

3. If you are bottle-feeding your baby there are chances for having certain reactions to the formula milk. This often shows up as bloating.Another reason could be improper latching and sucking of the nipples.Burp your baby to relieve him from bloating.

4. Absence of mother’s warmth or touch can also make some babies squirmy.Hence always try to cuddle or sleep beside them to provide your warmth.

5. Not so cozy to sleep.Setup your room temperature which comforts your baby. Remember they are totally new to the outside world and may take some time to adjust to it.

Try making your baby sleep less during the day. Play and talk to her .This will allow them to sleep more during night.Another important factor is to make them realize the difference between day and night. Make them sleep by turning off the lights at night and keep the room lit up in the morning.

You and your partner or your parents can take turn to make the baby sleep.Last but not the least "Sleep when your baby sleeps!"

Making your newborn sleep may seem harder at first but trust me you will become a pro in just a couple of weeks.

Nursing or Breastfeeding-

Breastfeeding provides all the essential nutrients for your baby.It contains antibodies which provides and builds the immune system in them.Are you stumped on how many times you should feed your baby?Well..newborns are always hungry.Hence you would have to feed them at least 8-12 times a day for the first few weeks.Once your baby is 2 months old ,you will notice that it gets reduced to 6-7 times a day. However the important thing to remember is to feed them “ON DEMAND”.

Babies usually shows some gestures when they are hungry.Some of them are as follows -

• They Start crying with their hands fisted.

• They make suckling noises.

• They may put fingers in their mouth.

Once your baby is full they will seem relaxed and sleepy with their hands no longer fisted! Remember not to keep a feeding gap of more than 2-3 hrs even if your baby is sleeping.This remains the same for even if they are bottle-feed .

NOTE- Always breastfeed in a sitting position.

Burping -

The next important part after feeding is burping. Babies tend to swallow air while feeding.This air can then result in gas formations which may discomfort them.Burping helps to get rid of this gas/air preventing them from being currency and gassy.

If you are breastfeeding, burp them before switching to the next breast.Bottle-feed babies should be burped after every 2-3 ounces(60-90 milliliters).

How to burp a baby -

There are many different ways to burp but i personally recommend two of them -

• Holding on your shoulder-

After feeding, place a burp cloth on your shoulder. Hold your baby and move them gently all the way upright and place him onto your shoulder in such a way that his tummy reaches your chest.Do support his head with one hand and pat gently on his back to release the gas.

• Laying on your knees -

Sit on a chair , gently place your baby to a lying position (face-down position) with his tummy placed on your knees.Support his head and make sure it’s slightly higher than his chest.Gently pat on the back until the gas releases.You can slightly rock your baby (side to side) to make them feel comfortable.

VIDEO - Different Ways To Burp You Baby

Umbilical cord care-

It usually takes around 5-12 days for the umbilical cord to completely fall off.You need to ensure proper care until the cord dries off completely.Monitor it regularly and see a doctor immediately if it looks red ,swollen or has foul odour or discharge.

Prevent water from penetrating through the naval while bathing you baby.Doctors recommend to take a sponge bath until it’s completely fallen off.Clean the area which a wet cotton swab and immediately pat dry.Some doctors recommend using rubbing alcohol to clean the area.Talk to your pediatrician before testing it out.

There are some cases where the umbilical cord falls off but the inner naval portion is not dried up.My baby faced the same situation and my pediatrician suggested placing a small piece of rock salt over it. At first I didn’t try it as I was afraid but when the area was not drying up after several days then I decided to give it a shot.Trust me guys it worked.

Circumcision-

After circumcision, prevent your infant's penis from sticking to the diaper. The tip is usually covered with gauze coated with petroleum jelly. After a diaper change, always clean the tip with warm water and then apply petroleum jelly on it so that it doesn't stick to the diaper. This heals within a few days when properly cared for.

Consult a doctor immediately if you find any increase in Redness , irritation,swelling or pus-filled blisters.

