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BABIES ARE BABIES:
All babies sneeze, yawn, burp, have hiccups, pass gas, cough and cry. They may occasionally look cross-eyed. Sneezing is the only way in which a baby can clean his/her nose of mucous, lint, or milk curds. Hiccoughs are little spasms of the diaphragm muscle. They can often be stopped by giving a few swallows of warm water. Coughing is baby’s way of clearing his/her throat. During the first few weeks of life, it is normal for babies to show the effects of their mother’s hormones absorbed through the womb. Both boys and girls may have engorged breasts and even give milk (Do Not Squeeze!). Female infants may even bleed from the vagina for a day or two simulating a menstrual period. These discharges may be cleaned with soft moist cotton.
CRYING:
Crying is a baby's way of saying, “I’m hungry, I’m wet, I’m thirsty, I want to turn over, I’m too hot, I’m too cold, I have a stomachache, I want to be held, or I’m just plain bored”. You will gradually learn to know what the baby means. Occasionally, even perfectly healthy babies may cry for an hour or so without anything being wrong or causing them harm.
BABY CARE:
Bathing: Until the naval (and circumcision) is healed, wash the baby with a mild soap (such as Dove or Neutrogena) by sponging. After the navel and circumcision are healed the baby can have tub bath.
Face: Wash with plain water and a soft cloth and no soap.
Eyes: To clean the eyes, use cotton balls dipped in cooled, boiled water.
Nose and Ears: Cleanse only the outer areas with a moist, not wet, cotton-tipped applicator. Do not attempt to cleanse the inside of either nose or ears.
Mouth: Do not cleanse.
Head: The baby’s head should be lathered gently. Work from front to back to keep soap out of his/her eyes. Be careful of the soft spots, but give them a good soaping.
Body: Be sure to wash in the creases, and rinse well.
Skin Protection: Avoid using baby oil. If the skin is dry, you can apply a small amount of non-perfumed baby lotion (Mennen’s Baby Magic or Johnson’s’ Baby Lotion) sparingly to the dry areas. Do not use powder.
NAVEL:
Keep it clean and dry. Alcohol can be applied to the base of the cord with a cotton ball or pad three times a day. This should be continued until the cord falls off, usually within 1-2 week after birth. There will be a little bleeding as the cord detaches. Keep the diaper folded away from the cord. If a foul odor or redness around the cord area develops, call the office.
CIRCUMCISION:
Vaseline or Bacitracin ointment and gauze should be applied to the circumcision at every diaper change. The circumcision often looks red and raw in the first days, but heals rapidly, within the first few weeks of life. A small amount of yellow drainage is common, but if there is increased pus or bleeding, call the office.
STOOLS AND HYGEINE:
Stools: Your baby may have a bowel movement after each feeding or may have one or two stools a day. Some babies may go 48 hours or longer without a stool and be normal. Your baby may strain when he/she has a stool, but unless the stool is hard and pellet-like, this is perfectly normal. Although stools may be soft and mushy at first, they become formed after solid food is begun. If stools are excessively watery or contain mucus, call the office.
Care of Diaper Area: Change your baby's diaper as soon as possible after each bowel movement or wetting. Wash the diaper area clean with a soft cloth, soap and water. Rinse with warm water. Pat dry.
Washing Diapers: We find that most patients prefer the convenience of disposable diapers. However, if you have decided to use cloth diapers, consider using a good diaper service. If you choose to wash diapers yourself, keep them separate from other clothes. In the washing machine use soap, not detergent, because soap leaves the diapers somewhat softer. Do not use fabric softener or antistatic products on diapers since they may cause rashes in young, sensitive skin. Use hot water and double rinse.
COMFORT AND SAFETY
Room Temperature: Try to keep an even, comfortable temperature in the baby’s room (68-70 degrees). On hot days, provide ventilation but make sure that your baby is covered enough to be warm and comfortable.
Tobacco Smoking: Second hand smoke is harmful to your baby. It has been associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS, Crib Death) and can cause wheezing and ear infections. To keep your baby healthier, insist that everyone avoid smoking in your home or around the baby.
Sleeping: You may expect your new baby to do a lot sleeping. The recommended position for your baby is on his/her back. Keep your baby bundled firmly for the first few weeks of life.
Bassinet or Bed: The baby’s mattress should be firm and flat. No pillow should be used. Protect the mattress with a waterproof cover. Next comes a soft baby sheet and one or two cotton blankets. Do not wrap the baby in a blanket after the first few weeks of life because this interferes with his/her freedom to kick.
Clothing: Your baby needs only about one layer more of clothing than what you are wearing to be comfortable. Dress him/her according to the temperature. Some babies are allergic to certain materials, so watch for rashes in clothing contact areas.
Outdoors: A fairly good rule to follow is to take your baby out whenever the weather is pleasant. Babies born in the summer may be taken out on a nice day after they are a week old. Babies born during the other seasons should be kept indoors for three or four weeks unless the weather is particularly balmy. Avoid direct sun on the baby’s skin since they can burn very easily. Sunscreens are not recommended for infants under six months of age.
CAR SEATS
Your baby’s safety depends on a secure safety seat in all forms of transportation at all times. Every state requires all infants and children to ride buckled up. The best car safety seat is the one that fits your baby/child’s size and weight, and is properly installed in the back seat. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure. Never place a baby where he/she could be hit by an expanding air bag. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be kept in rear-facing car seats until they reach the maximum weight and height allowed by the maker of the car seat.
Important Features:
- Only rear-facing car seats for babies from birth to 20-24 pounds up to 1 year of age.
- Reclining seat.
- Minimum three point harness for infant only seat.
- Five point harness for infant/toddler convertible seat.
For additional information, visit:
American Academy of Pediatrics Car Seat Guide - www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
These people are interested in your baby and want to hold and hug him/her. We caution you to keep sick visitors (especially children) away from your baby. The newborn baby is best kept from visitors as much as possible.
ADDITIONAL HELP
Routine questions can be asked during our regular office hours. We have trained triage nurses to assist you. Always have paper and pencil near the phone. Keep the pharmacist’s number posted near your telephone.
When you are expecting a return call, kindly keep the phone line free and wait for the call. If your call is not returned with a reasonable time, please call again – something may have gone awry with your message. Be sure to “unblock” your phone, especially for after hours calls. |
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