The new baby is in your arms, all curled up, tiny and fragile. Handling a baby can be daunting at times, especially for new mothers who might be afraid of doing something wrong, or worse, hurting them. But like all mothers, you’d want to keep your baby happy, warm and comfortable.
Changing Diapers
A newborn can have as many as 10 bowel movements a day, but as long as she is having at least one, she’s probably all right. One day without a bowel movement is usually no cause for concern. As long as your baby is feeding well and wetting her diaper 5 or 6 times a day, then she’s most likely getting enough to eat.
You should change your baby’s diaper as soon as you can when she’s had a bowel movement or when she wetted it. This is usually around every 1 to 2 hours and could be right after or before a nap.
Whether you’re using cloth diapers or disposables, here are the things you need to know when it comes to changing them:
- Unfasten the tabs and fasten them back on themselves so they don’t stick to your baby, but don’t remove the dirty diaper yet.
- Wipe away poo from his genital area with the corner of the diaper. Cover the genital area with a clean cloth if your baby is a boy, so he doesn’t pee over himself while you’re changing him.
- Take your baby by the ankles and lift his bottom off the changing table.
- Fold the dirty diaper in half under your baby, unsoiled side up.
- Clean baby thoroughly, lift both of your baby’s legs and clean the bottom too! For a girl: wipe from front to back. This will help minimize the possibility of her getting an infection.
- Apply a thin layer of barrier ointment and air baby’s bottom for a while before bundling him up in a clean diaper.
- The clean diaper’s top half should go under your baby’s bottom, and the other half should come up between his legs.
- Try not to bunch the diaper between your baby’s legs since it can cause chafing and discomfort. For newborns, avoid covering the umbilical cord. For boys: be sure to tuck the penis down so his urine will flow down into the diaper instead of out the top.
- Fasten the diaper at both sides with the tapes, not so tight that it pinches his skin. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for specific tips.
Dressing Your Baby
You’ll be changing your baby’s clothing several times a day so make sure outfits are uncomplicated and open easily for diaper changes. In general, you want light, soft, comfortable clothing with no irritating tags or seams. Babies outgrow sizes quickly, so buy at least 3 months ahead.
Because babies can easily become too hot or cold, you’ll need to help them stay comfortable by using the following guidelines: If your baby is sleeping comfortably and feeding well, and is calm and not too cranky, then she’s probably the appropriate temperature. You can also check to make sure that her hands, feet, and head are neither hot nor cold to the touch. As a rule of thumb, an infant needs one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear at the same temperature.
Things to wear
- One-piece outfits: One-piece bodysuits simplify dressing. Look for clothes made in a soft fabric with wide head openings and loose-fitting ankle and leg cuffs. Also look for finished seams, and avoid zippers.
- Wearable blankets: Wearable blankets will keep your baby warm at night without your worrying about a blanket covering his head, particularly if he tosses and turns at night.
- Cotton shirts: Choose soft shirts, preferably with snaps at the neck for easier fitting. Undershirts are good for layering and will also protect your newborn’s skin from any seams or roughness in his outer garments. Choose undershirts that snap under the crotch so they don’t ride up.
- Sweater or jacket: Most babies don’t like having clothes pulled over their heads, so warm up your baby with a sweater or jacket that buttons down the front.
- Socks and booties: Stores sell shoes for newborns, but since your baby isn’t walking: warm your baby’s feet in socks or booties.
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