Caring for Your Newborn - A Learned Skill

Delivering your first child is a stunning experience (to say the least) as well as the beginning of a new time in a woman’s life. Motherhood has its amazing rewards but unfortunately your baby doesn’t come with a handbook.Sleep Newborn babies usually sleep for sixteen hours in a day or at least that’s what the textbooks say. Some do, some don’t. However, you do need to encourage your baby to sleep during the first few months of life. Newborn babies sleep for the most part for about two hours at a time. You need to establish a day/night routine fairly early on so that they get to know the difference. Believe me, it will save a lot of sleepless nights if you are successful with this early. Food It is necessary that your newborn baby receives a suitable diet during the initial months. There is much debate about whether or not to breastfeed. My advice is do what is right for you, so long as your baby is fed at regular intervals throughout the day your baby will thrive.Bath Don’t be concerned if your daily ritual with your new child prevents daily baths. While it is good to establish a routine early on, and a bath is certainly soothing, it is not necessary. Always wrap your baby in a soft towel and then dry your baby one limb at a time so that your baby does not feel cold. An after bath tip is to use olive oil on your baby’s skin. It is the best moisturizer you’ll find. An the best nappy rash deterent I’ve found.Health Any abnormal change in your child’s behaviour will be noticed by you first. Constant crying, coughing or sneezing is something that should be seen to by your family doctor. A mother’s intuition about her children is rarely wrong. Always consult your doctor immediately if you are concerned about your child’s health. Taking care of your newborn should be satisfying. Never hesitate to ask for help or advice. An experienced mother is always a great source of information. Don’t hesitate to ask for help and remember that your community nurse and/or family doctor are there to help.

By: Katherine Nagy