Newborn Care
“Am I cleaning the belly button properly?” “Has the baby eaten enough? Why is the baby crying?” “How am I supposed to hold and bathe the baby?” These are only some of the questions new mothers ask themselves in silence and try to address.
The first thing a mother needs to keep in mind is that nature has blessed them with the maternal instinct, so that they may cope with the demands of this role. Furthermore, a new mother will find her pace after the first couple of days.
Here we will analyze some basic stages in newborn care, to help new mothers in those first days at home.
How to care for your baby
Washing and bathing
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Newborn bath
Baths for newborns are recommended after the first 24 hours of their life. Since many babies are cold, it is recommended to warm up the room during winter and prepare all the items you need ahead of time. Always remember to wash your hands with soap before caring for your newborn.
Starting
- Room temperature up to 22-24 οC – no drafts
- Well-tolerated water temperature, up to 37οC
You need:
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Towel
- Bathrobe
Undress the baby and carefully place the baby in the tub. Hold the baby steady and be mindful that the baby does not slip. Soap gently the baby's head and body. Pay special attention to creases between the legs, under the arms, behind the ears and around the neck. If you find that your baby likes the water, let your baby splash in there for a while. While you are with your baby in the bathroom, do not lose sight of your baby at any moment and do not occupy yourself with anything else. After thoroughly rinsing the baby, wipe gently with a towel or put on the bathrobe.
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Washing the head
Wrap the baby in a towel and hold the baby's body steady along your arm and then hold the baby's head steady with your hand. Hold the baby over the tub or sink and, using your free hand, pour gently some water on the baby's head and shampoo. Pay special attention to the area behind the ears. When you are done, wipe carefully.
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Washing the face
Take a gauze dipped in saline and wipe the baby's eyes from the inside corners to the outside corners (use a different gauze for each eye). Move on to the rest of the face, but avoid sensitive areas such as the inside of ears and nostrils. When you are done, wash the neck and wipe gently with a towel.
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Washing the baby's hands
Open gently the baby's palms and wash carefully using a gauze dipped in water, especially between your baby's fingers. Use another gauze to wash your baby under the arms and wipe the area with a towel.
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Washing the baby's feet
Use a gauze dipped in water to wash the baby's feet, also washing the area between the toes.
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Washing the baby's belly
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Washing the genital area
When washing a baby girl, pay special attention to wash the genital area from front to back, to avoid getting germs from the anus into the vagina. Wash only the outer part of the vulva. Then wash the buttocks with a clean wet gauze and wipe gently.
When washing a baby boy, the genital area must also be washed downwards. Be mindful not to pull the skin backwards. This will only happen following the pediatrician's instructions. Also wash the area around the testicles and the area around the buttocks. Wipe the area carefully.
What you need to pay attention to
- EARS: Wipe them externally with a towel after the bath. DO NOT use cotton swabs because they carry the risk of hurting the eardrum, destroying the natural protection of the earwax and spreading infections.
- NOSE: There is a significant amount of mucus after childbirth and you may hear a mild sniffle when the baby eats or sleeps. If the baby has difficulty eating, then you should wash the baby's nose with saline before feeding.
- EYES: If you need to wash the baby's eyes, use saline and sterilized gauze (one for each eye).
- NAILS: The baby's nails must not be clipped right after birth. If the newborn scratches themselves, use gloves. Around 20 days after childbirth, the baby's nails will not be attached to the skin and then you can clip them.
- Clip the nails while the baby is sleeping.
- If, however, you decide to clip them when the baby is awake, ask your companion to help you.
- Always use scissors with rounded edges, specially designed for infants and small children.
Care
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Belly button care
Keeping the belly button clean is very important, as this is a way to prevent infections. To this end, each time you take care of your baby, you need to clean the area around and on top of the belly button well, using a sterile gauze and rubbing alcohol. This goes on until the stump (umbilical granuloma) falls off and the scar left behind has healed.
Do not cover the belly button with gauze and make sure to let air get to the belly button area by rolling back the top of the diaper.
ATTENTION IF YOU NOTICE:
- Redness of the surrounding skin
- A foul smell
- Pus coming out
In these cases, you must notify your pediatrician as soon as you can.
