Ah, the thrill (and rising sense of “I don’t know what I’m doing! Help!!!”) when you
bring home your first little bundle of joy. I’d always heard that being a new parent
is one sleepless night after another, forever trying to learn the ancient art of baby burrito
wrapping, and lots and LOTS of stinky diapers. Hey, none of that is too far off, but I do
have some tips that’ll make the whole first-baby conundrum much easier!
1. Getting the baby to sleep Newborns’ sleeping problems come from the
fact that inside the womb, it’s always dark and cozy, and the baby is used to that setting.
So once they come into our world, they have to adjust to changes in light. Try to keep
the room lit up during the day and dim the lights at night. This will help your little
one understand the difference between daytime and night. Your 'almost sleeping' baby might
look irresistibly cute to you and you’ll certainly get the urge to kiss those chubby
little cheeks, but that wouldn’t be a good idea. Fight the temptation because the baby
may take it as a cue that you wanna play with them (or that its lunchtime!), so they might
wake up. And remember that it’ll take some time for the baby to get used to the ways
of our world, so be patient!
2. Getting yourself to sleep! As if by some sort of infant sorcery, whenever
I was on the verge of falling asleep at night, my newborn would know and immediately start
crying. So, for the first few days, I didn’t get much sleep, that’s for sure. And that
made me feel tired and pretty grouchy. Ok, fine, really grouchy! That’s when I knew
I had to figure out how and when to sleep. The solution is pretty simple. I sleep when
the baby sleeps. Synching your sleep cycle with your baby’s will help you get enough
rest so that you’re fresh and full of energy when you’re awake.
3. Wrapping your baby up “Hey, how hard can it be to wrap a baby
in a blanket?” I know, I thought the same thing. But there is a sort of “science”
to it so that your baby is as safe and comfortable as can be! First off, lay a light blanket
down in a diamond shape and fold the top corner about a quarter of the way down. Place the
baby face-up on the blanket so that their shoulders are just below that fold. Then grab
the right corner of the blanket, pull it across the baby’s body, and tuck it under the left
side. Leave the little one’s left arm out. (And, of course, you can do it from the other
side, from left to right.) Pull the bottom corner up and tuck it into the fold you just
created over your baby’s right shoulder. Finally, grab the remaining open corner (the
left one if you went from right to left), bring it across your baby, and tuck it under.
Now you have your perfectly wrapped baby burrito. Swaddling is actually really important because
it makes the baby feel safe and secure. That way, they’ll feel more relaxed and will
fall asleep quicker. And you know what that means: you can get some shut-eye too!
4. Holding a baby properly Here’s one that pretty much everybody has
heard at some point in their life, whether they’re a parent or not. Yes, it’s true
and extremely important: when holding a baby, you must make sure that their neck is supported.
You can do that by either cradling the baby in your arms or keeping one of your hands
under their head. This is because a newborn’s neck muscles are too weak to hold the head
up, so you kinda have to help them out with that!
5. Keeping an eye on the umbilical cord The most important thing to remember about
the clamped umbilical cord (or stump) is that it should always be clean and dry. So, until
the cord shrivels up and falls off, which might take two weeks or so, the baby should
only be given sponge baths. You can switch to the tub after the cord has fallen off on
its own. And if you see any signs of infection like a yellowish discharge or foul smell,
you know it’s time to see the doctor!
6. Taking a slippery baby out of the tub A baby’s skin is super soft, and it can
get really slippery after a bath. That’s why it’s extremely important that you be
extra careful while removing the baby from the bathtub. I’ve learned that a safe way
to do it is by grasping the baby under their arms using both your hands (while supporting
their neck and head, of course!). It’s also worth noting that babies don’t need baths
every single day. Otherwise, their silky soft skin can get dried out and irritated. Most
doctors recommend doing it about 3 times a week until your little tyke starts moving
more on their own. Ya know, playing in sandboxes and whatnot!
7. Changing diapers Here’s a task any new parent will become
a pro at in no time! I mean, it’s not the most complicated thing in the world: you wanna
remove the soiled diaper and put a fresh clean one in its place. But there are some important
things to remember. For example, always wash your hands first (and afterwards!) to prevent
bacteria on your hands from getting on the baby. Also, always wipe front to back – this
will help prevent infection, especially for girls. And make sure the baby’s skin is
clean and dry before putting on the fresh diaper to avoid diaper rash. Having some rash
ointment is a must anyway. And finally, you should also be careful with the umbilical
cord stump when changing diapers. Make sure the diaper doesn’t go up past the umbilical
cord if it hasn’t fallen off yet. Some diapers for newborns have a cutout around the belly-button
area to avoid irritation. If yours doesn’t, don’t worry – you can simply fold the
diaper down from the top to keep the umbilical stump open.
8. Feeding If a mom can or chooses to breastfeed, then
there are some helpful tricks when it comes to a baby’s mealtime. As far as positioning
goes, there are actually different ones, from the classic “cradle” to the lesser-known
“football hold.” Moms can choose whichever way is more comfortable and safe for them
and the baby – that’s the most important thing! Also, if you have a sleepy newborn
that tends to get tired and doze off while sucking, you can tickle their feet as they’re
feeding. This will ensure they don't fall asleep with an empty stomach!
And if a baby’s on formula, the pediatrician will give you all the instructions you need.
Just don’t assume that baby bottles always need to be warmed up like you see in the movies.
And if you do decide to serve it warm, never use a microwave – it can create hotspots
that you might not catch while testing it on your wrist. A pot of warm water will do
just fine. Also, don’t shake the bottle too much – that’s a one-way ticket to
a really gassy and uncomfortable baby!
9. Baby massages Who doesn’t like a good massage? I know
I do, and my baby does too! But for a newborn, it’s even more important because it makes
their bones and muscles stronger. Not to mention, it’s an amazing way to bond with your little
one! All you have to do is lay your baby on a towel that’s placed on a comfortable surface
like a bed. Always massage using a vegetable-based oil. Start with the legs, followed by the
arms, then the chest, and finally the baby's back.
10. Bonding Bonding will be different for everyone, but
the goal is the same: to establish a strong connection between the baby and its parents.
This process should start as soon as the baby’s born. All it takes in the beginning is gentle
skin-to-skin touch. Another important thing is to look into the baby's eyes and talk to
them. I know, it seems kinda weird since they don’t understand a lick of what you’re
saying, but it does help build that connection. Also, since a baby’s eyesight isn’t that
good, you have to get real close to them while interacting. And, of course, be sure to sneak
in lots of kisses while you’re face-to-face!
Did I leave anything out when it comes to caring for a newborn? Let me know down in
the comments! If you learned something new today, then give this video a like and share
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