Teenage Girl Studying and Taking Care of a Baby

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So you've brought home your little packet of joy -- at present what? Though taking care of your newborn can exist i of the near special and rewarding experiences of your life, you may experience at a loss for what to practise and will need to requite your child constant attention and care. To have care of a newborn, y'all need to know how to give your baby the rest, sustenance and care that south/he needs -- equally well as a healthy dose of beloved and affection.

1. ane

   Help your newborn go plenty of rest. Newborns demand to get lots of rest to continue growing healthy and strong -- some can rest up to sixteen hours a day. Though once your baby is iii months or and so erstwhile, he may be able to sleep for six-8 hours at a time, in the get-go, your baby may just sleep for 2-three hours at a fourth dimension and should be woken upward if he or she hasn't been fed for four hours.

   • Some babies have their days and nights dislocated when they are born. If your baby is more alert at night, try to limit night stimulation by keeping the lights dim and your talking low, and be patient until your baby begins a normal sleeping bike.
   • Make certain y'all place your baby on his back to lower the risk of SIDS.
   • You lot should alternating the position of your baby's head -- whether it's leaning to the left or the right -- to eliminate the "soft spot" that tin can appear on a baby'south face if he spends as well much time sleeping with his head in one position.

2. 2

   Consider breastfeeding your newborn. If you lot want to breastfeed your baby, then feeding your infant the showtime time you hold her after she is delivered is a corking place to start. Yous should turn your infant'southward body toward you, then you are holding her chest toward yours. Bear on her upper lip with your nipple and pull her to your breast when she opens her mouth wide. Once she does this, her mouth should cover your nipple and as much of the areola as possible. Here are some things you should know about breastfeeding your baby:^[one]

   • If the baby is getting enough food, it will produce half-dozen-eight wet diapers a twenty-four hour period, along with steady bowel movements, be alert when it's awake, and volition steadily gain weight.
   • Don't stress if your baby has a difficult time feeding at first; it takes patience and practice. You can get help from a nurse or even a lactation consultant (who can be helpful before nativity).
   • Know that nursing shouldn't hurt. If the latch-on hurts, break the suction by placing your pinkie finger between your babe's gums and your breast and repeat the process.
   • You should nurse about viii-12 times during the showtime 24 hours of baby'south birth. Yous don't take to stick to a strict schedule, but should nurse whenever your babe shows signs of hunger, from increased mouthing and action to looking for your nipple. Y'all should nurse at least every four hours, even gently waking your babe to feed her if necessary.
   • Make certain to get comfortable. Feedings can take up to 40 minutes, so selection a cozy spot that can give you back back up when you're nursing.
   • Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. Stay hydrated and be prepared to experience more hunger than normal and follow information technology. Limit your employ of alcohol or caffeine considering information technology will enter your chest milk.

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3. 3

   Consider formula feeding your newborn. Choosing whether to formula feed or breastfeed your baby is a personal decision. While some studies show that breastfeeding may exist healthier for your baby, you too have to consider your own wellness and convenience and a variety of other factors before making this decision. Formula feeding can make it easier to know how much y'all've fed your infant, to limit the amount of feedings, and to not have to restrict your own nutrition. If you exercise cull to formula feed your baby, here are some things you need to know:^[two]

   • Make certain to follow the directions on the label of the formula when you lot prepare it.
   • Sterilize new bottles.
   • Feed your babe every ii or iii hours, or whenever he seems hungry.
   • Discard any formula left out of the fridge for over an 60 minutes or any left unfinished past the baby.
   • Store formula in the fridge no longer than 24 hours. You tin carefully warm it because many babies adopt it that fashion, but it's not necessary.
   • Hold your baby at a 45-degree bending to help him have in less air. Cradle him in a semi-upright position, offering enough of caput support. Tilt the bottle and then the nipple and neck are filled with formula. Never prop it, which can cause the baby to choke.