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Changing diapers
Even though a bath at the same time every day, usually late afternoon, relaxes and invigorates your baby, it is not necessary to bathe the baby every day. However, the baby's everyday care must include washing the diaper area, to prevent chafing, as well as washing the baby's face, hands and feet.
This is often called “topping and tailing” and allows you to care for your baby properly and efficiently with the least hassle. You need to properly wash and wipe the baby every time the baby soils the diaper. A nice solution is to create a space in the bathroom so that you can easily and quickly wash the baby under the water. If you fear that the baby might slip from your hands and fall, opt for a basin with warm water and a natural sponge that you must replace often.
As far as the baby's face is concerned, given that you will need to wash it multiple times a day, simply use cotton wool with warm water. Do not forget that proper wiping is equally important as washing, as moisture causes irritations.
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Fitting the diaper
To avoid chafing or irritation, it is recommended to change the diaper as soon as you realize it has been soiled. Wash and wipe the area thoroughly. In case of irritation, and if necessary, use a baby lotion. After placing the baby on a safe and stable surface, raise the baby's feet to place the diaper underneath.
Roll the diaper on the belly and bring the sticky tabs from the back and stick them to the front. If the stump has not fallen off, make sure that you do not cover the area. Then dress your baby and wash your hands.
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Dressing your newborn
Common situations
Jaundice
Neonatal jaundice or hyperbilirubinemia is a condition in newborn babies that causes yellowing of the skin and other tissue. Bilirubin levels exceeding 5mg/dl cause jaundice in newborns, while in adults, jaundice is caused by bilirubin levels exceeding 2mg/dl. In newborns with jaundice the white part of the eye turns yellow, as does the color of the face. The yellow color extends to the chest.
The jaundice color of the skin in newborns first appears on the face and, as bilirubin levels increase,
it extends towards the torso and limbs. Jaundice is quite common in newborns; it appears in 50-60% of babies in their first week.
Recommendations
Frequent breastfeeding and exposing the newborn to natural light
Toxic erythema
This is a common skin rash seen in newborns. It is in the form of small blisters and redness. The rash appears in the first few days after birth. Signs usually disappear on their own a few hours later. They may reappear on another part of the body. Toxic erythema in newborns goes away completely within 2 to 3 weeks.
NOT CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT AND DOES NOT REQUIRE TREATMENT.
Cradle cap
Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis in infants) is a self-limiting skin condition that occurs in the first weeks of the baby's life and mainly affects the face, scalp and upper body. It is very common in infants, especially the small scaly patches on the scalp.
It is a harmless condition that can be dealt with frequent combing and treatment with olive oil.
Bloated breasts
If your baby, boy or girl, shows bloated breasts or even if you see some milk coming out, do not worry.
The bloating will subside on its own when the hormonal changes that caused it are restored, unless there are clear signs of inflammation.
If you see blood or mucus coming out of the vagina, do not worry, but inform your pediatrician.
Colics
Colics remain an unsolved mystery. In an attempt to formulate a single definition for colics, they are described as:
The behavior of a healthy newborn or baby who displays intense crying that lasts:
- more than 3 hours a day
- more than 3 days a week
- more than 3 weeks.
As far as colics are concerned, so far we know that:
- They may start at the age of 2 weeks if your baby is preterm, or later if your baby is premature.
- They always subside on their own after 3 or 4 months.
- They are not affected by the delivery method and the type of feeding (breastfeeding or formula).
- Children who suffered from colics as babies are no different from those who did not.
The precise cause of colics is yet unknown. It is generally believed that it is an intense reaction to the stimuli your baby is subjected to at the beginning of their life. Recent studies demonstrate the importance of the fourth trimester of the pregnancy, that is the time right after delivery. It seems like during the first months of their life, you should treat your newborn as if they were still in the uterus.
The most probable causes of colics in babies may be the following:
- The digestive system that gradually changes and adapts to food.
- Gas in the baby's intestine.
- Hypersensitivity to or hyperstimulation from light, noise and other stimuli.
