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Basic baby care Bonding with your child is very important No doubt about it, your baby is probably the most important, delicate and demanding possession you’re ever likely to have. Certainly more than your fancy sports car, golf clubs or fancy PDA, so pay attention. From the moment your son or daughter arrives back from the hospital you’re going to have a steep learning curve in handling, caring for, feeding or cleaning your little one. Neither you or your partner will be prepared for anything like this, despite all the baby books you might have read and there will be plenty of trial and error and scary moments. You may even have the odd argument about correct care and attention which is perfectly normal. All parents go through it and most babies grow up safely even with the worst of parents, but they can easily become traumatised, hurt or fall ill without correct handling and care. This will only add to your stress, with plenty of tears and a scolding from your missus. Handling: first of all you’re going to need to know right away how to handle your baby. Most importantly you need to always support their head, as neck muscles don’t firm up until they are at least three months on. Always hold them with one hand behind the neck, or cradle their chin in the arch of your hand (between thumb and forefinger) when burping them. It’s not the end of the world if occasionally you slip up and their head lulls to one side. Newborns will not have sufficient muscle development to support themselves in any position, so a lying position is best or cradle them in your arms. By four months of age they will be able to move their heads and will be starting to crawl at six months. Until then you need to always support them. Even propping them up in a seated position in chair is strain on their back. By month two however they can be carried in an upright position but always be careful to hold them firmly as they might wriggle or kick causing you to drop them. Carrying: babies are inquisitive and like to see things and get around, so after the first month it’s a good idea to take them for little walks around the house or garden holding them face out (one hand supporting their crotch and the other under their arm against their chest). You can also prop them over your shoulder. By month three you can place them in a carry harness without much fuss. If you’re leaving the house you will certainly need a pram or stroller (not a push chair until later) and a car seat. Babies love being handled and soon get familiar with your scent and feel secured by your heartbeat and warmth, so cuddling up to daddy usually ends any tears and drama from the cot. It’s important to begin bonding daily with your daughter from an early age. Feeding: is singularly the most important priority on a baby’s life and they will expect milk every few hours until they settle into a longer pattern in the third month. Usually they let you know by crying or getting agitated and should always be fed on demand. Feeding has been covered in detail in another section.  Babies behave best when contented and comfortable This is a good chance for bonding and if you’re bottle feeding her she’ll gaze in awe and satisfaction at you while sucking away. After the first few weeks keep her a little upright to minimise choking. Afterwards she’ll need a good burping and you can expect several gooey belches so ensure you have yourself covered if you’re already dressed for work. Babies soon learn that burping is a satisfying remedy and will readily comply, often dozing off afterwards. Soothing and sleeping: initially your daughter will spend most her time sleeping (as much as 20 hours a day) but by the third month will be sleeping more during the night. Getting them to sleep is the trick, and a gentle rocking motion usually has them nodding off in no time, but it helps to keep them active for prolonged periods so they sleep soundly. The best sleep positions are either on their side or face down (no pillow and sometimes even in a ‘kneeling position’) to minimise choking. A small blanket can be used to cover them up to the waist, while the room is maintained at a suitable temperature. Since they sleep lightly you need to get into the habit of avoiding any bangs (even soft ones) and keep doors closed. Grey noise, such as air conditioner units help drown out the TV. Sometimes the little tot just won’t stop crying and you’ll need to be patient and learn what works best in this situation (especially if you or your partner are stressed) and often putting them over your shoulder and singing softly to them helps. Dressing: newborns are forever needing an attire change because they’ve dribbled all over it, so you can forget all those cute jumpsuits and tiny Man U shirts, a simple tunic that wraps around and ties up, will be most practical and often you needn’t even bother putting shorts over the nappy. If your house temperature is controlled then they won’t need wrapping up. Socks are necessary to keep their feet from getting cold and mittens are essential to avoid them scratching themselves. For the first couple of weeks they might sleep better when wrapped up ‘Jesus style’ to mimic the womb and keep them from kicking and moving. A beanie is also a good idea if you are going out into the cold. Babies aren’t used to clothes so blankets often work better. Hygiene: calls for the upmost attention when bottle cleaning, by using a steamer. Always use a clean, fresh bottle and formula for each feed. Your baby will also need washing once a day, which should be a gentle sponging down and rinsing – a routine the baby either loves or hates but becomes accustomed to. This is essential in the summer when they sweat and to rid them of that constant milk-belch smell. When they do ‘throw up’, which is quite normal in small amounts after a feed, wipe their mouths softly with a tissue and then clean the mess off their (and your) clothing too. Nappy changing is the other big task you’re going to have to get used to and it isn’t too much of a chore if you are correctly prepared. If they poo themselves (which is half a dozen times a day in the first month) you should try to change the nappy as soon as possible, while urinating can wait a little as modern disposables are very absorbent. To help you get over the ‘dirty bit’s we’ve covered nappy changes in more detail. Ailments: you need to pay particular attention to any change in your baby’s condition but usually crying is the first sign that something is wrong. Don’t hesitate to call your doctor when the baby is less than two months old. They might suffer from diarrhoea, constipation or a rash which is normal, while fevers sometimes occur. Colic is the biggest problem at this age, which only occurs with some babies and is related to indigestion discomfort, resulting in lots of crying. Dietary tweaking might help but it usually suddenly ends some time before the third month. Then there are all the immunisations necessary which your midwife will advise you on. We’ve covered these and all the main ailments in more detail in another section. Of course, you midwife would have given your partner plenty of advice and lessons on the important basics and much else you can figure out as you go, for some babies are more adaptable and hardy than others, but remember they are all delicate little things that need to be given strict care.
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