After going through the challenging process of pregnancy and delivery, you’re ready to start your life with your newborn child. However, as much as you’re excited about starting this new parenting journey, the obstacles and challenges have not yet ended. Now, it’s time to work on the development and well-being of your infant.
After all, it’s crucial to maintain your child’s well-being in infancy as it significantly affects their physical and psychological development. Nonetheless, considering how fragile newborns can be, it’s easy to get worried and confused about whether you’re taking the appropriate steps as a parent or not.
Stress and anxiety are commonly found among parents with newborn children, especially if they are new to parenting. So, if you’re going through the same issues, follow this ultimate guide to ensure the well-being of your infant.
Careful handling
As a parent, you’ll want to spend as much time with your newborn as you can, which is also essential for developing a bond with the little one. However, it’s equally important to be careful while coming into physical contact with your newborn.
As mentioned earlier, infants are highly fragile. While carrying your baby, you must support the head and neck to avoid injury. Moreover, it’s never good to shake your baby in any situation, as it can cause bleeding in the brain or other irreversible issues.
You can blow on your infant’s cheeks or tickle their feet if you feel the need to wake them up. Another essential thing to be mindful of is to wash your hands before handling your child to avoid the spread of germs.
However, if your newborn begins to face physiological issues, it’s essential to consult an expert. Today, we have experts who deal with all sorts of infant issues, whether they occur right after birth or in later stages.
For instance, to support the establishment and circulation of breathing, we have experts who perform neonatal resuscitation at birth. Nonetheless, this isn’t an easy procedure. Only those who have earned a neonatal resuscitation program NRP provider certification can carry it out adequately.
So, it’s viable to search for the right professionals if your little one has any health issues.
Hygiene
It’s crucial to ensure good hygiene practices for your infant. They protect your infant from developing illnesses and help establish a sense of following hygiene rules as they grow. Typically, an infant will dirty diapers about ten times a day, so be prepared to change diapers as soon as they become dirty.
To do so, you’ll need to have clean diapers, diaper ointment, and wipes within reach at all times. While cleaning your infant, wipe gently and apply a cream to avoid rashes and infections.
Alongside changing diapers to keep your child clean, you’ll also need to start baby baths. During the first year, three baths in a week are advised to maintain cleanliness. But, it’s best to give a sponge bath until the umbilical cord wound heals.
Eliminate health hazards
Germs and poor hygiene habits aren’t the only ways your infant’s health can be affected. Inside your home, there may be several health hazards that are putting your infant’s health at risk. You can’t keep an eye on your infant at all times; therefore, it’s crucial to eliminate these health hazards to ensure safety.
As soon as infants start crawling and exploring the house, they will begin trying to nibble or eat inedible objects, resulting in choking. According to stats, 75% of choking deaths occur in children under the age of 3. To prevent such a situation, you’ll need to put small items such as screws, coins, and balls, out of reach and keep the floor clean.
Alongside choking hazards, it’s crucial to keep sharp objects such as knives and needles away from your infant. Other pointy things, such as table corners, can be baby-proofed or must be placed in areas that are out of your infant’s reach. House supplies such as detergents, dish soaps, car liquids can also be highly threatening for babies, as they are toxic chemicals. So, keep their containers tightly closed and out of reach.
Feeding
It can be pretty exhausting to feed an infant, as they can have unpredictable feeding patterns. However, appropriately feeding your infant is one of the most important ways to ensure well-being. Infants require the right amount of nutrition to develop physically and mentally.
And it’s better to feed a newborn baby on demand. So, if your baby is showing hunger by making sucking noises or putting fingers in the mouth, it’s time for you to start feeding. Typically, parents give milk to their newborns every two to three hours. If possible, it’s best to start feeding with breastmilk and feed your baby for about 30 minutes. But if you’re giving formula to the baby, you can give them 60-90 milliliters each time.
To ensure your infant receives the right amount of nutrition, you should keep an eye on bowel movements, weight, and sleep cycles. Moreover, some infants need to be awakened from sleep to make them start eating. If your infant is reluctant to eat, there may be gas issues. To avoid such a situation, try to get your infant to burp after every 5 minutes of feeding.
Conclusion
Having a new baby is accompanied by a profound feeling of joy and excitement. Nonetheless, this joy also comes with responsibilities to ensure the well-being of your infant. While you may experience fatigue, stress, and anxiety while taking care of your baby, you’ll soon develop a routine and get used to it. More importantly, the guide mentioned above will certainly help you fulfill your responsibilities more effectively.
