The Basics of Newborn Care

CIRCUMCISION AND UMBILICAL CORD CARE

You will be handling all sorts of cringe-worthy bodily functions for your child, and I consider this portion of the program part of your initiation. Your kiddo will come home from the hospital with a little withered stump where their cute little belly button will eventually be. Your job is to keep this thing clean and dry for the first few weeks until - wait for it - it turns from yellow to brown or black and shrivels and falls off. Gag. Use a damp washcloth to clean the area and stick to sponge baths (no submersion) until the cord has fallen off and the area has healed. Also, fold diapers down in the front to reduce rubbing and keep the area dry.

For parents of little dudes, who opted for circumcision, the tip of the penis will be a little swollen, and a yellow scab will appear. Poor little guy! Wash the area with warm water daily and dab a little petroleum jelly to protect the site and prevent it from sticking to the diaper.

If you notice any additional swelling, blistering, redness, foul odor, or discharge, you should contact your pediatrician immediately.

TRIMMING NAILS

Newborn nails grow quickly, and even though these tiny little nails are relatively soft, they can still be quite sharp. To reduce the chance of your baby scratching themselves or you, invest in a pair of baby nail clippers and carefully trim their nails as needed. Try performing this task while the baby is relaxed to minimize the chance of snipping those sensitive baby fingers.

BATHING

For the first few weeks, you will be doing sponge baths, and while not absolutely necessary, an infant tub can be super helpful. There are tons of different options out there. You'll just need to see what works best for your family. Keep in mind, deep bending may be challenging post-partum, and if you've had a C-section, it's completely off-limits. So, look for a tub that can fit in or across your sink.

Make sure you have all the gear ready before you start the bath (washcloth, baby shampoo/soap, cup for pouring water, towel) and if you can, enlist a second pair of hands. Your baby may love the bath; they may not. Our babes went through phases. If your kiddo isn't nuts about bath time, having someone there to help hold and comfort (or distract) the baby is a huge help.

We used the newborn no-rinse water wash and wipes from Mustela for cleaning the babes between baths. In addition to its dreamy scent, it also soothes baby's skin and helps prevent dryness. It’s perfect for cleaning up behind baby’s ears, an area where babies notoriously store old milk runoff. It can get funky, yes, I’m serious.  

SLEEPING

Kiss it goodbye. Just kidding! As much as it seems like these new little humans need attention every minute, newborns usually sleep 16 or more hours a day. In the beginning, sleep will come in two to four-hour bursts. As the days go on, your baby will be able to eat more, allowing them to sleep for longer stretches without waking. For right now, they’re just going to sleep whenever they want. And when they do, you should try to catch some winks too.

Your baby may or may not accept a sleep schedule for the first few months. It is important to start helping your baby learn the difference between day and night. Establishing a routine early on will help your baby pick up the signals that it’s time to sleep.

Our routine was as follows: book, bath, dim lights, turn on sound machine, massage, pj's, bottle (or breastfeed), bed. Your routine is up to you. Just keep it consistent to help your baby learn the cues. Babies thrive when they have a schedule. Starting the practice now will serve you well when it comes time to start managing your baby's sleep schedule in a few months.

A few tips:  

• Keep the room lighter during daytime, even for naps.  
• Dim the lights or use a night light in the evenings.
• Nothing else should be in your baby's bed, except them. Blankets, stuffed animals, or other objects are sleeping hazards and could cause suffocation.
• Always lay your baby in their bed on their back to prevent SIDS.
• Remember to alternate your baby's head position when laying them down to prevent flat spots from forming.

Parenting is a tough job, but I can attest that it is the most rewarding job in the world. Learning how to care for a newborn is complicated, but before you know it, that little bundle of joy is going to be cruising all over the place, walking, and that's when things really get interesting. Soak up these precious times while they are so teeny tiny, because before you know it, you’ll be baby proofing the house.