Newborns need special care immediately after birth. Hospital newborn care includes a physical exam, screening for certain conditions and tests, and vaccinations.
Babies love vocal sounds, especially talking, humming or singing softly. They also enjoy being close to their parents and smelling their scent. This bonding helps them feel comfortable and secure.
Give Your Baby Cow?s Milk
Cow milk is a good source of protein, which helps in muscle development in babies. It is also rich in calcium and vitamin D. However, it lacks the right kind of fat, which is essential for infants. Hence, it is better to give your baby cow milk in small quantities.
It is best to start giving your child cow milk in the form of solid foods like porridge and yoghurt before they turn six months old. It is also best to not offer cow milk as a regular drink until after your baby’s first birthday. This is so that it doesn’t replace the breast milk or formula that is still providing your baby with vital nutrients.
Some babies may be sensitive to dairy and may not tolerate it well. This can result in gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea, vomiting or rashes. It is a good idea to monitor your baby closely for these symptoms after the intake of cow milk.
You can try to introduce cow milk to your baby by offering them a few spoonfuls or small sips of it every day. You can also try to serve it warm instead of cold as this will make your baby more willing to drink it. It is also a good idea to introduce cow milk using an open or sippy cup rather than a bottle.
Give Your Baby a Bath
Baby’s first bath is a special event. Some newborns love bath time, but others are agitated by it and express their discomfort loudly. To help your baby enjoy their bath, try to give it at a time when they are awake and content. Avoid bathing them immediately after a meal or when they are overtired.
Start by letting the water run, and testing the temperature with your wrist (babies prefer slightly cooler bathwater than adults). Then undress your baby and lay them in the tub with their back supported. Begin washing their head, starting with the fontanelles (soft spots) and moving outwards. Gently scrub their hair and scalp and don’t forget to wash behind their ears (don’t use cotton swabs). Rinse gently, being careful not to get soap in their eyes.
Once you’ve washed their whole body, pat it dry with a clean towel and make sure to get into the creases of their arms, legs and feet. Skip the lotions and powders; they can irritate your baby’s skin.
Newborns don’t need to be bathed every day, but two to three times a week should be enough. Just remember to use a mild baby soap, and always rinse thoroughly. Your touch and cuddles during this time are also important to your newborn’s healthy development. Research shows that physical affection like cuddling and touching promotes healthy social-emotional and motor skills.
Give Your Baby a Massage
Baby massage is a great way to bond with your new little one and it helps stimulate their growth, boost their immune system and encourage their digestive tract to stay healthy. It’s also a great way to ease their pain and discomfort, especially when they are experiencing gas, constipation or teething.
Start by choosing a comfortable place to do the massage, such as a changing table, your bed or the floor (use a blanket or towel to avoid oil stains). Make sure it is warm and quiet with no distractions. Warm a small amount of coconut or olive oil and rub it between your fingers. Gently begin massaging your baby, starting at their feet and working your way up to their stomach, chest, arms and hands. You can also massage their back, face and ears. Once your baby is relaxed, you can turn them over and do a little tummy massage.
Always follow your baby’s cues and stop if they show signs that they don’t like it, such as turning their head away or crying. Never tickle your baby during a massage as this can be irritating and overstimulating for them. Help your baby learn to associate massage time as a relaxing, calming bonding session and they will look forward to it each day. Work up to doing a half-hour of massage, slowly increasing the length each time.
Give Your Baby a Snack
Babies need a wide variety of foods in their diet to get used to flavour and texture and help them develop good eating habits. Try to introduce new foods in small amounts and at least twice a day.
Avoid foods with added sugar, salt and fat such as rusks or packaged baby biscuits as they can contribute to tooth decay. Having regular mealtimes, around the same time every day, helps babies to know when it is food time. Babies learn from watching parents and other children eat, so make meals family fun by having your baby sit with you.
Try to include a range of foods such as cooked and mashed vegetables (such as carrot, potato, yam or parsnip), cooked and mashed fruit, soft cheese, eggs and well-cooked lean meat. Babies love sweet fruits such as banana, apple or ripe pear. Avoid pieces of hard or unripe fruit as they may be choking hazards. You can also mash up cooked fish, such as salmon, to provide babies with omega-3, which is important for brain development.
It may take up to 10 tries for babies to get used to new food and textures. Try to keep trying with a different selection of foods, including ones with bitter flavours, such as broccoli and cauliflower. It is best to avoid fried foods and foods with added sugar, as they can fill babies up so they are less hungry for healthier options.
