Handy Tips For New Parents On How To Take Care Of Their Newborn

Are you a new parent? If so, congratulations! Take care of your newborn with these handy tips. Newborns are fragile and need careful handling to prevent any injuries or accidents that could happen. They also need plenty of sleep, so naptime should be taken very seriously! Get all the information you need for this important time in your life by reading our handy tips for how to take care of your newborn.

 

Making a Safe Environment For Your Newborn

Creating a safe environment is important when it comes to taking care of your newborn. Hand them off to another adult carefully and make sure that there is nothing for their tiny hands to get caught in if they happen to wriggle free from your grasp. According to https://mommyhood101.com/, it is a good idea to childproof your home before little ones start “scooting around”. You should move things like breakables, electric cords, and any other hazard out of the way before you hold them. Keep in mind that even sleeping with them can pose a danger since pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals all have the potential to suffocate an infant if pushed over onto their face during slumber.

Feeding Your Newborn On Schedule

Your newborn will need to eat around the clock, so make sure that you are feeding them on schedule. Feed them every 2-3 hours during the day, and once they have gone 3 hours without eating, they are ready to feed again. Hunger peaks around 1-2 hours after waking up from a nap or overnight sleep cycle, so keep an eye out for this wakefulness as your cue to give them some nourishment. Never leave any milk in their bottle between feedings since it can cause discomfort and gas which leads to crying. By keeping track of how much they’ve eaten you can determine if they are hungry or not – this is important for making sure that your baby doesn’t go hungry while you are trying to establish a schedule.

Newborns also need to be burped after they have been fed so that air doesn’t become trapped in their stomachs and cause discomfort. Hold them upright with one arm, placing your hand on their back for support. Use the other hand to support their chin and head as you pat or lightly rub their back until they burp up the excess air from down in the tummy.

This is also a good time to assess for gas or colic which may need to be treated by your doctor.

Keep Track Of Feedings And Diaper Changes

Make sure their diaper is changed regularly and check for signs of infection like redness, irritation, or discharge. If you notice any of these symptoms, visit a doctor right away since they could be a symptom of something more serious.

Make sure that you keep track of how long it has been since their last feeding and a diaper change as this is also important for knowing when to feed them next. If they have not been fed for 1-2 hours after their usual feeding time, they should be fed again. Similarly, if there is no bowel movement or wetness inside the diaper within 3 hours of changing it then take them to the bathroom and make them go potty so that they can feel nice and clean underneath!

Taking Care Of Your Newborn When They Are Sick

It is important to take care of your newborn when they are sick since you don’t want them to get any worse or to make the illness last longer if it does happen. If they start sneezing, coughing, wheezing, or have a runny nose, use a tissue to wipe their nose and mouth after they eat.

Wipe from the inside of the nose outwards since this drains mucus more easily while pushing it back up against the nasal passages which can result in blockages if not cleaned properly. Make them a humidifier for their room, if it’s cold season, to help them breathe more easily.

Make sure that you are doing everything that you can to make their environment as comfortable as possible by using a humidifier, running the heater or air conditioning at the right temperatures depending on the weather, and checking for drafts. Always keep an eye out for dark yellow or green mucus since this could mean they have an infection that may need antibiotics to treat.

Don’t take any chances when your baby is sick – visit a doctor right away! If you cannot see your regular physician then go to urgent care or the emergency room so that you can get them checked out immediately. Be mindful of medications and never take cough drops without asking first since they may not be safe.

We hope that this article has helped you understand the many things involved in taking care of your baby from feeding them every 2-3 hours during the day to being mindful about medications and cough drops!