4. iv

   Diaper your newborn. Whether you're using cloth or disposable diapers, if you plan on taking care of your newborn, you'll have to be a diaper-changing expert, and fast. Whatever method you use -- and yous should decide before you bring home your infant -- you should exist prepared to change your babe's diaper effectually 10 times a day. Here what you have to practice:

   • Get your supplies ready. You'll need a clean diaper, fasteners (if you lot utilize cloth diapers), diaper ointment (for rashes), a container of warm water, a clean washcloth, and some cotton wool balls or diaper wipes.
   • Remove your baby's dirty diaper. If it'southward wet, place your baby on his back and remove the diaper and use the water and washcloth to wipe your baby'south genital area. Wipe girls from front to dorsum to avoid UTIs. If you run into a rash, identify some ointment on it.
   • Open up the new diaper and slide it under your baby, gently lifting your baby's legs and feet. Move the front of the diaper upward between your baby's legs, over the abdomen. Then, bring the adhesive strips around and snugly fasten them so the diaper is prissy and secure.
   • To avoid diaper rash, change your baby's diaper as shortly as you notice that information technology'south soiled.^[3]

5. five

   Bathe your newborn. Parenting specialist Jami Yaeger recommends "giving your babe a sponge bathroom rather than a total bath if their umbilical cord is still attached." One time the umbilical cord falls off, you tin get-go bathing your baby regularly, around 2 to iii times a week. To practice this the right way, you should assemble your supplies, such as towels, soap, a clean diaper, etc, in advance, so that your baby isn't fussing around. Fill the tub or baby tub with about three inches of warm water before you begin the bath. Here'due south what you should do next:

   • Come across if y'all can go assist. Yous may feel a piddling scared or uncertain when you bathe your babe for the first time. If so, come across if yous can get your partner or a family unit member involved. That fashion, one person can hold the baby in the h2o while the other person bathes the infant.
   • Undress your baby carefully. And then, slip your babe into the tub feet first, while using i of your hands to support the baby'southward neck and hands. Go on to pour warm cupfuls of water into the bathroom so your infant doesn't get cold.
   • Use mild soap and utilise it sparingly so you don't get it into your baby's eyes. Launder your babe with your mitt or with a washcloth, making certain to gently wash your baby from height to bottom and from front to back. Clean your babe's body, genitals, scalp, hair, and whatever stale mucus that has collected on your baby'southward face.
   • Rinse your baby with cupfuls of warm h2o. Wipe your baby make clean with a washcloth. Lift the infant out of the tub, continuing to use one hand to support her neck and head. Be careful -- babies are glace when wet.
   • Wrap your baby in a hooded towel and pat your infant dry out. Subsequently that, put a diaper and dress on your infant and kiss him and then he has positive associations with beingness bathed.

6. half-dozen

   Know how to handle your newborn. You may exist intimidated by how tiny and fragile your newborn seems, but with a few bones techniques, you should experience more confident near handling your baby in no time. Here are some things you should practice:

   • Wash or sanitize your hands earlier y'all handle your baby. Newborn babies are susceptible to infection considering their immune systems aren't quite so strong yet. Brand sure that your hands -- and the hands of anyone else who handles the babe -- are clean earlier you make contact.
   • Back up your infant's caput and neck. To hold your baby, cradle his head whenever you lot conduct him and support it when you're holding the baby upright or putting him down. Babies can't hold up their own heads yet, and then don't ever let a baby'due south head flop around.
   • Avoid shaking your baby, whether you're playing or angry. This can cause haemorrhage in the brain, which tin lead to death. Don't endeavour to wake up your baby by shaking it, either -- instead, tickle its anxiety or give information technology another gentle bear upon.
   • Learn to swaddle your baby. This is a cracking way to keep your baby feeling secure before he reaches the two calendar month marker.

7. vii

   Hold your newborn. Yous have to make certain to give your baby as much caput and neck support as possible when you concord it. You should let the baby'south caput balance inside your inner elbow, with the length of his body resting on your forearm. His outer hip and upper legs should rest with your manus, with its inside arm resting over his chest and abdomen. Hold the baby snugly and give your baby all of your attention.^[4]

   • You can also agree the baby by pacing his stomach on your upper chest, while using the same side hand to concur his body, while using the reverse hang to support the baby's head from the back.
   • If your baby has older siblings or cousins or is around people unfamiliar with property babies, advisedly instruct them on how to hold the baby and make sure they are sitting down with a knowing adult nearby to go along the infant safety.

