Newborns, babies within their first month of life, are both a challenge and a joy to care for. As new little humans, they are experiencing everything in their environment for the first time and are completely dependent on their parents for everything they need. Taking the time to learn about proper care for a newborn infant can make your baby happier and healthier during his first weeks of life.
Feeding
Feeding a newborn infant is probably the most important part of baby care. New parents need to decide whether to breastfeed or formula feed, and a decision right for one family might be completely wrong for another. No matter which choice you use, be sure to talk to your baby's pediatrician or the hospital staff about how to feed him properly, because he can't tell you if he's having problems or not getting enough to eat.
Cleaning
Bathing your newborn is an extremely enjoyable time for new parents, and it's also a way to ensure baby's health and happiness. But daily baths aren't the only type of cleaning parents of newborns need to do. Before leaving the hospital, new moms and dads should learn how to change diapers and how to clean their baby's genitals properly during each diaper change. Other things to learn about cleaning your new baby include how to clean and care for the umbilical cord stump and how to wash his clothing to avoid skin irritation.
Bonding
Your baby's psychological needs are just as important as his physical needs. Babies need touch and attention from their caregivers to thrive. Letting a newborn know he is loved will help him grow into a secure child. Parents and other family members have many options to help them bond with their newborn. Cuddling, singing, talking and reading to the baby are all ways to cement the bond between newborn and caregivers.
Medical Care
Before birth, all of the baby's medical needs were handled thorough his mother's prenatal checkups. Now that he's been born, he'll have his own medical needs. Choosing a pediatrician is the first step in getting baby his own medical care, and parents of newborns should make this choice as early as possible so they aren't trying to figure out who to call the first time their little one gets sick.
Considerations
Parents often become stressed and overwhelmed by all of the care required for a newborn. Remember that the baby doesn't understand anything about his new world and is only trying to get his needs met. New moms, especially, are sometimes prone to having feelings of sadness, and should be alert for signs of postpartum depression. If you are having trouble caring for your baby because of stress or depression, seek help from your doctor as soon as possible.