Baby skin care -

Baby’s skin is soft and supple hence they require utmost care.All babies need right skin care products depending on their skin type.Using wrong and unsuitable products can cause allergies and rashes.Be gentle on their skin. Baby skin care regime also includes oiling and massaging.massaging your baby help them to strengthen their muscles and grow faster.

Following correct methods can make your newborn’s skin free from any allergies or skin problems.

Common skin problems in newborns-

Here are the few common skin care problems most babies may have in their initial months.

Cradle cap -

Crusty , greasy or oily yellow scaly patches on baby’s head.It isn’t itchy and painful and can be treated with proper methods at home.

Baby acne-

Tiny red bumps like pimples on a baby's face or body.Its a common condition which resolves automatically on its own after a few weeks without treatment. But in case it is not getting cleared up do consult a doctor for the medications.

Blocked tear duct -

This condition occurs when the lower end of the tear duct is not fully opened after they are born.Clean your baby’s eyes with a clean and soft wash cloth or muslin cloth soaked in warm water. You can also put a few drops of breast milk into their eyes to clear the blockage.

Eczema -

These are red, dry rashes on baby’s cheeks , arm and leg joints.Though this condition is not something to panic about you still need to take care of it properly.Use a mild cleanser and slight warm water to rinse them.keep their skin moisturized.

Baby Poop and Diapering -

Newborn babies have a blackish or dark green colored poop for the first 2 days after birth.It’s the meconium that is released in the first 48 hrs after birth.After baby starts consuming breast or formula milk he/she will have a yellow-greenish poop. By 6 weeks they are going to pass a runny yellow stool .

The bowel movements for newborns can range from minimum of 3-4 times to 4-10 times in a day.Hence taking care of the diapering process is vital.

Things to take care during a diaper change-

• Check and change your infant's diaper frequently (after every 3 hrs).You never know when they must have had pooped in it! You should also change them if the diaper is heavy.

• Clean the poop with a soft wash cloth or wipes dipped in warm water.This prevents from developing rashes on the baby's skin.

• Use a diaper rash cream to prevent any rashes as your baby’s skin is very sensitive.

• If you are using a diaper cloth then wash it thoroughly using fragrance free detergents.

• Let them breathe some air.Make him diaper free for a few hours in a day so that their skin can air out.

It's important to monitor your baby’s poop as it can tell you a lot about your baby’s health and breast milk consumption.

Swaddling and bonding -

Swaddling a baby provides them the warmth similar to the one they had in their mother's womb.It also help soothe them. Another benefit is that it makes them calm and secured which promotes their sleep.

There are different ways in which you can swaddle you newborn. Watch the video to learn the different methods.Another major advantage I feel is that it makes it easier to hold and carry them around.

VIDEO: Two Best Ways To Swaddle Your Baby

Bonding is nothing but “falling in love” with each other.Mother-baby bond is developed right after the birth and through breastfeeding but day by day you need to build it up to make them feel emotionally connected.

Both you and your partner can promote physical closeness or skin to skin touch.It’s the best way to interact with your newborn.Love them unconditionally ,play ,sing ,babble ,cuddle and do every possible thing to bring in that bonding.

Other common medical conditions-

Be prepared to face different medical conditions which your baby may face.They have a weak immune system and hence are more prone to illness.These might be scary for parents to watch. But these illnesses are vital to help them learn to fight the viruses that cause it.Though some need no panic but if you feel like consulting a doctor please go forward.

Fever -

A normal body temperature for a baby is 97 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If he/ she is less than 3 months old consult a doctor if the temperature crosses 100.4 F.If he/she is 3-6 months old contact the doctor if the temperature is above 102 F.

Cold -

Nasal congestion or running nose are the symptoms of cold.It Usually lasts around 7-10 days.

Use a rubber bulb syringe to clear the nasal passages.Give them plenty of fluids ( breast milk /formula for infants).Your doctor may recommend saline drops to loosen the mucus.

Sit with your baby in a humid environment or moisturize the air with a humidifier.

I hope this helps you to reduce your nervousness and doubts.Your moments with your newborn are to be cherished .So please feel free to address any concerns or questions in the comment section.I'll definitely get back to you. And always ask a doctor's help whenever required!