Remember that moment when you first found out you were having a baby? The unbridled joy and excitement that filled your heart were like nothing you had ever experienced. You went straight to the doctor for check-ups and took every necessary precaution to ensure your baby was healthy and safe, from eating right to getting prenatal care. Even your loved ones and people around you started giving you advice and tips about caring for your little one. And amid all this, the entire nine months of pregnancy ended in a blink.
Now that your cuddly bundle of happiness is here, the journey of parenthood has begun. As a new parent, you may have a million questions running in your head.
“How to know the signs of good health in my baby?” “How do I cater to their feeding, sleeping, and immunization needs?” “Should I worry about the common cold, fever, etc.?”
If not these, you’ll have many other queries and challenges that might make you anxious as a first-time parent. However, it’s crucial to understand that the first few years are critical for your baby’s growth and development.
So, to help you ensure your baby’s well-being in the best possible way, here are seven tips to keep in mind while caring for your newborn:
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Monitor Your Baby for Potential Birth Injuries
No matter how experienced the doctor is, in rare cases, babies may suffer from birth injuries due to medical negligence. A common birth injury is Erb’s palsy, which causes paralysis of the baby’s arm or shoulder due to damaged nerves. Sometimes, infants might recover from Erb’s palsy but may require extensive medical attention and therapy in severe cases.
If you suspect your baby is suffering from this condition, contact Erbs palsy attorneys to take legal action. These legal experts can help you get the justice and rightful compensation your child deserves.
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Breastfeeding is Best for Your Baby
Most mothers rely on powdered formula milk to feed their newborns. However, it’s essential to understand that breast milk is your baby’s most beneficial and natural nourishment. It helps in the healthy growth of your child, as well as boosts their immunity. Breastfed infants are also less prone to diseases and infections.
Apart from that, breastfeeding also strengthens the bond between you and your baby.
If, for some reason, you are unable to breastfeed your baby, consult a pediatrician for the most suitable alternative. They can suggest the best formula milk for your infant, depending on their nutritional requirements, age, and weight.
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Maintain Cleanliness and Hygiene
After having a baby, cleanliness and hygiene become your top priority. Babies are prone to germs and dust, leading to severe illnesses like diarrhea, cold, and fever.
Therefore, keep your baby’s environment clean by regularly washing their clothes in hot water and vacuuming or mopping the floor. It’s also crucial to clean baby items such as toys, utensils, bedding, and pacifiers with proper care and hygiene. Properly clean, sanitize, and store your infant’s feeding items to avoid contamination.
Additionally, wash your hands with a disinfectant after every diaper change, before feeding your little one, and even when playing with them.
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Give Your Baby Plenty of Skin-to-Skin Contact
The skin-to-skin contact between you and your baby helps facilitate a strong bond of love and affection, lasting a lifetime. Besides, it has numerous benefits for your little one’s physical and mental health. It keeps them warm and comfortable, calms their cries, regulates their body temperature, and helps in better growth and development.
Five ways you can provide skin-to-skin contact to your baby:
- Give your baby a massage with warm oil
- Cuddle and soothe them when they are cranky
- Slow dance with them holding their body close to yours
- Nap with them
- Sing lullabies to them while gently rocking them in your arms.
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Create a Sleep Routine for Your Baby
As new parents, you must be exhausted and deprived of proper sleep. However, you must ensure your baby gets enough rest to facilitate healthy growth and development.
For this, you must learn your baby’s typical sleep behaviors and patterns and establish a bedtime routine for your infant to help them sleep better. It includes activities like bathing, reading stories, and singing lullabies.
Moreover, it’s vital to maintain the same sleeping and waking times for your baby every day. Also, don’t let them sleep too long during the day, as their nights might get disturbed.
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Avoid Overstimulation
Babies are tiny bundles of joy and curiosity. They will naturally get excited by the vibrant colors, sounds, and textures around them. But it’s essential to know that their little brains are still developing and cannot process overstimulation.
Therefore, keep your conversations and activities with your baby simple and slow-paced. Avoid loud noises or too much movement. Instead, keep them engaged in peaceful activities like storytelling, singing, and playing with soft toys.
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Take Care of Their Nails
You might find your infant’s tiny nails extremely cute. However, keeping them trimmed and clean is essential. Long nails can hurt their delicate skin as they explore the world around them. And they are more likely to get infections if their nails aren’t clean.
Therefore, always keep a pair of baby nail clippers and clip their nails while they’re sleeping or after bathing them. Moreover, ensure that the clippers you use are sharp and clean. Use gentle pressure and take extra care near the cuticles. Also, firmly hold your baby’s arm or leg while trimming to avoid accidents.
Conclusion
Having a baby changes your life in many ways, which can be overwhelming for new parents. But even with all the challenges that come with parenting, it is nothing short of a beautiful experience. Monitor your baby’s health and development, including signs of delays, to ensure your little one is growing up healthily and happily. Also, establish a routine for your infant, keep stimulations to a minimum, and provide enough skin-to-skin contact to help them thrive. Breastfeeding is the best way to nourish your baby. If you cannot do that, consult a pediatrician for suitable alternatives. Most importantly, maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the baby’s environment and trim their nails regularly to avoid illnesses or infections.