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1. 1

   Give your baby "tummy fourth dimension" every day. Since your baby spends and so much of its fourth dimension on its back, it's of import to likewise give your baby time to stay on his tummy so that he develops both mentally and physically and strengthens his arms, head, and cervix. Some doctors say babies should get xv-20 minutes of breadbasket fourth dimension a day, while others say that y'all should just place your babe on his tummy for 5 minutes during different parts of the twenty-four hour period as he develops.

   • You tin can kickoff with tummy time as before long equally a week after the baby is built-in, once the umbilical cord falls off.
   • To brand tummy time fun, get level with your baby. Make middle contact, tickle your baby, and play around.
   • Tummy time is hard work, and some babies will be resistant to information technology. Don't be surprised -- or requite in -- if this happens.

2. 2

   Intendance for your newborn'southward umbilical cord stump. According to parenting specialist Jami Yaeger, "The umbilical string will fall off in 1-2 weeks. Like any other wound, it ends upwardly healing, scabbing, and going away." It will alter in colour from a yellowish green to brown and black as it dries and falls off on its own. Yaeger also suggests "keeping an eye out for signs of infection. Information technology'due south natural to see a chip of dried blood or a little bit of crust near the stump; still, you should run across a doctor immediately if the stump produces a smelly discharge or yellowish pus, continues to bleed, or is swollen and reddish." Here are some more tips on how you can care for your babe's umbilical cord:^[five]

   • Proceed it make clean. Make clean it with plain water and dry out information technology with a clean and absorbent material. Brand sure to wash your hands before y'all handle it. Stick to giving your baby sponge baths until information technology falls off.
   • Proceed it dry. Don't give your baby a full bathroom until the stump falls off. Expose it to air and so the base of operations dries out, keeping the forepart of your baby's diaper folded down so it is uncovered.^[6]
   • Resist the urge to pull information technology off. Let the stump fall off at its ain pace.^[7]

3. three

   Learn to soothe a crying newborn. If your baby is upset, it'due south not always easy to find the reason correct away, through there are a few tricks yous tin try. Cheque for a wet diaper. Try feeding them. If that doesn't work, try adding a layer of habiliment if it's cold out or removing a layer if it's hot. Sometimes, your infant but wants to be held, or is experiencing besides much stimulation. As you become to know your newborn, you'll become better at finding what's wrong.^[8]

   • Your baby also may but need to be burped.
   • Rocking them gently and singing or bustling a lullaby to them will help. Give them a pacifier if that doesn't work. They might merely exist tired so lay them downward. Sometimes, babies merely weep and you have to allow them until they autumn asleep.

4. four

   Interact with your newborn. Yous tin't play with the child just yet, only they do get bored like we practise. Try taking them for a walk to the park once a twenty-four hour period, talking to them, putting pictures in the room where they spend virtually of their fourth dimension, listening to music, or taking them in the car. Remember that your baby is just a baby and is not ready for rough play; do not roughhouse or shake your infant and be as gentle every bit possible instead.

   • In the beginning, the near important affair you lot can do is to bond with your baby. This ways yous should stroke your babe, cradle your baby, requite the baby some skin-to-pare contact, or even consider giving your baby an infant massage.^[9]
   • Babies love vocal sounds, and information technology's never too early to commencement talking, babbling, singing, or cooing with your baby. Play some music for the baby while you're bonding, or play with toys that brand dissonance, such every bit rattles or mobiles.
   • Some babies are more than sensitive to touch and low-cal than others, so if your baby doesn't seem to be responding well to your attempts at bonding, then y'all tin can take it easier with the racket and lights until your babe gets used to information technology.

5. 5

   Take your newborn to the doc regularly. Your infant will pay frequent visits to the doctor during its beginning year, for scheduled check-ups and shots. Many showtime newborn visits occur just 1-three days after you and your babe are discharged from the hospital. After that, each doctor'due south program will vary slightly, merely you should generally take your newborn to the doc at to the lowest degree ii weeks to a month afterwards birth, later on the second month, and then every other calendar month or so. ^[10] It's important to schedule regular visits with your infant to make sure that your infant is growing normally and receiving the necessary care.^[eleven]

