Having a newborn baby is one of the best feelings a person can get in his lifetime. Apart from all the happiness and celebrations, it also brings a sense of responsibility towards the parents. The first few weeks and days may even seem like a whirlwind. If you are not ready beforehand, then you will suffer in the process of taking care of the newborn. It is no doubt that having a newborn baby can be a really big deal for everyone around you. Parents are the eyes through which the newborn will see the world for the very first time and it is your responsibility to make the experience a pleasant one for the baby.
Things that are required for the newborn
Before beginning any of the guidance, you need to be prepared for parenthood by having all the essential items on hand. Essentials that you will need will include those that are required in the hospital and those that you will require after coming home with the newborn. You need to make sure that you do not purchase these essential items towards the end because then you will be confused about how to use them immediately.
Essentials for the hospital
Basic things that you may require in the hospital are:
- Formula samples if you are bottle-feeding
- Swaddle blanket
- diapers for newborn
- An outfit for the baby
- Body blanket
Apart from all these initial items, you will need to make adjustments in your car in the form of installing a rear-facing car seat because in the United States you will not be able to leave the hospital with the baby if that is not installed in your car.
Essentials you will require at home
After coming from the hospital, you will require the following things:
- Wash clothes and soft towels
- Newborn bathtub
- Basic pajamas and outfits
- Co-sleeper
- Bottles for the newborn with various types of nipples
- Diaper cream and wipes
- Diapers for newborn two boxes
- Burp cloths
- Breast pump
How much sleep does newborn baby take?
In the case of newborns, you will notice that they will sleep for most of the 24 hours. It is natural for a baby to sleep for at least 8 to 9 hours during the day and another 8 hours during the night. Another thing to keep in mind is that the schedule for the newborns can be highly unpredictable, so parents have to be ready.
Should the parents sleep in the same room?
It is highly recommended for the parents to have their babies in the same room for at least the first six months.
What is the role of a night nurse?
Even though this is a shortcut to avoid certain parenthood responsibilities but you may have heard about night nurses. Night nurses are those that take care of your baby for the night, he/she can change the diapers overnight and provide your baby bottles so that you do not have to wake up through the night. Depending on your budget you can hire a night nurse. The average cost per hour of a night nurse in America can begin from $25 to a few hundred dollars which depends upon your exact location.
How to feed the newborn?
Feeding newborns must only be on demand and they will naturally require to be breastfed every 2 to 3 hours. During the first few days, you might feel that the baby is not getting enough food but the reality is that breast milk has enough nutrition to provide your baby with all the necessary nutrition requires at that stage.
Other things to keep in mind is that you can always wake your baby up to eat if they sleep for longer than 4-5 hours at a time.
At about one month of age, the babies who are breastfed will now require up to 4 ounces of milk per feeding. As the babies grow older schedule will be more and more predictable which can be very helpful.
Tips on bathing a newborn baby
The first official bath that your baby will have is most likely to be in the hospital itself, but once they are at home, you need to bath them shortly after coming home. For the bath, you cannot simply pour water on them because their skin is very delicate. So, you need to follow a procedure and that is to dip a cloth in warm water and gently rub the cloth on the baby’s body including his head and diaper area.
How to change the baby’s diaper?
Before starting this process, make sure all the required supplies are on hand.
- Lay the baby down on a flat surface.
- Undress the baby and remove all the clothing. Remove the tape from the soiled diaper but do not remove it completely instead fold the top of the diaper down in order to access the diaper area of the baby.
- You can use wet wipes or damp washcloth to clean the diaper area.
- Lift baby’s legs gently and slowly slide out the old diaper and replace it with the new one.
- You can also apply lotion or diaper cream if required.
- Pull the new diaper through your baby’s legs for securing it with the tape. Make sure the diaper is not to lose but also not too tight.
- Dispose of the old diaper, wash your hands, and get the baby dressed again.
Medical supplies required for newborn
It is a great idea to keep all the first aid supplies with you that you can use anytime an accident happens which is highly probable because babies are keen to do things that are new to them and you cannot always keep an eye on them. So, that kit that we are referring to here should contain the following items.
- All the details you will require during an emergency like a baby’s doctor, poison control number and nearest emergency room
- Cotton balls
- Infant acetaminophen
- Baby comb
- Baby nail clipper
- Medicine dropper
- Nasal aspirator
- Baby thermometer
Newborns medical emergencies
When we are referring emergencies that may happen in the case of newborns we are referring following criteria of emergencies that may include the following among others.
- Rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and above.
- Baby is having a seizure
- Blood in stool or vomit
- Signs that your baby is having difficulty breathing:
- Baby is making grunting noises
- Having difficulty taking air in
- Face turning blue
- Flared nostrils
- Irregular rapid breathing
The emergencies mentioned above should be taken very seriously and the doctor must be contacted immediately while calling an ambulance.
Other medical issues
Apart from these emergencies that we have mentioned above, there could be certain health concerns that would require you to contact the pediatrician.
- Jaundice
- Dehydration, you could figure this out if there is a lack of wet wipers.
- An unending cold
- The rash which does not disappear on its own
- Newborn refuses to eat multiple times
- Frequent diarrhea or vomiting
If any of the above-mentioned concerns are relatable in the case of your newborn, we recommend you to contact your pediatrician immediately.
Flying with a newborn
Although flying in an airplane with a newborn is not highly recommended because the immune system can be really tested in that case and the immune system of the newborn babies is very underdeveloped for that scenario. But life is not perfect, there could be some situations where it is highly important for you to travel with a newborn, then there can be a few things that you can in order to avoid any emergency.
These things include constantly using hand sanitizer for your baby’s hands, avoiding contact with a person who sounds or appears ill. Apart from this, you need to keep in mind that if your baby is under one month old, then as per the airline that you are traveling through you may need doctor’s note for them to allow you to fly with the baby. You can talk to a pediatrician about this.
Introducing your baby to siblings and pets
The reactions of the baby’s siblings may be of joy or they may be of resentful or anger. The important part here is to accept whatever their reactions are because eventually, they will understand that the baby is their new sister or brother and will love them. You need to start slow and plan the entire process because you do not want to surprise your other kids in this situation because it could be devastating for them and shocking.
if you have pets at home it is important to introduce them to the new member of your family because they are very conscious and protective of the family members so they must be aware that a new family member has arrived. Depending upon the nature of your dog or cat, certain actions to ensure the safety of your baby must be taken.
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