Caring for Your Baby
Handling a Newborn
Babies' necks are too weak to support their heads properly. When carrying a baby upright or laying her down, support her head and neck with your hand. Never shake a baby for any reason, as it can cause brain damage or death.
Colic
Colic is when babies cry continuously for no apparent reason. Babies who have colic usually start between three to six weeks of age, and the problem goes away at around three months. There have been many suggested explanation of colic (such as abdominal pain from gas in the digestive system, allergy to cow's milk, or gastroesophageal reflux), but researches have not been able to pinpoint a commonly accepted cause. Breastfed babies can get colic, but it occurs less often than with formula-fed babies.
When your baby does a lot of crying, you may be uncertain whether it's colic or a health problem that requires action. Colicky babies are otherwise healthy, are able to suck and eat normally, and have normal stools.
Dealing with Colic
Colic has no single proven cure; you will most likely have to wait it out. Here are some tips to help you handle the situation:
- Don't force the baby to eat if he's not hungry.
- Try to comfort your baby (you don't need to worry about “spoiling” him), but don't be dismayed if he continues to cry.
- Use motion to sooth your baby, such as rocking her or putting her in a baby swing.
- Play music or sing.
- Take more frequent breaks during feedings to burp the baby.
- Give the baby a massage.
Remember not to blame yourself for the baby being upset; sometimes babies just feel like crying. If you're getting frustrated, let someone else care for the baby or put him down in his crib for a while so that you can take a break. Do things to relax yourself such as going for a walk.
Feeding
Keeping your baby upright for 10 or 15 minutes after feeding can help make sure he doesn't spit the milk back up.
Babies should start eating food besides milk when they're around six months old. If you'd like to save money or make your baby healthier, consider making baby food yourself by pureeing fruits and vegetables.
Burping
Babies often swallow air when feeding and can experience discomfort, spitting up, and crying; and burping helps them expel it. You can burp your baby by patting her lightly on the back repeatedly. There are many positions for this, such as sitting or standing upright with the baby against your chest and her head on your shoulder.
If your baby becomes cranky while feeding, stop feeding long enough to burp him. Always burp after the baby is done eating.
Sleep
It's normal for infants to need to wake up in the night to be fed, because their stomach's are not large enough to store enough food to last them overnight. Infants also haven't recognized the difference between night and day. In order to help your baby learn that nighttime is for sleeping, avoid to much playing and talking when you feed your baby in the middle of the night. Establishing a bedtime routine is also very helpful for making your baby understand when it is time to sleep.
Babies should sleep face-up, on their backs, to reduce the risk of SIDS. Keep things like stuffed animals out of the crib while the baby is supposed to be sleeping, because she can suffocate on these.
Cosleeping, which refers to the infant sleeping in the same bed as the parents, is practiced in most of the world and is gaining in popularity in the United States. While there are definite benefits, there is debate over the safety of cosleeping, and the American Association of Pediatrics recommends against it. You can achieve some of the same benefits by keeping your baby's crib or bassinet in the same room that you sleep in.
Diapers
The number of diapers your baby needs will vary depending on his age. Newborns only soil diapers once or twice per day. The average number a baby will use is seven to ten per day.
If you're using disposable diapers, be aware that they often don't feel wet even when they are. You'll have to be more careful in changing the diaper as frequently as you need to and in judging the baby's food intake.
Then you go to change the baby's diaper, make sure you have everything ready at the changing table so that you don't leave your baby unattended. If your baby is a boy, place a clean diaper over him, as he may urinate on things in the vicinity (e.g. Mom). When wiping the baby clean, make sure to wipe from front to back. Wiping back to front could cause a urinary tract infection, especially with girls.
Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is an infection that can be caused by
- soiled diapers left on too long
- diapers that are too tight
- certain kinds of diapers, baby wipes, or detergents irritating the baby
You can prevent diaper rash by changing the baby's wet or soiled diapers as soon as possible, letting the baby's skin dry before you put a new diaper on, and occasionally soaking the baby's bottom in warm water before putting on a new diaper. These actions should also cause any current diaper rash to go away in about two or three days. If diaper rash remains longer than that, talk to the baby's doctor.
Types of Diapers
Even though disposable diapers are more popular, some parents opt for cloth diapers because they are cheaper, healthier, and more environmentally friendly. In some cases, they are even more convenient. Here are some basic resources on cloth diapers.
Some parents also practice “elimination communication” or “natural infant hygiene,” where they learn to follow the baby's cues about when he needs to eliminate (just like they learn how to tell when he needs to be feed) and never need to use diapers at all. Visit Mothering for more information.