   • Information technology's also important to pay a visit to your md in instance y'all detect anything aberrant; even if you lot're not sure that what is happening is aberrant, you lot should always telephone call the medico'southward role to check.
   • Some symptoms you should look out for include:
     • Dehydration: less than three wet diapers per twenty-four hours, excessive sleepiness, dry mouth
     • Bowel motion issues: no movement during the first ii days, white mucus in stool, flecks or streaks of red in the stool, overly high or low temperature
     • Respiratory problems: grunting, flaring of nostrils, fast or noisy breathing, chest retractions
     • Umbilical string stump issues: pus, odor, or bleeding from stump
     • Jaundice: yellow color in the chest, trunk, or eyes
     • Prolonged crying: crying for over 30 minutes
     • Other disease: persistent coughing, diarrhea, paleness, forceful vomiting for more than than 2 consecutive feedings, fewer feedings than 6 per mean solar day

6. 6

   Prepare to accept your baby on auto rides. You'll need to exist prepared to have your baby on car rides before the baby is built-in since y'all'll need a way to get the baby abode from the hospital. Y'all'll need to get a car seat that is appropriate for newborns and that fits all current safety guidelines and regulations.^[12] Though you may non need to spend a lot of time in the car with your newborn, some mothers find that taking the baby for a ride can actually help put him or her to slumber.

   • You should besides go an infant seat for your baby. These seats are there to help your young babe sit up, non to assist your baby be secured in a car. In this kind of seat, the base should accept nonskid surfacing and should be wider than the seat, and it should have a secure locking mechanism, along with washable fabric. Never place your baby in the seat on an elevated surface that the baby can fall from.
   • As for kid rubber seats, brand sure the seat meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standard 213 and that it actually fits your child. Infants and toddles should sit in a rear-facing seat until they are at least 2 years onetime.

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1. 1

   Get as much help as you lot tin can. If yous're raising a baby solo, so you will need as much mental and emotional strength as possible. If you're lucky enough to have a spouse or a caring parent or parent-in-constabulary, then information technology'south important to arrange for some extra help to be there when your baby is born. If you can rent a nurse, dandy, only if non, just run across if you tin can get some actress help, preferably from people who know what they're doing.

   • Even if your babe spends most of his time sleeping, you will be feeling a bit overwhelmed, and the more than help you accept, the more confident you'll feel about handling your babe.

2. 2

   Have a strong support arrangement. Yous demand a good support organisation for your family and you. It may exist a husband, beau, or your own mom and dad. You lot need someone always there for you and your kid throughout their childhood. If yous're trying to raise your baby completely lonely, you lot will be probable to run into problem or to feel wearied.

   • That being said, you should too establish visiting hours and rules. Having too many friends and family members show up for unexpected visits to see the baby tin can really atomic number 82 to more than stress.

3. 3

   Have care of yourself. Though it'due south important that you be in that location to take care of your babe, this does not hateful that you should neglect caring for yourself. Make sure to bathe regularly, maintain a healthy diet, and to get equally much sleep equally you can. Y'all and your spouse tin work out a organisation where both of you have at least some time to accept care of yourself. ^[13]

   • Try to create a postpartum plan before your baby is born. Include things like how you lot'll swallow, when you'll sleep, whether y'all'll need help from family or friends, and and then on.^[14]
   • While this probably won't exist the time for you to accept upwardly a new hobby or to start writing a memoir, you should make sure to get some practice, see your friends at least a trivial fleck, and just to have some "me time" when you can get information technology.
   • Don't think that you're beingness selfish past wanting a bit of time to yourself later on your babe has just been born. If you have even a little chip of fourth dimension to have care of yourself, yous'll exist a meliorate caretaker for your babe.
   • Be easy on yourself. This is non the time to clean the whole business firm or lose 10 pounds.

4. iv

   Articulate your schedule. Anything can happen, particularly during the first month of your baby's life. Make certain you haven't made as well many plans and that you're prepared to give your baby the time it needs. Eliminate your stress in accelerate past letting people know that yous'll be very busy with your baby, and don't force yourself to socialize too much or to make appearances with your baby unless that's something you really desire.

