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An Overview of Newborn Baby Care
Newborn care can really be stressful. Many parents feel overwhelmed by the knowledge that their new baby boy or
girl is solely dependent upon them. The key to newborn care is education. Educating yourself about what your baby
will need to stay healthy and safe can take much of the stress and anxiety out of your pending birth. Here is a
general overview of the top newborn care tips.
* You should be very selective when choosing a pediatrician for your unborn baby. Do not hesitate to set up an
interview with prospective pediatricians. During the interview process feel free to ask any questions you may have
about the doctor’s practice. What are their hours? Do they specialize in certain childhood diseases? What if your
baby needs to be seen after hours?
* Make sure you have purchased an infant car seat well before your due date. You should install the car seat into
your car well before you have your first contraction. This will ensure that you know how to use the car seat
properly so your baby will be safe on his or her first ride in a vehicle. If you are having problems figuring out
how to install the car seat you can ask a friend who is more experienced with baby equipment to help you. If no one
is available, simply call your local fire department. They will send someone out to help you learn what you need to
know about car seat safety.
* Another part of newborn care is deciding whether you will bottle or breastfeed your new baby. Some parents choose
to do both. If you do decide to breastfeed and you have problems, contact your local La Leche League. They will
send someone out to your home to help you and your baby. If your baby is having problems bottle feeding or having
problems digesting his or her formula, go to your baby’s pediatrician with your concerns.
* Once you bring your baby home it is important that you never leave him or her unattended on a changing table, bed
or couch. Babies move suddenly, especially when they are startled. Part of newborn care involves making sure your
baby is safe and secure at all times.
* If you have a boy baby, part of newborn care will include taking special care of his circumcision. You should
change your son’s diaper as soon as he soils it. This will keep his circumcision area from becoming soiled. To keep
your son’s diaper from sticking to his circumcision area you should apply either petroleum jelly or an antibiotic
ointment to it. You should contact your baby’s pediatrician if you notice anything abnormal about his circumcision.
This includes swelling, crusted sore, drainage, bleeding, black, blue or discolored penis, redness that lasts more
than a couple of days, foul odor, dribbling or weak urine or if your baby develops a fever.
* Another area of newborn care for all babies is caring for their umbilical cord stumps. You should make sure that
your baby’s diaper does not tug on the umbilical cord stumps. You should never pull or tug on the stump itself. It
will fall off on its own. Some pediatricians recommend that alcohol be swabbed onto the stump during diaper
changes. Some doctors simply recommend using warm water. You should talk with your baby’s pediatrician to see what
he or she recommends for your baby. You should take your baby to the doctor if you notice any swelling, bulging,
blood or pus around the naval. You should also take your baby to the doctor if the stump has not fallen off by the
third week.
If you are preparing to have a baby, you should seriously consider enrolling in newborn care classes. These classes
cover all the basics and more. After completing one or more of these classes you should be on your way to being a
newborn care expert!
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