Newborn Do’s And Don’ts

by Midas

All of us are so excited to meet the new member of our family. “I’m so excited to see if to whom does the baby looks like”, my grandma exclaimed. Little boy Nelsen, my nephew, was just born yesterday and we are preparing a welcome party for him today.

Not only that, I also made a research on taking care of a newborn because taking care of them involves learning a whole new skill set. Here are few tips I’ve learned that can help first-time parents feel confident about caring there newborn. The things to do and things not to do with your baby:

DO breastfeed your baby exclusively. It is recommended to exclusive breastfeed the baby on his or her first six months of life, and that there is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding.

DO select an iron-fortified infant formula if breastfeeding may not be possible.

DON’T feed your baby low iron formulas, homemade formulas, cow or goat milk as a substitute to iron-fortified formula.

DON’T feed your baby juice or even water. If you think that they are thirsty, just feed them with breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula because it provides everything babies need nutritionally until they start eating solid foods.

DON’T heat your baby’s bottles in the microwave. Microwave ovens heat liquids unevenly, and so can leave super heated pockets of formula in your baby’s bottle. Even if you vigorously shake the bottle afterwards, heating bottles in the microwave should be avoided.

DON’T start your baby on solid foods before 4 months of age, especially if allergies fun in the family.

DO remember that a newborn baby needs to be fed every 2 to 3 hours. If you’re breastfeeding, give your baby the chance to nurse about 10–15 minutes at each breast. If you’re formula-feeding, your baby will most likely take about 2–3 ounces (60–90 milliliters) at each feeding. Generally, it’s recommended that babies be fed on demand — whenever they seem hungry. Your baby may cue you by crying, putting fingers in his or her mouth, or making sucking noises. However,

DON’T focus too much on how much, how often and how regularly your baby eats. Instead, look for contentment between feedings, alertness, good skin tone and steady weight gain. Call your baby’s doctor if you need to awaken your newborn frequently or if your baby doesn’t seem interested in eating or sucking.

DO remember that babies often swallow air during feedings, which can make them fussy. You can prevent this by burping your baby frequently. Try burping your baby every 2 to 3 ounces (60–90 milliliters) if you bottle-feed, and each time you switch breasts if you breastfeed. If your baby tends to be gassy, has gastroesophageal reflux, or seems fussy during feeding, try burping your baby every ounce during bottle-feeding or every 5 minutes during breastfeeding.

DON’T shake your baby. Shaking your baby can cause Shaken Baby Syndrome. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, ’shaken baby syndrome is a severe form of head injury that occurs when a baby is shaken forcibly enough to cause the baby’s brain to rebound (bounce) against his or her skull. This rebounding may cause bruising, swelling, and bleeding (intracerebral hemorrhage) of the brain, which may lead to permanent, severe brain damage or death.

If you need to wake your infant, don’t do it by shaking — instead, tickle your baby’s feet or blow gently on a cheek.

DO respond to your baby when he or she cries. Crying is a baby’s way of communicating one of his or her needs. Crying can be upsetting. You will gradually begin to recognize your baby’s different crying patterns and, as you get to know her better, will be able to anticipate her needs.

DO provide an environment with a lot of social interaction. This includes eye contact, talking, listening and touching. For infants, the attachment contributes to their emotional growth, which also affects their development in other areas, such as physical growth. Physical closeness can also promote an emotional connection.

DON’T allow stuffed animals, soft bedding or improper or extra mattresses in your baby’s crib to ensure that your baby doesn’t get tangled in them or suffocate.

DO put your baby to sleep on his back, this is one of the best ways to prevent the risk of SIDS ( Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). But be sure to alternate the position of your baby’s head from night to night (first right, then left, and so on) and or have a tummy time when your baby is awake to prevent the development of a flat spot on one side of the head.

DON’T expect your newborn baby to sleep through the night. Newborns typically sleep for periods of 2–4 hours. The digestive system of babies is so small that they need nourishment every 2-3 hours. You can expect your baby to sleep for 6-8 hours by the time they are about three months old.

DO support your baby’s head and neck to avoid injuries. A new baby is not strong enough to support her own head, cradle the head when carrying your baby and support the head when carrying the baby upright or when you lay him or her down.

DON’T leave your baby alone on places where he or she could fall like changing table or bed or a couch.. Make sure cribs meet current safety standards.