   • Though you should give your baby the time it needs, that doesn't hateful you should be holed up in your firm with your baby. Become out of the house every bit much every bit you lot tin -- information technology'll be better for you and your baby. ^[15]

5. five

   Go ready for the ride. Even if you feel that one twenty-four hours with your newborn babe is 100 hours long, you lot'll soon see that your baby will be over the newborn stage earlier you know it (people debate whether babies stop beingness newborns afterward 28 days or up to three months). So, be prepared for all of the emotions you will feel: intense joy at seeing your baby, a fear that you may not exist doing everything right, a panic that y'all accept lost your independence, an isolation from your childless friends. ^[xvi]

   • All of these feelings are perfectly natural, and any hesitations or fears y'all have volition fade to the background as you embark on a new life with your infant.

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Add together New Question

• Question

  What should I know well-nigh taking care of a newborn?

  

  Jami Yaeger is a Parenting Specialist, Doula, and the Owner of AustinBorn, an online community offering comprehensive and mod education to growing families. With 10 years of experience, Jami specializes in whole family support for pregnancy, nascence, postpartum, and parenting. Jami earned her BA in Theatre Performance from San Diego State Academy and earned her Certification every bit a Lactation Education Counselor from the University of California, San Diego. She is a Certified Infant and Kid CPR Instructor, Birth and Postpartum Doula, and Childbirth Educator.

  

  Parenting Specialist

  Skillful Respond

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert respond.

  I of the about important things you can do is to make certain you're taking care of yourself. It tin can help a lot to make a postpartum programme ahead of time so when yous get domicile with your new babe, you won't have to worry nearly how you lot're going to eat or slumber. You can besides decide alee of time whether you'll demand assistance from family, friends, a doula, or a nanny.

• Question

  How long should y'all let your newborn sleep without eating?

  

  Sarah Siebold is an International board certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and Certified Lactation Educator Counselor (CLEC) based in Los Angeles, California. She runs her ain lactation consulting practice called IMMA, where she specializes in emotional support, clinical care, and evidence-based breastfeeding practices. Her editorial work virtually new maternity and breastfeeding has been featured in VoyageLA, The Tot, and Howdy My Tribe. She completed her clinical lactation training in both individual exercise and outpatient settings through the Academy of California, San Diego. She also earned her Thousand.A. in English language and American Literature from New York University.

  

  International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

  Expert Reply

  

  Back up wikiHow by unlocking this practiced answer.

  Before they regain their birth weight, we desire to wake a sleeping baby between every two and three hours, unless they wake themselves, to brand certain they become the minimum number of feeds. Don't ever allow your newborn who's still under birth weight sleep for longer than a three hour stretch.

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• Supervise your pets when they are around the child. This is for your baby's sake and for your pet'due south sake. Your pet could easily hurt your babe, or your baby could be as well rough and hurt your pet.

• Don't force yourself to carry the baby while irritated when you're already feeling sleepy. You may injure the baby. Endeavor having an assistance from your families or friends around yous, and have a bit of slumber.

• Put a crib in your bed room so it volition not get scared.

• Taking care of a homo beingness is difficult. But your parents did it for yous. Take tips from them and your doctor too.

• If yous have a task make sure they give y'all maternity get out, and enough time to spend with your baby, four months at least.

• Take pictures of them growing upwardly.

• Take other people hold the infant so they become used to other people holding him/her.

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• Never feed your newborn "regular" nutrient. They take no teeth to chew it with, and their digestive organisation isn't prepared withal.

• Always supervise your baby while giving them a bathroom. A babe can drown in less than an inch of water.

• Go to a doctor if the baby:

  • does not answer to sounds or sights
  • has a face that is paler or bluer than usual
  • does not urinate
  • does not eat
  • has a fever

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Things Yous'll Demand

• Clothes for the babe
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• Formula for the baby
• Car seat and car
• Stroller

About This Article

Article Summary X

To accept care of a newborn, feed them breastmilk or formula every two-3 hours. Since you'll be feeding them and then frequently, program on irresolute their diaper around 10 times a mean solar day. Also, make sure they're getting plenty of residuum so they grow good for you and strong. Once your newborn's umbilical cord falls off, bathe them with mild soap ii-iii times a week to keep them make clean. When yous hold your newborn, remember to always support their caput and cervix. For more tips, like how to soothe a crying newborn, keep reading!

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