- The developing nervous system and its interaction with the environment.
- A random infection.
- Gastroesophageal reflux or stomach problems.
If your baby has colic, do not worry and do not treat this as a pathological condition. We have come to the conclusion that it is a rather normal adaptation process to the new environment outside the uterus. Sometimes this process is combined with intense symptoms.
Crying baby
It is good for parents to know what is normal in terms of their baby's urine production and bowel movements. There are differences and specificities depending on the type of feeding and the age of the baby.
The most common causes of crying are:
- at night before bedtime if the baby is tired
- during the day because the baby is used to being held
- the baby is hot or cold
- the baby is hungry
- the baby is soiled
- the baby's calmness and routine have been disrupted
- the colics during the first three months
Urination - Bowel movements
Colics remain an unsolved mystery. In an attempt to formulate a single definition for colics, they are described as:
The behavior of a healthy newborn or baby who displays intense crying that lasts:
- Day 1
Frequency: The baby must have at least 1 diaper wet with urine. Composition: The urine looks concentrated, yellow, possibly containing pink crystals. - Day 2
Frequency: The baby must have at least 2 diapers wet with urine. Composition: The urine looks concentrated, yellow, possibly containing pink crystals. - Day 3
Frequency: At least 3 wet diapers. Composition: The urine is less concentrated. It is less likely to find pink crystals. - From Day 4 to 6 Weeks
Frequency: At least 6 very wet diapers per 24 hours. Composition: The urine is faint yellow, clear, with a light smell. No crystals.
For babies who breastfeed exclusively:
- Day 1-2
Frequency: During the first 24 hours of the baby's life, the baby must have at least 1 bowel movement with black excretions – a substance known as meconium (thick black or dark green substance). - Day 3
Frequency: At least 1 diaper. Color: brown-yellow or brown-green. Not black. - From Day 4 to 3-6 Weeks
Frequency: At least 3 diapers with stools every 24 hours. Frequent bowel movements are an indication and reliable sign that the baby drinks breast milk. Stools are soft, yellow, yellow-green or yellow-brown, not black. Liquid or seedy. The bowel movements of breastfed babies vary from day to day and from child to child. They usually do not smell bad.
Newborn safety
- The baby must always travel in the special car seat, placed on the rear seat, facing backwards. Do not add objects on the car seat that are not specially designed for this purpose. Do not leave the baby in the car seat outside the car; it is designed for travel only. Do not leave the baby alone in the car, not even for a minute.
- Do not leave small toys, flexible objects, pillows in the cot.
- Put the baby to sleep in the cot, face up, next to you. Any other position (on their side or face down) is not allowed, except in rare cases following the instructions of the pediatrician. It is dangerous to fall sleep in your bed or the couch while holding your baby.
- Hide small and pointy objects in the house, as well as plastic bags.
- Keep your hand on the baby at all times when bathing or changing the baby. When washing the child, check the temperature of the water with your elbow or the inside of your wrist. Keep your hand under the tap to constantly check water temperature.
- Do not tie anything tightly around the newborn's neck.
- Do not use safety pins and do not pin anything on the newborn's clothes
Baby massage
Relaxed hands
Feet & Soles
Feet
Make sure that you have enough oil in your hands before you start. Start with the feet of the newborn, because babies are usually more receptive in that area. Caressing downwards is more soothing.
Soles
Press gently and massage each toe with your thumb and index. Use both thumbs interchangeably, massage the upper part of the sole, from the toes to the ankle. Repeat several times.
Belly
After the umbilical cord of your baby has healed, gently massaging the baby's belly helps with digestion and tummy problems.
Start by placing your hands on the baby’s belly, firmly but gently.
If your baby looks happy, make gentle downward movements, one hand after the other.
Back
Contact with naked skin enhances the sense of bonding between the baby, the mother and the father. While holding your baby close to your chest, massage the baby's back, starting from the neck and going all the way down to the buttocks. Through the massage you will start figuring out the way your baby communicates and you will come up with different ideas to support your baby in the first months of their life. You and your baby will discover together what suits you best. It is important to remember that massaging is something you do with your baby and not to your baby.