How to care for a newborn?

In the first days after childbirth, a woman stays with her baby in the maternity hospital. There, the medical staff teaches her the basics of proper baby care. However, after being discharged from the maternity hospital, a young mother has many questions regarding bathing, breastfeeding, choosing a crib and other nuances. Let's learn the basic rules for caring for infants.

How to care for a newborn baby?

In the first months of life, it is necessary to carry out a set of daily procedures aimed at maintaining hygiene.
Washing

Every morning, wipe your baby's face with a cotton pad moistened with warm water. Pay attention to the neck - milk often flows into its folds during feeding. They also need to be cleaned.

Take two more discs, wet them and gently wipe the eyes, moving from the outer corner to the inner. Use a separate disc to wipe the inside and outside of your ears. Never use sticks to clean your ears! Gently clean the ear canals with damp cotton wool.

Clean your baby's nose in the same way. Crusts accumulate in it, which interfere with normal breathing. Carefully remove them with cotton wool moistened with water.
Washing

After the child has gone to the toilet, he must be washed. To wash, use water at a temperature no higher than 36 degrees. After defecation, use baby soap; the rest of the time, just water is enough to avoid drying out the skin. Washing a girl, unlike a boy, has its own characteristics. The girl needs to be washed with running water, moving from front to back.
Changing diapers

Disposable diapers are changed every 3-4 hours during the day and once at night. After defecation, this must be done, even if the diaper was changed very recently. Reusable cloth or gauze diapers are changed after each wetness. To avoid diaper rash, before each diaper change, let your baby lie down with his butt bare for a few minutes. There are special creams that protect the skin from diaper rash. They are applied to the buttocks and groin folds before putting on a diaper.
Care for skin folds

The skin of a newborn has many folds into which dust gets clogged and milk flows in, leading to irritation and redness. To avoid this, wipe all folds daily with damp pieces of cotton wool or soft cloths. If your skin is red, use baby powder.
Trimming nails

Babies' nails grow very quickly. Once a week they need to be cut so that the baby does not accidentally scratch himself. For work, use special children's nail scissors with rounded ends. You can buy them at a baby supply store. It is best to carry out the procedure when the child is sleeping and will not interfere by waving his arms.
Treatment of the umbilical wound

You need to care for the umbilical wound until it is completely healed. It is best to do this after swimming. Soak a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide, gently blot the wound, then lubricate it with brilliant green or any other antiseptic. Zelenka is a classic option. It disinfects and dries the wound well. If your belly button does not heal for a long time and the wound looks strange, consult a doctor.
Bathing

You need to bathe your baby every day. It's better to do this in the evening before you feed. The water in the bath should not be hot. The optimal temperature is 36–37 degrees. The air temperature in the bathroom is not lower than 22 degrees.

Perform water procedures slowly, holding the baby by the shoulders. Be sure to wash his hair to remove sweat and seborrheic crusts. More detailed instructions for bathing a baby can be found here.

After bathing, dry your baby's body with a soft towel and, if necessary, lubricate with special baby oil or cream. Do not overuse oils and creams; use them not every day, but as needed.
Choice of clothes

Don't buy your child too many clothes. Babies grow quickly, so many things simply won't be needed. For the first months, it is enough to have several rompers, vests, bodysuits or people for the house, as well as warm clothes for walking. As you grow older, gradually buy the necessary wardrobe items. If you are swaddling a baby, then read how to do it correctly.
Walks

You need to walk with your child every day. The exception is when he is sick. Choose clothes according to the weather, do not bundle up your baby if it is warm outside. Make sure his legs and head don't freeze. Place a thin mattress or blanket in the stroller.